I'm trying to think of an expletive worthy of this decision, but nothing's quite violently disgusting enough. I'll hope for some help from Maxi and the rest of you: fire away!
After that, a retreat into Fiction Therapy is called for here. So, for those of us who are disabled, or parents of special needs kids, or simply looking for some good new markets for fiction and poetry:
Kaleidoscope accepts fiction, poetry, visual art and nonfiction that "challenges and overcomes stereotypical, patronizing, and sentimental attitudes about disability". March 31st is the deadline for a theme of "Giving and Receiving Care".
The Arabesques Print Review publishes original poetry, literary criticism, interviews, fiction, non-fiction stories, essays, translations, social and political commentary, art works and photographs. Volume 4, Issue 4 needs submissions on "The Sublime & Beautiful in Children's Reality", due 5th March.
"A 20-something man sits in a taxi in front of his parents' house, trying to find the strength to tell them that he" ... has lost his job as a special-ed teacher and therefore can't afford to pay for the surgery that might save his father's life? ....has decided to emigrate because his special-needs baby daughter won't be adequately supported at home in Ireland? What, what? You decide the end of that first sentence, then send the whole story to Writer's Digest's 'Your Story' feature.
The Liar's League is a monthly themed reading event in London that invites your short story submissions. Upcoming themes include Rebels & Tyrants, or even better, Decline & Fall. Yes, temmmmpting...
Atom Jack Magazine is planning an anthology of alternate future fiction, so is looking for stories with themes like: what would the colonization of the moon be like if the Nazis had won? What would first contact be like if the Confederates had stomped the Yanks? What would Brian Cowen's and Batt O'Keeffe's life be like if Ireland were suddenly taken over by the parents of special-needs kids? May 31st deadline.
Fiction and Poetry from a government worker's point of view are needed for Tales from the Capitol, a planned anthology by Workers Write. Now, imagine a TD or Congressman who is dyslexic or autistic, feeling pressured to help pass legislation cutting back on special-needs education... or whatever you want to do with the theme. Plenty of time to submit; deadline is 31st August.
"Waiting for change always seems to take longer than you would expect." That's your first line, provided by The First Line. I know what the rest of my story will be saying, y'know what I'm saying? Deadline is November.
My youngest daughter has autism, which means she'll be left out of a lot of things as she grows up. I can't bear to think that an education will be one of those things.
17 comments: join in!:
...or perhaps you will immigrate to the USA where she will get the loving learning she will need.
I'm glad your banking business cleared up.
I'm also glad that tomorrow is FRIDAY!!
Thanks Mimi, but that's too big a decision to make just now! The world needs more Fridays I think.
We need you back here, fighting.
When 'you comin' home? :)
I want to say something but can't think of anything helpful or useful just now.
We're reading. That's all I can say.
x
I guess it depends where your kids go to school Suze. It's dependent on class sizes and the number of 'special' needs kids. I was telling an Irish teacher yesterday that here, many of our regular teachers are expected to take up the gauntlet. I have a friend in Melbourne who is trained in teaching autistic kids, she's not a 'special needs' teacher but had to learn because she has a couple in her class. Maybe that's the way the Irish system is heading.
Thanks, Ken! I'm leaving WV in a few hours, will spend a few days with friends in Maryland, and then will be home again on Wednesday (all going well).
Thanks, Rachel--every comment and friend helps more than you know!
Baino, thank you for the voice of reason. I *am* hoping that the cuts might be where (for instance) there's a special needs teacher in a school, but perhaps no special needs kids at this time. Or, something similar which would have hardly any impact on services for disabled kids. I'm hoping, with fingers crossed
BUT, we'd never hear that sort of explanation or assurance from our government, it seems. They pass all sorts of unpopular and seemingly stupid laws, while those of us who voted for them are left feeling bewildered at their motives, or betrayed, and they're not telling us much at all. Maybe that's what's bothering me most.
"I'm so sorry" is all I can muster because my brain is trying to think of a really BAD word for you to use. It may not seem like it at the moment, but your children are lucky because they have a feisty, caring mother to make sure they get what they need.
In politics it appears that unless something personally effects a politician, it doesn't exist. I keep thinking that every time government wants to cut something, they ought to make it mandatory for the representative of that area to step in and try to do that job. Bet many a thing pols think as "useless" would become oh so important when THEY couldn't do the job!
Hang in there. Enjoy the vacationing part of your time. We women spend WAY too much time worrying anyway. I wish I thought like a man. Hubby has a 2 step rule:
1. Don't sweat the small stuff.
2. Everything is small stuff.
Ah, to be able to live like that. :)
Brownenveloped scumfluffers; The modern irish politician.
Any help?
I also have Balding Weaselcrusts
And
Colour-me-miserables.
You could probably write an entire children's book series based on a group of energetic kids taking on politicians. Like Narnia set in Liffey Valley.
It's outrageous that at these times the most vulnerable members of society are taking the hits for the damage the fools have done to the economy.
Ahhh....the only constant, it seems in any educational system in any country seems to be change. As a Special Education teacher of students with Intellectual Disabilities for 30 years I've seen MANY CHANGES. World wide it seems that "Integration" is the current bandwagon everyone is clamouring to jump onto, into....well, I'm truly saddened for Irish families, as I'm truly saddened for Ontario families as I was informed yesterday that in our Board exactly the same thing is happening for the elementary system next year -all the system classes are to be closed.
Hope, thanks! Your husband is SO right. The truth is there's nothing we can do about their decision, except to compensate for it at home. We'll try to make it work out for the best---see what opportunity is in it.
Speaking of which -- Carbags, I love the children's book idea! I have a feeling the gears in my head will be working overtime this weekend LOL
Sandy, my feelings exactly. When I heard it my jaw nearly hit the floor.
Eileen, thank you! I'm tired of being told how good 'integration' will be for my kids when really it only means that their support services are being taken away. I hope something good comes of it somehow, but things all seem downhill lately.
Yeah, so I love what Baino points out as the likely route Ireland is going, that regular teachers will be picking up the slack for Special Needs teachers. As if we teachers don't have enough to do, enough time to spend on our classes. And who of course gets hurt? The students who need the services the most, especially when you overburden the classroom teachers so much that they quit. The system continues to place increased pressure on those who least need it. Is there a teacher's union in Ireland? Because if there isn't, there should be one, and if there is they need to do something about this.
Ah, Elizabeth, good points! Yes we do have TUI (Teachers Union of Ireland) but strangely enough there's nothing on the front page of their website about this particular situation, that I could see.
HHHMMMMMMM.................
:-(
The most important things in education seem to take the hit first: the children who need special attention, the arts, physical education. The world focuses on math and science--important stuff, but we also need to create, explore, energize and understand. No number crunching will produce citizens who can do those things.
I understand your frustration. Here we have "mainstreaming" where a regualr classroom may have an autistic child, a child with serious mental impairments, a physically handicapped child, a few with ADHD...you get the picture. The teachers feel overwhelmed.
Oh Susan, I am very, very sorry. This recession is hurting everybody in the worst ways. Your daughter has an excellent advocate in you so that you can fight for whatever help she needs.
By the way, that photo of the back of your daughter is very symbolic and perfect.
Sue, I'm with you on that one. Why do arts always seem the first to go, when they can make the rough times more bearable for us?
Thanks Kay! It's funny but I nearly deleted that photo for being a miss. Then after writing this post I looked through my photos and it struck me that this one would work well here.
Which is funny, because special-needs kids are often overlooked for not conforming to expectations; if we look again, we find they're perfect in other ways.
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