An Introduction to "The Speechie Godmother"

 Hello, friends! 

Welcome to "The Speechie Godmother!" I hope this will be a beneficial resource for you as you navigate the perilous waters of special needs advocacy within the school system and beyond. 

In this blog, we'll cover: 

• the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
• the most common disabilities as defined by the IDEA
• IEPs, 504 plans, and special accommodations for your student
• common stigmas surrounding disabilities and how to combat them
• ADA compliance in Missouri schools
• personal advice and stories from parents, educators, and others
• local resource agencies and how they can help you
• mental health as it relates to disabilities
• support groups for parents

and SO MUCH MORE!

My hope with this blog is that it can grow and facilitate meaningful conversations while becoming an educational resource for you and for me. 

Speaking of me...

I suppose I should introduce myself! 

Hi, my name is Micaela. I am currently a second-year graduate student in the speech-language pathology program at Missouri State University. I am an identical twin, and my twin and I were born at 27 weeks - 3 months early. Consequently, we have cerebral palsy (another topic I hope to cover on this platform). I've dealt with my fair share of bullying, being stigmatized, and feeling "passed over" because of my disability. But, because of it, I've also gotten to meet some pretty amazing people from all walks of life and with various abilities and special circumstances. I hope to share what I've learned with you

Beyond that, I have experience working in early childhood, journalism, and with special populations. My clinical experience includes intervention with both adults and children, but I have a soft spot for kiddos. This summer, I was fortunate enough to work with Ujima, a literacy program developed by the Missouri State University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic to provide language and literacy intervention to children in the Springfield, Missouri area. This program also gives families and children access to reading materials and hosts a summer camp for elementary-aged children. You can find more information on their wonderful organization here: https://www.ujimamo.org

My hobbies include reading, writing, watching Disney movies, crafting (especially crochet), and spending time with my family and my cat. I strive to constantly learn, and I hope you'll let me learn with you as we set sail on this journey together. I know it can be a struggle getting your child's needs met, but I hope that together we can access the resources and information you need to make the school experience (and beyond) a good one. Think of me as your "fairy blog-mother" for all things advocacy, education, support, and disability inclusion. 

I don't doubt that, up to now, you've braved some pretty stormy waters in your journey. But in the words of one of my favorite writers, Louisa May Alcott, 

"I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship." 

I hope that I can be a life raft for you as you learn to sail your ship. 

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you'll stay tuned for more information, tips, and specialized topics from "The Speechie Godmother." 

Sincerely,

Micaela