Out of the Problem and Into the Solution

For AC, heading into sophomore year, I was feeling anxious about the IEP transition goals. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the process, when you are a student in special education has an IEP (Individualized Educational Program), the schools begin a transition plan when the student is 16 (more ideally at 14). They start assessments to find strengths and interests. This is a paradigm shift since most of the child’s school years were spent trying to “fix” them. Now the focus is supposed to shift over to what they excel in so we can fine tune it and turn the skills into future opportunities. Next, the IEP team is supposed to create (a minimum) of two post-secondary goals based on those strengths and interests and then tie them to courses of study and community activities in which they can practice those goals.

Nationally (let alone AZ), this is by far the weakest part of the special education process. If you aren’t college bound and aren’t entirely ready for a job, there isn’t a whole lot out there to support these kids. There are some resources like vocational rehabilitation and some other sporadic agencies, however if Mom and Dad aren’t experts at finding Waldo, forget it.

Another thing I realized, even if there are programs, they aren’t inclusive of everyone. I started asking “why is this process just for special needs kids when there are so many others that would benefit? Our “slipping through the cracks kids” not only need support, but they are the ones who lack the most resources. And our "typical" kids need to learn how to share their gifts.

SO that’s the problem. And I’m not the only one in it. There are lots and lots of parents feeling the same fears and swimming in the same murky pond. I have decided it’s time to get out of the problem and into the solution. And if there isn’t one, we need to create it! These days I'm feeling courageous and up to the task, mostly due to that #ONESHAREDROOT thing I mentioned in the first post. I understand now, since the problem isn’t just mine, neither is the solution.

When we ran social skills groups and summer camps, we would train those at-risk kiddos to be the mentors and teach our special needs kiddos and saw some beautiful things transpire. One thing we all know to be true, it’s hard to misbehave or get into trouble when you are busy helping others. Furthermore, depression, ADD and many other behavioral health issues are often due to (or exasperated by) self-centeredness and the inability to get out of one’s own reality (that’s actually a brain development thing, not just my observations). However, if one can retrain one's brain to focus on things other than one’s own thoughts and feelings, it generally helps alleviate some of the symptoms. And let’s face it, who better to try and help than those who have it even tougher than you. Puts things into perspective pretty quickly, right? This also gives those special needs kiddos who are always on the end of receiving help, an opportunity to give back and find purpose as well. Win-Win.

So here comes the idea…… create a transitional support program for the high school kids after school and in the summer to help everyone gain vital skills, use strengths to help others and secure a meaningful future of purposefulness and connection.

Stay tuned dear friends! More will be revealed....