I've had the pleasure of attending 2 readings of Waddie Welcome in Kitchener recently thanks to Lori Maloney Young. Both were inspiring, deeply moving events and motivated me to initiate a reading at Planned Lifetime Networks - Waterloo Region's Annual Winter Potluck Dinner, happening tomorrow. I'm looking forward to. Stay tuned for a report on the event and photos ....

One pardon granted for an executed man - Joe Arridy -  and another is still pending - wrongfully jailed - and still in prison.

Visit their web site and keep the pressure on to free an innocent man:  Richard…

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David Martinez, one of the finest lawyers I have ever known, just received a copy of this 15-minute presentation on the case of Joe Arridy, a man with an intellectual disability who just received a posthumous pardon from Colorado Governor Bill Ritter Jr. If you have the luxury of a spare quarter hour, you can hear it by clicking on

http://www.cpr.org/#load_article|A_Gubernatorial_Pardon Bob…

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Belonging

The Ins and Outs of Disability and Education

By Gary Bunch



I have been wondering for quite some time about the often-strained relationships between school systems and parents when it comes to choosing the special education approach or the inclusive approach to disability and education.The special education approach is based on a range of placement settings in response to the needs of students experiencing various types and degrees… Continue

Another year, another IEP meeting. This one takes the cake though in terms of my preparation, my request for attendees and my determination to keep everyone in the room until we all agreed vocally and on paper about Alex's goals for the next year. Three hours later everyone, or at least I, left happy.



I have repeated the following questions at every meeting I have ever had about Alex since we moved to this area in August, 2006. Questions to me get more buy in than statements. To… Continue

Hello All,

 

I will be sharing the triumphs and challenges of raising our daughter with Down syndrome. These posts will be taken from my blog "The Ordinary Life of an Extraordinary Girl". My goal in wrting the blog over the last year and a half is to help other families with children with special needs, especially younger children, learn of the magic of having a special child. Following is a success we…

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It was at my brother’s Path and Maps gathering that I realized—my learning’s from the past week were only the beginning.  It was going through his Path and Map that I recognized how unique and individual this process is. I knew immediately I could share this resource with my families and friends.…

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A few months ago, my colleague Al Etmanski at PLAN asked me to contribute a reflection to his New Year's blog. His question was, "What would you like to see more visible in 2011?"  I responded and so did 57 of Al's other friends and colleagues.  My reflection is below and to see others', go to…

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Many of you know John McKnight.  Others know Peter Block.  What you may not know is that they have become fast friends - and collaborators.  One wonderful gift from them is their new book - Abundant Communities - and a wonderful web site with many really helpful stories and discussions. 

As we approach this new year - this is a place of hope and possibility - so do yourself a favor and have a good look.  You will like it.. and you, your neighbors and your community will be better for…

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