A.R.D. Meetings 101

A.R.D. Meetings 101

     Today is a new day and I am refreshed, renewed and revived!  For those of you who have followed my blog, thank you.  I didn't realize how much of an impact I was making in so many people's lives, so I appreciate all of the phone calls, texts, and emails I have received!  My friends are the best and I don't know what I would do without my friends and Cole's friends.  Yesterday was a big day in our lives.  For those of you who don't know what terminology is, A.R.D. stands for Admission, Review, and Dismissal.  This term (A.R.D.) and I.E.P. (Individualized Education Plan)  have become my basic language, since Cole has been in Kindergarten. I have attended every single A.R.D. that Cole has had.  This post is to inform  you, as a parent, guardian, or care-taker of a child who has any type of special need how the special education law is supposed to work and protect your child from bias or harm.  Because of my awareness and understanding of special education law, I felt we have a really good I.E.P. in place for Cole, as he transitions to middle school next year.  I am telling you in advance two books and manuals that have been invaluable to me this year are the book, "Special Education Law", second edition, written by Peter W. D. Wright, ESQ., and Pamela Darr Wright, MA, MSW, founders of the Wrightslaw Website, and the IDEA:  Disability Rights Texas.  www.DisabilityRightsTx.org.  I feel like I have been given a gift, simply because I love to read and do research!  These two manuals are VITAL to have in your life, simply because it tells you what your child is entitled to.

     I am a member of many groups and have a lot of friends, simply because I feel the more I am involved in Cole's life, the better he is going to be.  Writing the perfect I.E.P. is hard.  I thought graduating from SMU was hard, but the difference between SMU and life with Cole are two different types of hard.  I love my son and I would stop a bus for him, but I am fierce about making sure Cole is independent.  Life can get hard at times, but I rely on my book knowledge and faith to get me through the tough times.  I have been constantly in prayer for myself, my husband, and son, simply because I know God is the one who always knows what we need.  I pray to God and ask Him, "What should I do to help solve this problem or situation I am in?".  I have seen parents have meltdowns this year, simply because they are lost and don't know where to turn to.  I am  not claiming I am an expert at solving problems, but I have had many people come to me this year and have asked me, "What can you do for my kid?  I am so lost, frustrated, angry, and upset.  I don't know how to help my kid.  Can you help me?".  I have never seen such sadness and misunderstanding at Cole's school this year.  Parents are pulling their kids out of school, some are being home-schooled, and some are putting their kids in private school.  Why can't our school systems understand that we need more advocacy, training, and awareness for all kids?  I refuse to name the families that have come to me and have asked me for help, simply because we are good friends.  That being said, I am so saddened for our kids that are gifted (very smart) and the kids who have a learning disability.  I believe each school district should train all principals, staff, teachers, and administration when it comes to these special students.  

     I have been blessed by a certain group of parents who are members of a group called S.A.G.E. (Special And Gifted Education).  S.A.G.E. has been my saving grace this year.  I was introduced to this group by a very special friend at Cole's school.  I didn't know how much I was going to need this group, simply because Cole's I.E.P. wasn't followed.  Rules were broken, people lied to me, but most of all, I lost trust in my son's school.  My son should have been protected and should have felt safe at school.  We have had four instances of kids running out of class or have left the campus, simply because they didn't want to be at school this year.  I was worried about Cole when he was getting bullied, simply because he was going through Hell and nobody (administration) seemed to care.  I told a few of Cole's friends and their parents to look out for Cole.  One parent even emailed me and told me that if her son saw something, he would beat up the kid who was bothering Cole.  How in the world did our school go from exemplary to crap in just one year?  Poor leadership.  I have now realized that without knowledge, people use their power and their position to bully you.  I was told that what happened to Cole was "misconduct".  They could use the term "severe misconduct", but not the word bully when describing what happened to Cole.  I am fed up with the lies and hidden agenda.  I am smart.  I am a graduate of SMU.  You don't just graduate from SMU by coasting through and relying on others to do the work for you at Meadows School of the Arts.  

     I learned a lot from my professors at SMU.  I am thankful for the knowledge, experience, and wealth of history I learned from Dr. Carol Reynolds.  She was the most amazing music history professor I had at SMU.  She taught Music History and made it so much fun to learn about Beethoven, Mozart, and Haydn!  She had a way of spinning a story into a picture.  I learned so much from Dr. Reynolds and I am still friends with her to this day!  Professor Barbara Hill-Moore was the best voice teacher, simply because she pushed me to be the best singer I could be.  I have always had a strong work ethic, but because of these two SMU Professors, I believe I am a smart, talented, and overall amazing musician and teacher because of them.  I challenge my students to be the best they can be; I don't just accept C+ work.  I expect A+ work every time I enter a classroom or music studio.  I love to teach, but when my students have lost that love of music, I have failed them.  The reason I am making these statements is because I was failed once by a music teacher.  I vowed to myself that if I was ever going to teach music, I was going to reach all of my students.  I don't know if I changed the face of music education in Texas, but little by little, I am hoping I can make a difference in people's lives, just by writing this blog.

     I will finish this post, simply because I need to go pick Cole up from school, but more will be coming this week!  I love Cole's friends and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for helping Cole transition into the talent show auditions without one slip-up!  I witnessed a miracle yesterday:  my son was able to speak up and give clear instructions to a teacher.  Cole told his friends what he wanted to do.  He listened to me, he started the music, and "Cole Warren and the Jambox Boys" became an instant hit at the Merriman Park Elementary 6th grade talent show auditions.  Never in a million years did I think my son would talk, much less give directions to a teacher!  I love my son.  I will fight for Cole until the day I die.  Tasha Compton, stay strong, you CAN do this for Skylar, and I pray for you every single day.  This blog post is dedicated to you, Skylar, and your family.  As quoted in the book and now famous movie, "The Help":  You is smart, You is Important, and I love you.  

     Peace out!