Drive to Marietta? Rochester? Just to Brookfield?

If you haven't heard Kirk Martin and his son, Casey, recently, you may want to collect some friends and jump in the buggy on November 7 and truck on up to Brookfield, Wisconsin for a 7:00PM event.

No, you don't have to drive to Marietta, Georgia. Or to Rochester, Minnesota.

Brookfield is only 60 miles from Woodstock. That's Brookfield, Wisconsin (not Illinois). Kirk and Casey will be at the Wisconsin Hills Middle School, 18700 West Wisconsin Avenue, in Brookfield, Wisconsin (not Illinois (did I say that?)) on Thursday, November 7, from 7:00PM-9:00PM.

There is no charge. Arrive early for the best seats. And sit down in front; not way up in the nose-bleed section. How can Kirk pick on you, if you are way in the back? (He'll find a way.)

Got questions about raising difficult children? Or about having perfect children, but being a difficult parent? Bring your questions. Ask them!

Check out this page on www.celebratecalm.com to view the flyer for this event.

I first met Kirk, when Casey and he were in Woodstock about five-six years ago, and I have caught up with him at his events since then. 

So turn off the TV, gas up the buggy, and make an evening out of a nice drive and back. Take family, friends or neighbors. Heck, if 50 people wanted to go from McHenry County, we could get a bus!

Not done with SpecEd., after all

I thought I was done with Special Education. Maybe you're never done with it.

I became intimately familiar with Special Education after moving to Woodstock in 1996. My experience began at Dean St. School, and one of the smartest things I did, after taking an informal one-day class in Special Ed Advocacy at the Family Resource Center on Disabilities, was to hire a full-time advocate who had more than 15 years of hands-on experience.

He wasn't cheap, and he was worth it!

I learned about placement in-district, placement out-of-district, private therapeutic day schools, hospitalization, inclusion, exclusion, a teacher's rant (not intended for my eyes, of course), and the Age 18-to-21 Transition Program at McHenry County College.

All of which can be content for many stand-alone articles.

Thanks to this blog and another (www.WoodstockAdvocate.com), parents still find me.

Parents need support. They need it, and are entitled to it, from the school districts. They need support from others - family members, neighbors, friends, co-workers, the community.

There is support available. Watch here for new articles. Some will have what some consider "old" information. Be refreshed. Never give up!