IDEA Advocates

06/03/2026

😂🙋♀️ Who else can relate?!
The version of me pushing the cart through the grocery store is full of ambition:
🥗 “We’re eating healthy this week.”
🍲 “I’m making all these new recipes.”
🥦 “Look at all these vegetables!”
Then the version of me who gets home after a long day looks at the fridge and says:
🍕 “So... what’s for dinner?”
Sometimes I think the person who buys the groceries and the person who has to cook them have never even met. 🤣
Please tell me I’m not alone on this one! What’s the item you buy with the best intentions but never seem to use?

06/02/2026

DSAF Presents...Virtual Inclusive Fitness with W.A.L.E. INCLUSIVE, LLC
Coach Izzy will be leading us through 8 FREE virtual fitness sessions throughout the summer. Come move, sweat, and have fun while getting stronger!

Sessions are on the following Tuesdays: 6/9, 6/16, 6/23, 6/30, 7/7, 7/14, 7/21 from 4:00-5:00 PM EST via Zoom

REGISTRATION:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/s40DNZdMQX-wIIoK04CCjQ #/registration

PLEASE JOIN US FOR AN INTRODUCTORY SESSION TONIGHT JUNE 2 AT 7 PM EST TO MEET COACH IZZY AND LEARN ABOUT THE SERIES.

JOIN THE INFO SESSION: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6S5TxrOnT0CzubtxxBJsJA #/registration

06/02/2026

When students are struggling behaviorally, the conversation should not start with reducing access to school.
A question I encourage teams to consider is:
👉 What supports are we adding to help this student stay?
Students often need more support, more intervention, and more connection, not less access to their education.
Sometimes a simple shift in the question can lead to more student-centered solutions.

06/02/2026

Register for next week's online Parent/Caregiver Support Group hosted by our amazing BTG Board Member, Dr. Emily Elder.

Date/Time: Monday, June 8th @ 5pm

Mark your calendar for the 2nd Monday of each month at 5 pm Mountain Time. Please come with your questions, thoughts, and situations. We are excited to roll out this service for our community. Register Today!

06/02/2026

🎓 As another school year comes to a close, I want to celebrate the students whose accomplishments may not show up on an award certificate or honor roll list. 💙

🌟 The students who worked twice as hard just to make it through the day.
🌟 The students who faced anxiety, learning challenges, health concerns, social struggles, or obstacles that others may never see.
🌟 The students who kept showing up, even when school felt hard.

Success doesn't always look like a trophy, a medal, or straight A's. 🏆

Sometimes success looks like:

✨ Asking for help
✨ Making a new friend
✨ Reading a little more independently
✨ Regulating big emotions
✨ Attending school consistently
✨ Advocating for yourself
✨ Simply not giving up

And to the parents, grandparents, caregivers, foster parents, and educators who walked alongside these students every step of the way—this accomplishment belongs to you, too. ❤️

Every student's journey is different, and every step forward matters. 🌱
Here's to the quiet victories, the resilience, and the determination that often go unseen but deserve to be celebrated just the same. 🎉

💙 Every student deserves to be seen.
💙 Every student deserves to belong.
💙 Every student deserves to be celebrated.

06/01/2026

One trend that was discussed was the increasing use of shortened school days when students are experiencing behavioral challenges.

The concern?

When a student is struggling, the answer should be to increase supports, not decrease access to education.

This is not about ignoring the challenges schools and families face. It is about asking an important question:

👉 What supports are we adding to help this student be successful at school?

That might include:
• Updated behavior plans
• Additional interventions
• Staff training
• Increased support and services
• A closer look at why the behavior is occurring

Students learn best when they are included, supported, and connected to their school community.

If a student’s day is being reduced, it is okay to ask:
“What supports are we putting in place to help them stay?”

Let’s keep the conversation focused on solutions, support, and student success.

EducationalAdvocacy IDEAdvocacy SpecialEducationLaw StudentsBelongInSchool

05/31/2026

Some moments remind me exactly why I do this work.

A few years ago, this incredible student and her family reached out for support as they navigated the special education journey. Like so many families, they wanted their daughter to be seen for who she is, understood for her strengths, and supported in reaching her goals.

This week, her mom sent me a message sharing how well she is doing and that she has officially graduated from middle school and will be starting high school in the fall.
What a milestone.

Watching students grow in confidence, build independence, and achieve goals that once felt far away is one of the greatest privileges of being an advocate. While I may have walked alongside this family for a small part of their journey, they are the ones who have done the hard work every step of the way.

To this amazing young lady: Congratulations on your middle school graduation! Your smile lights up every room, and I cannot wait to see all the wonderful things high school has in store for you.

Thank you to her family for allowing me to be part of your story. Messages like yours fill my heart and remind me that advocacy is always about people, relationships, and believing in what is possible.

05/29/2026

https://info.navigatingdisabilityco.com/roadmapregistration?fbclid=IwZnRzaASGZ6lleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEejIvnr2LztNhDzBYYsCxUvFTR-iVYjslI1psNEt0XMO7ibPd7RyROZ_rsOyY_aem_RPoSGQM2RSjSemYx8lbO4g

Learn how your family could access life-changing support, lifelong services, and up to $50,000 annually in potential benefits and caregiver income.

05/28/2026

🍎 To the educators showing up every single day… thank you.
Please never underestimate the impact you have on a child’s life. Sometimes it is not just the lessons you teach, but the encouragement, patience, belief, and connection you give that changes everything. 💙

For some students, you are the safe place.
For some families, you are the hope.
And for many children, you are the reason they keep trying.

Thank you for the work you do, even on the hard days. You truly make a difference. ✨