With the release of the IEP Task Force membership, I’ve been hearing a lot of controversy about the membership. I have stayed out of it, for the sole reason that many of these members have children with special needs. They may belong to this group or that group, but we are all the same. There are certainly people with influence, but I can’t think of any special needs parent who would sell the needs of their child down the river for the sake of another agenda. To do so would be a mockery of everything this task force is about. I believe, based on what I am hearing, that this task force will get to the real reasons why special education in our state is struggling so much. But one thing I will never do is rip on families, no matter what is going on. I post about a lot of things, but in my heart I am a parent first, and my son needs me. He may not understand why I write a blog, but every word I write is for him and all the children in Delaware who are struggling with this. Every investigation, every plea for help, is for all of them. I would throw myself under a bus for my son if it meant he could have a better life. That’s all any of us want. So while this IEP Task Force is in session, please try to understand this. Let’s face it, as things stand now, Delaware needs help. Matt Denn has been a huge advocate for children with disabilities, and he is the best choice to lead this group. Many of these children are unable to speak with their own voice, so that’s where the parents come in. We can be loud, and forceful, and mad as hell. But at the same time, if you have our back, you have a friend for life. And no matter what our political or education beliefs are, we all have an unspoken bond that says we are there for each other because at the end of the day, it’s family first.
The Season Of Myths 