Our Story

My name is Suzie, and I am Jack's Mom. We live in Montana and have a son that has a dual diagnosis of Autism and Childhood Apraxia of Speech. The dual diagnosis has caused a Speech Language Impairment. Our son Jack is low verbal, and I go with Jack as his aide quite a bit so everyone pretty much knows me as Jack’s Mom.

 

​We have struggled and battled with school districts (we call it "the system") for over 9 years, across two states for them create a meaningful communication system for our son. Without a meaningful communication system, the gateway to curriculum, state education standards and basic civil rights are slammed shut. The current system cannot provide documentation to relate special education sessions with state standards nor created a meaningful communication system to align with education materials.

 

This blog is an opportunity for us to tell our story and provide other parents and guardians with the education codes, terminology, and research to be able to advocate more effectively. When you can research for yourself, then you have the most powerful tool you need. Knowledge to advocate with new tools.

 

This is also a chance to share information, stories and how to come together to create community and support each other.  Advocating can be scary. Putting yourself out there can be uncomfortable. Backlash and bullying from “the systems” are very real things and terrifying. Sometimes it is easier to advocate knowing that you are not alone. I often relate to our story as feeling like a grain of sand. The not knowing if you are a nuisance or If you will be heard or felt. Or if you will just blow away. I also talk about feeling lost at sea. There are times when everything feels dark and hopeless.  Some days it feels like you are in your own little boat spinning and lost at sea. It takes a lot to slow down, breathe and think of the bright points. Bright points are the people who support you and your advocacy, They are the whispers, echos and rhythms that say, "don't give up." Those moments of connection and support make my stars. The stars make constellations. I can find true north again. When I can find true north, then I can find my way home to the one who needs me the most. I can find my way back to Jack. 

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I hope that we can all find each other, resources, and information to help and support each other. I hope that when we have bad days we can take a moment, breathe, and let the people and moments that support and lift us up help us find our way. 

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After all, aren't we all just walking each other home? 

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All information and entries are our family opinion or experience. I am not a professional educator or SPED advocator. I'm just a Mom.  :)