1. THE SPECIAL EDUCATION EXPERIENCE: ONE PARENT’S PERSPECTIVE

2. PERFECT BEGINNINGS

3. PLANS AND DREAMS

5. A DIFFERENT PATH

8. But through it all you want what every parent wants….

9. To Love and Protect Your Child

10. But it is overwhelming O Doctors, appointments, experts, tests O Carrying O Explaining O Adjusting O Trying to translate

11. And then you notice that your child isn’t DOING what other kids are doing. And so begins “acronym hell”

12. EI IFSPIDEASEPTOTSLP =

13. OVERWHELMING

14. Your child struggles with what comes naturally to other children.

16. You quickly learn to think outside the box

18. You struggle with the fact that your child is different- but realize that in many ways they are just like other kids.

19. They like to play.

20. They pout when they don’t get their way.

21. They throw tantrums.

22. They’re precious little devils.

23. And the most important way they’re the same?

24. They are VERY loved.

25. You spend at least the first three years of your child’s life adjusting, learning, teaching.

26. ENTER THE SCHOOL SYSTEM….

27. Will it be like this?

28. Or this?

29. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! O COMMUNICATION! COMMUNICATION! COMMUNICATION! O Recognize that the parents know their child best O Show an interest in their experiences O Be willing to think outside the box O Remember- it’s all about the child.

30. WHAT NOT TO DO O Tell parents you are the expert O Ignore information parents share O Give impression that their child is just one of many O Give impression that you’re too busy to listen to their concerns O Refuse to communicate