04 Aug 2015
“Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It’s the transition that’s troublesome.” ~Isaac Asimov
Let’s face it, transitions suck. And I thought we were done. I guess there is a reason they call it “Children’s” hospital. Yes, we are aged out. Well, kind of. Pearlsky’s doctors are letting us know that the time has come to transition (there’s that word again) to the adult medical care in the area.
26 Jul 2015
Hindsight sucks
I have been a voracious advocate for Pearlsky for 22 years now. Eighteen of them were primarily advocating for her with regards to school. Trust me, the advocacy goes on. I like to think I was pretty good. Effective. The majority of my emails to school, the ones where I needed to be advocating for
19 Jul 2015
Count to 22. Or is it 21? Either way, ugh. And Fort Knox.
Federal laws and regulations declare that eligible students receive special education “through age 22” and “between the ages of 3 and 21, inclusive …” States interpret this differently. Some states end special education at the 21st birthday, others at the 22nd. Thereafter, the state has adult programs. The laws about adult programs are vastly different than
17 Jul 2015
The mother ship has yet to arrive
It has been a while. Several of you have written recently expressing concern, thank you. I truly miss the blog and will make an effort to get back to it. It has been a hell of a roller coaster the last year or two. Pearlsky “aged out” of school. I actually got her out of
17 Jul 2014
So sue me.
You need to read the previous post and comments if you are interested in following this one. I thought I was writing a post disagreeing with another blogger’s use and definition of “special education” and some other issues, and I end up getting beat-up by “friends” … 
First, the use of the r-word. Four
First, the use of the r-word. Four 15 Jul 2014
Special Education is for retards
Yes, I know, I am not supposed to use the word “retard.” I don’t prescribe to that prohibition, but in general I don’t use it. I did in the title to get your ire up. And while it is up, I want to talk about the phrase “special education.” This post is not so much
08 Jun 2014
Dead would be nice
About six months ago someone at school asked me if I wanted Pearlsky to participate in graduation. She is turning 22 in October so school ends for her then. Technically I guess this would be her graduation. Note that she cannot “graduate” since she did not pass the No Child Left Behind mandatory state test,
30 May 2014
We are both back. Scary, no?
By now, EVERYONE has seen my interview. Well, not everyone, but we will get to that in a bit. I do need to make some corrections, apologies and acknowledgements. I talk about Elise, how we dated for “five or six years … I should have married her.” Well, as Elise so gently pointed out to