Dreams

As our nation prepares to observe Martin Luther King Jr. day I wanted to take a moment to talk about dreams.

Throughout my education Dr. King's famous I Have a Dream speech was one that I heard often and recall still to this day as we observe.

"I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dreams.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal.'"

While our nation has made strides in the right direction to show and uphold that all men [and women] are treated with equality it still continues to be something we, as a nation, struggle with and so it is with hope that we continue to make these strides forward. While making these strides forward not only should we treat all men and women equal regardless of the color of their skin but also in regards to abilities, neurotypicality/neurodivergence, race, sexual orientation, etc.

As a parent when my daughter was born and I held her in my arms for the first time I had big dreams for her. I wanted her to get a great education, be what she wanted to be, love who she wanted to love and be happy through her life.

However, when she was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 3-years-old the dreams I had for her started to fade and as the parent I had to take the dreams I had dreamt for her and mold them into something different. This was something no-one talked to me about and I had to go through a grieving process much like grieving the death of a loved one. But after the grieving process ended I was able to dream again for her with my new knowledge.

I went through this cycle a few additional times as she was diagnosed with ADHD, a tic disorder, clinical anxiety and depression, ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) and Anorexia.

As my daughter grew up and I became educated in how to help her, what therapies to try, what specialists to see, etc. I became more and more aware as I met more and more parents in a similar boat as me that no one speaks about the dreams we have for our children when they are born that have to be reshaped due to medical, neurological or unforeseen impacts.

So while I continue to fight for the dream that Dr. King spoke about in 1963 I also fight for the dreams of the parents.

I fight for equal and equitable education.

I fight for appropriate accommodations.

I fight for funding for students who require additional support.

I fight for inclusive classrooms when students are ready for them.

I fight for qualified special education teachers, not a warm body.

I fight for qualified related service providers (speech language, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, etc.).

I fight for access to assistive technology when it is appropriate.

I fight for appropriate transition plans.

I fight for collaboration between the school, family and community.

I fight for a free an appropriate public education (FAPE) for every student with a disability.

Parents don't give up on the dreams you have for your child. You may need to re-shape your dreams but do not give up on your dreams.

Parents teach your child to dream and fight for the school to challenge your child to reach their dreams.

Dreaming is a part of living.

I have a dream that one day all schools will provide funding for students with disabilities.

I have a dream that one day all schools will have qualified individuals to support the students and families they serve.

I have a dream that one day all parents will know their rights as it pertains to their students education.

I have a dream that we will not have to fight for equal and equitable access to a students school environment, curriculum and supports.