Steve Gleason & Pearl Jam Story (FULL ESPN FEATURE HD)

This video has touched me on so many levels both personally and professionally. As a mother, and a wife, it is painful to see that our plan in life can change in an instant and become something so different  and so difficult from the original plan. As a special education teacher, it is amazing to see the potential of eye-gaze equipment. Without this system we would not have the ability to personally know Steve's story and to fully comprehend what a brave and inspirational man he is and what a positive impact the sharing of his legacy will have on the world. Steve is a true inspiration! His sharing of his story through the use of the eye-gaze system should have a global impact on the freeing potential that the eye-gaze system provides for individuals who are otherwise "trapped in their bodies". Steve demonstrates that the eye-gaze system provides an opportunity that could change a person's life from sheer isolation to global socialization capabilities. As a special educator I thank you for sharing your story Steve Gleason! Through your story you teach us all that anything is possible for even our most seemingly trapped learners. Now the quest to make it accessible for all in need....

It's all in the approach...

 I believe that with every experience we may encounter in life it is the approach that matters. All students deserve positive, upbeat, engaging and appropriately challenging learning opportunities in which they can be successful. I think it is fairly safe to say that we all want to be successful and should have that opportunity. As educators, if we plan lessons with these thoughts in mind we will create accessible, happy, positive, learning environments resulting in successful and confident learners regardless of the final level of achievement because all learners will be appropriately challenged and thus successful learners.

As educators, WE MUST believe in ALL of our learners and take the struggles out of learning for all students so that all students can reach their  potential level of success.  I believe if we could frame our classrooms around these ideas and thoughts than we would have less of a need for interventions as we would be starting with a preventative plan from the beginning. After all, it is all in the approach...

photo credit - 425 × 202 - dragynstudios.com

Link to great article on UDL and removing the barriers for all learners

This is a great article with embedded Universal Design for Learning (UDL) features. The article provides a great example of how the field of education is transforming and will continue to evolve and how great this transformation will be for all learners. Please read and share this article to spread the knowledge about UDL so barriers for struggling learners will be understood and eradicated.http://aim.cast.org/w/page/2020learning/l61

Maryland Learning Links

Maryland Learning Links I love the interactive ability of this tool. It would be very helpful to use when trying to determine the accommodations necessary for a learner based on their unique needs. I love the ease of use of this tool and the way it enables connectivity to other useful resources in the same category.

I have been planning to write a blog since 2008...

 I have been thinking about doing this for a long time but was not sure how to get started. Well I am still not sure but decided now or never so here I go...

I have been a teacher of students with low incidence issues since 2006. Low incidence disabilities mean my students are low in numbers because they have some of the most complex challenges which act as barriers to their ability to learn. This does not mean they can not learn it just means that as their teacher I have to think like a "learning engineer". 
In order for my students to learn they have to have access to the curriculum as do all learners. This requires that the learning environment be thoughtfully planned and engineered for the student to have access to the curriculum. 

Access is the first part and ability to participate is the second part of the equation that results in success for my students. Through this blog I will share some of the ideas and thoughts I have gathered over the last 8 years.