I have been thinking a lot today, remembering my experience of coming to this country with my mom. I was seven. In case you did not know, we came as refugees: our status was “displaced persons/stateless”. For about 10 years of my life I did not have any passport: a citizen of no country. Thank you Jeanne Segal Rees for throwing me the C5 party when I got my citizenship. I still remember how we had apple pie!

We were living in Italy “under the radar” for many months, while we waited for someone to let us in. Uncertainty was everywhere, both in our daily lives, and thinking about what country would finally be our home. My mom tried to make it seem like an adventure: but even at seven, I understood the gravity and uncertainly of our situation.

What I remember most during our immigration and for many years after was how I felt so attached to my mom. She was the only family I had. (At the time we thought my other family members would be lost to us forever.) When she was late from a store, I would worry. When she did not pickup her phone at work, I would call again every 5 minutes until she was there. I used to have nightmares about who would take care of me in case something happened to her. I even had a plan, I would write a letter to then President Reagan asking if I could come and live with him. I was little girl, I did not eat a lot.

So I am disgusted by our policy at the border. Separating kids from family members is a cruel torture. Full stop! No excuses!

I am disgusted by our politicians: both democrats and republican. They are using this as a political football, but these are people, families, children. A comprehensive solution needs to come now.

I am disgusted by lack of UN over-site. This is a refugee situation and has been going on for years. Why is the UN commission on refugees not involved? Is it because the countries these people are fleeing, do not want the spotlight on why their citizens are running away?

Why private organizations, and there are many privately-funded immigrant organization, not stepping in to help? These organization are working in Europe, Africa and other countries. Why not at our border? Where is the red-cross?

We as US citizens need to remember our history. Emma Lazarus wrote a poem that is hanging at the feet of the Statue of Liberty. “The greatest generation” sacrificed themselves for people in these exact circumstances almost 70 years ago. We as a country apologized for the “interment camps”.

Now we need to look forward and decide what our legacy will be. What our morality, ethics, just gut-feel justice demands.

If you dismiss my words as liberal, progressive, or bleeding heart: you are missing the point. This is beyond politics.

I am the mother of an autistic son and the wife of an autistic husband. They are two sides of the same coin: one side is youth, and the other adulthood. But the currency is autism and there is no exchange window in any hospital, school, institution that will change who they are. My husband is a passionate advocate for autism and disability while he navigates through sensory, social and other challenges posed by his disability. Professionally he is a wildly successful savant; but if you see him walk the halls of Dripping Springs Elementary School, you will see a man hunched over, eyes downcast, unable to stop or slow down because his stimming is pacing. At least the hair pulling is in control. Each school trip produces more adrenaline than BASE jumping, and takes more energy than running a marathon. I know, because I get to pick up the pieces once he gets home. 
He goes because its important to his 3rd grade son to have Daddy at leadership day, awards day, etc. He goes because he wants to make the school a better experience for kids with “special needs.”
The internet is his communication window to the world and he posts publicly about his experiences because he wants to create an environment that will be more accepting of his sons. His posts expose his thoughts, soul and feelings. Reading each one is like ripping a bandage off a wound and exposing raw flesh, muscle and bone for everyone to see. They are usually uncomfortable for all audiences because there is nothing “mainstream” about him or his words.
The moderator has blocked him from this group because his words made her uncomfortable, and I was told to leave this group if I have a problem with her decision. So I am leaving this group because you can not have a special needs group which excludes autistic individuals or parents of autistic individuals. If this group can not tolerate an autistic’s personal point of view on their disability (even when it’s outside your experience), then it’s not as supportive as I thought.  
I wish you all the best of luck as you love, support and raise your children to be great individuals. I hope Ryan Boren’s post help you all out even if they no longer appear on this board.

I give copies to everyone who interacts with my kids. This book is important to geek, STEM, open source culture. Institutionalize empathy and neurodiversity.

Source: NeuroTribes

Photo post by @rboren.

Source: Designer’s Creed

Our school has been implementing Covey’s 7 habits this year but we seemed to have lost our way.  The habits of thinking win-win, synergy, and seeking to understand are now ashes from the petty power struggles that are pitting parents vs leadership.  The results are disheartening: our staff turn-over is on par with Southside Chicago, our parent volunteers are evaporating, and discontent parties are publicly and privately sharing their humiliations and grievances.

The kids and teachers need to be commended that they are trying to stay focused on learning amongst all the chaos.

I support the school’s thinking “outside the box”and trying to incorporate new ideas and techniques into the curriculum.  It takes a special leader to have a vision, inspire the team and lead through implementation.  We consider Steve Jobs to be a great leader/innovator who changed the world.    I sometimes think his job was easier than an educator’s, because Apple’s revolutionary products are “things” and prior failures were considered “learning opportunities.”  In education, the product is my children’s future and its a one shot deal.

I am partnering with this district and school staff to educate my children… and its a 12 year commitment.  A successful partnership requires open communication, a rigorous vetting of ideas, a commonly agreed vision and (personally I am a stickler for) crisp implementation roadmaps. Today, I feel this partnership is not equitable; trust on both sides has disintegrated, the vision is hazy, and any debate is looked upon as sedition.

I want my children’s education to prepare them for a world that is seeing radical technical, industrial, social and economic shifts.  I appreciate that the school leadership is trying new pedagogical approaches to stay ahead of the curve.  I want our school and its staff to succeed.  I would just like to an open and rigorous discussion on how its going, and what the future will bring.

Why the king bed is not big enough!!!!