Edition? 06/2016 Meagan nh 4 "ED 5300 Publication number? 1 THE DAILY Delia's Feature 2 Feature: EDITOR'S NOTE: Dellaiis a pseudonym for the student ! met and observed for the purposes of this project. All ames herein have been changed and no personal Photographs will be featured, Dellais a twenty-two year old woman with [Autiam Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Pica. She iz the formerly fostered and now adoptive daughter of Jenny and Charlie. She has been'a member of the Daily Family since she was five years old, a total of Seventeen years. She recently attended a local schoo! and has since transitioned out and now attends a local day program that affords her the opportunity to go out into the community and interact with community mambers and become acquainted with whera the lives. | spent my First day with Della, Jenny, and her foster sister Emma. One immediately feels welcomed and brought Into the fold. Jenny shares funny stories about ambarrassing publie moments when her vivacious daughter, witha deep love of nev'spapers, pointed snd Jenny ard shouted out tidnappa S crowded Sam's cub after reading 3 story that morning about local kidnepping, Needless to ay, following that incident her newspaper Teadings became censored. Assi across from Della, she occasionally glances at me, smiles and Feturns to playing with one of three calculators In front of her. the house around me buzzes with aetnity Grandbabies and adult children flood the kitchen and again love iz abundant and avidant. Emma watches and smiles at the baby girl and Jena Shares how much she enjoys &6 watch the Sabie and will sometimes interact: othervise she stays inher "world". The girls move across the roam andssit on colored mats on the fleor with a variety af Legos, newspapers, and calculators. Jenny again seeks to entertain me inthe silence with more funny stores. She told me of the time when Della's case worker and teacher were conducting an in home meeting and when the case worker Stked f Dellahad s sense of humor, the teacher iped in with, “definitly not” Book Club Astrology Meet Della Jenny was somewhat taken aback 2s she knows Della ‘to be quite humorous. Della, almost on cue slammed her hands down on the table, and yelled"two men walked into a bar!" She did not finish the joke but firmly asserted her comedic ablities Jenny and Charlie were well aware of Della’ entry into the Spactal Education system but were mat with mary, many challenges in the Coordination of the many moving places ralated to her educational support Jenny tecalls a former teacher of Delia's who was insistent on specific behavior strategies that were roving to manifest in exceadingly dificult and defiant Wraysia the home. When Jenny brought this up to the teacher he continued to be somewhat oppositional and protective over is benavioral approach, it was then {hat Jenny realized the extreme lsconnect between home and schoal, and despite the teachers best intentions Jenny was frustrated atthe seemingly deliberate ignorance of parental insight an wishes. She and | spoke over snack about how she wishes more educators would understand the importance oF parental input and honor that more often, Shes @ Proponent of home visits and understands that Collaboration in and of Itself ls only one piece of the puzzle. Educators and parents can maet 2s much as {hey want, bt unless that inputs valued and in some gases followed, itis meaningless. She recalls the many ‘SSattles” she had to ight over Della's educational career and just how hard she had to be pushed to be Sten and heard ae an equal partnerinher child's education. Della came to Jenny and Charlie at the age of 5S as 2 foster child. Jenny was working with het family Providing rept Care when she was approached about er interest i being 3 foster parent to Dells. Jenny was somewhat hesitant because to date she had only fostered children who were survivors of sexual abuse, with only her respite experiences to serve her Knowledge af children with ASB. Jonny already had 2 heart for Della and in conference with Charlie agreed fo foster her, Seventeen years later, Della is an Adopted daughter and sta scros romper sister laying Flosm and asking to play GameBoy. she tells tne she misses school and reminds her mom she goes Dack tomorrow. Her mom smiles and nods and gives her a kise on the head “1 know Dela" ered by Meagans Imagination: 2316THE DAILY COLLABORATION NATION : A BOOK REVIEW Friend and Cock - Infractions: Collaboration Skills for School Professionals HII AE ss With the vast multitude of agencies and individuals involved in the core, education, and service of Della ond her family collaboration is not a mere wish, itis c literal requirement. | had the opportunity to observe a meeting with Jenny, the Case Manager from the adoption agency, 0 school representative, anda representative of the local disability transition agency. Firs, was stunned by the sheer amount of paperwork being exchanged and acronyms fiying through the cir. Second, | was happy to se partyin action. At no point during this neoly 3 hour meeting ‘os anyone behaving os though the opinion and input of Jenny wos es valued than that ofthe other profesionols. Inf, in most instances they dlered to Jenny and her opinions and wishes bout decisions ond then addressed them as a group. Jenny wos reoted as though she had “expert power” in regards to Dello. This stands in direct contrast to the experiences during Dell's formal schooling. Jenny defered ot points othe expertise of vorous individuals and telied on ond considered their input prior to making a decision. The meeting drifted from discussion of facto funny stores about Della ond vary strength-based discussions surrounding her community interactions. Fried, & Cok L (213). lation: labora kis fx sol pfesonl 7th) Uper Sole er, Mew ese: Peron dua, ln ASTROLOGY whats in her future...deally and projected FF’svery imple | just wont her fo be hoppy ond heathy. That's all. Given her disability i is easy fo be ‘0 bump on a log, to sit on the mats ond play Legos alone all day, that is not living ond it isnot healthy. ‘We tried the vocational route and found ourselves encountered with "jobs" and that ore hand over hand cand | do not think that provides them with anything. There is no independence in that. They were not hoppy in those experiences. I do not know what kind of life it provides when they have to have that constont support in a vocational setting, its stifing. She will remain here with us surrounded by her family, |have no notions of marriage o a professional career. THE ACTION PLAN [plan to make that happen by feecng her heath foods, meas heawy in rosin and vegetables, gating he up and out mull mesa day, and making sure she bas asso the community and sl events trough hex day program. The writer apratiteshisreolisticvew but wonders, while Dela is ace and love day program, wil there come a point wen it isn longer changing, providing that productive rugle and engogement of mind and body? How wil the pc and future conge os Della gas alder and het prensoge? Wil that sam plan be eas And how wl hose shi cfed Della and het fy?B3 THE DAILY CLASSIFIEDS WANTED B {2 Galewators. love caleulators of ciffarent + ‘Country Music. | disike {Legos of avery sizes, Ilove to push the buttons and watch County & Western Music > ‘ ped and + the numbers change on the screen. ‘ immensely. In fact when my + color. : : older sister moved out Iwas * most happy about it because + she always played Country = ‘nde {CONTACT ME- Dates and Hours WANTED + GameBoy! | love to June 21st 4 hours + Floam! Floam is similar to + spend the afternoons + kinesthetic sand and feels good on + playing GameBoy. My . . nm hands. e fay hing is to + nephew Obie and dune 263 hours + rollup several"ais" and squish 1 play nextto each t 1 them together! it makes me very cothar and like to sit i : + happy. : + togathe. + June 27th: 45 hours ‘ : 1 Tolat 115 hours : : Start with a 5 year old girl 1. Add two loving parents 2. Mix with siblings and nieces and nephews 3. Combine with a fabulous sense of humor 4, Add a pinch of penchant for magazines and newspapers 5. Wrap in a comfortable home 6. Introduce supportive medical professionals 7. Gently fold in regular walks and yoga 8. Mix with a vigilant family 9. include case managers, educators, and adaption agents 10. Sprinkle with Fleam 11. Add encouragement 12. Include safety 13. Combine with atmosphere of respect and care 14. Mix with a smile that melts stone 15. Combine with eyes that shine with potential 16. Add the occasional squeeze and reminder of love 17. Enjoy life with your Della!(4 THE DAILY Opinion Piece: Mirror, Mirror - A Reflection | was, and still honestly am slightly uncomfortable with this assignment. From the beginning it felt invasive. Jenny and Charlie were nothing but welcoming and | experienced nothing short of appreciation for my efforts in learning more about the other half of our students; the person outside of school. The opportunity to form a relationship felt especially rushed but nevertheless afforded me the chance to understand a whole new side of my future student’ lives. | was especially appreciative of Jenny's blunt and honest opinions regarding how well educators collaborate with and appreciate the input of parents. I came away with anew sense ef how vital it is to not only include my future parents and guardians but to LISTEN to them. She shared with me the conflicts she encountered from headstrong educators, who in their own sense believed they were kest supporting Della, and how much advocacy and involvement was required to understand the system and to support her daughter in that system. In observing Della and her family and through my own coursework | have come to develop a sense of awe and appreciation for parents navigating the system of special education. | find myself at times overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information, laws, requirements, options, and responsibilities inherent in our system. | can take what | have learned here and apply it to my future students in so many ways. First, | can continue to invest heavily in my own education so that when | am prepared to enter the workforce | have a strong foundation from which | can operate. Secondly, creating a welcoming and warm environment where my students and families feel they are of equal power in decision making, and honoring the input and suggestions put fourth. Third, be realistic in ‘the expectations | set for myself, my students, and my families and manage them. accordingly. Fourth, seek continuing professional development to stay abreast of changing information and bringing that knowledge back to my school and colleagues. Lastly, | want to have fun with the process, | want to be engaged and lave what | am doing, | do not want to generate or coniribute to an environment of overly-serious, strained, and stoic communications. Learning is supposed to be fun, so why shouldn't planning for that learning be just as fun?!