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Design with Felt-Safety in Mind
Creating a classroom that supports felt-safety is crucial for fostering an inclusive and nurturing learning environment. Felt-safety refers to the internal sense of security and well-being that allows students to focus, engage, and thrive. This concept, popularized by Robyn Gobbel, is especially important for students with trauma histories, anxiety, or neurodivergent traits who may find…
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Like A Dog: From Child Abuse to Involuntary Hospitalization
When I push deeper, however, as to why I would have had this positive association with restraint and institutional abuse, I realize it’s because I was abused as a child. I’m reminded of my favorite Franz Kafka quotation from The Trial: “‘Like a dog!’ he said, it was as if the shame of it should…
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Creating Sensory-Friendly Environments
If you’ve been inside a school building, you likely can agree that the design of most schools does not scream, ‘This is sensory-friendly space!’ at all. Floors are typically linoleum or tile, large open spaces create echoes of laughter and chatter, and the smells are oh-so abundant. There are generally not too many natural opportunities…
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Stickers Don’t Work for Adults Either
We are a society of “earners.” The transactional systems many of us have been raised on that focus on earning prizes, tickets, and rewards do not have the expected effect. It does not create intrinsic motivation. I could quote Alfie Kohn from his book “Punished by Rewards” here. But what I am seeing is that…
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What is Universal Design?
As an educator, you may not control your school’s discipline policies, but you do have some control over how you set up your classroom. Whether you’re planning out your classroom today or the night before your first professional development day, one critical decision you will make is how to arrange your physical space. To support…
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Singing with Stingrays: Reflecting on Disability Pride Month
As July draws to a close, I am reflecting on Disability Pride Month. Yesterday, I was drawn into a discussion about trauma-informed practices in education at a social gathering. As usual, I found myself passionately defending the rights of disabled students in the United States and despaired over the lack of resources to support them…
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Interpersonal Safety in the Age of Behaviorism
What do reasonable behavior expectations look like? Different types of behavior are appropriate in different circumstances. The circumstances include externally observable elements as well as things that can only be internally observed by the person exhibiting the behavior.
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Wisconsin Restraint and Seclusion Survey
Making Waves & Systems Change Advocacy is a group of Wisconsin lakeshore mothers working to improve systems for meaningful inclusion, support, and acceptance of people with disabilities. Currently, there aren’t enough efficient and accessible ways for families to share their stories to advocate for real change, and we intend to do our best to turn…
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My Journey from a Parent to a Family and Child Advocate
I am honored that Guy has asked me to share my story; his work is an inspiration. I am not a therapist or clinical worker, but I am a parent who shares the experience of raising kids with challenges who are misunderstood and struggle in our current systems. I am passionate about making my community…
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A Walk to the Park: A Story about Authority and Autonomy
I have since learned so much about supporting my now-diagnosed neurodivergent sons. I share this day to reflect on how far we have come and how far we still need to go and to remind myself that everyone is in different stages of their educational journey. I wish I could say that the practices responsible…
