I am writing this because of some things our family has had to learn—and is still learning—about Special Education Services in our schools. Navigating special education can be incredibly difficult. There is no class that parents are required to take. There isn't necessarily someone assigned to sit down with you and explain how the process works, what all of the acronyms mean, what questions you should be asking, or how to advocate effectively for your child. Most parents go i

Disclaimer: This particular situation was not caused directly by the school. The vendor responsible for the bucket and where it was placed. But this did happen in the school's parking lot and involved a vendor working on school property. Today was school picture day. The picture vendor had their trailer parked out in front of the school. Nothing unusual about that. Schools have picture day, vendors show up, equipment gets set up, and everyone goes about their morning. But the

There is a part of parenting a child with a disability that I don’t think people always understand. It isn’t just the appointments. It isn’t just the paperwork. It isn’t just the ARD meetings. It isn’t just making sure she has what she needs physically. It is the constant advocacy. We fight so hard for our daughter. We sit in ARD meetings and explain her needs. We talk about what she can and cannot physically do. We discuss accommodations. We answer questions. We make sure ev

There is a part of my daughter’s education that I wish more people understood. She doesn’t fit neatly into one box. She isn’t a student who is 100% in Special Education, where every part of her school day is automatically viewed through the lens of her disability. But she also isn’t a typical general education student who can simply walk into a classroom, keep up with the physical demands of the classroom, and navigate the school day without any additional consideration. She

A lot of people don't understand the constant battles we face when it comes to giving our daughter access to things that most people simply take for granted. For most families, a new school year means buying school supplies, meeting teachers, getting schedules figured out, and settling into a new routine. For our family, it also means preparing to advocate. Every year, it seems like we have to fight, remind, explain, request, and sometimes push just to make sure our daughter

When School Leaders Are Above Accountability

One of the questions I've asked myself more than any other over the last few years is this: Are we really the only family dealing with this? Sometimes it feels that way. When our concerns about disability accommodations and bathroom access began, I assumed there would be other families with similar experiences. I assumed there would be other parents asking questions, raising concerns, and pushing for answers. But as time has gone on, it has often felt like we're standing alon

When people hear that I've filed a disability discrimination complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), one of the first things they ask is whether I've heard anything yet. Usually, my answer is some version of, "I'm still waiting." And that's where the frustration begins. I understand that OCR has procedures to follow and that investigations take time. They have to review evidence, determine jurisdiction, and follow federal processes before reaching conclusions. What

Lately, I've found myself going back and forth on the same question over and over again: Do I keep fighting against Levelland ISD, or do I finally let it go? The truth is that I don't have an answer. Some days I'm determined to keep pushing forward. I tell myself that if I stop, then everything I've invested up to this point was for nothing. I remind myself why I started and why I believed this fight mattered in the first place. Then there are other days when I'm just tired.

Most people don't go looking for a fight with their local school district. Parents just want answers. Teachers want support. Students want a safe and productive learning environment. But sometimes, when concerns are raised, the response isn't a solution—it's a wall of bureaucracy and a feeling that somehow you're the problem for bringing it up. "Maybe I'm Just Overreacting..." If you've ever left a meeting with a school administrator feeling more confused than when you walked

I believe every school would likely agree that students, staff, and visitors with disabilities deserve full access to educational opportunities. The challenge is that agreement is easy. Action is harder. In many schools, accessibility is treated as an important issue—just not an urgent one. When a building needs repairs, funds are found. When technology needs upgrading, plans are developed. When safety concerns emerge, timelines accelerate. But when accessibility barriers are

Access to culinary education is a fundamental right for everyone, including individuals with disabilities. Unfortunately, Levelland ISD culinary labs remain inaccessible, limiting opportunities for aspiring chefs who use wheelchairs. This blog post aims to raise awareness about the need for wheelchair access in our culinary lab and encourage you to join our petition for change. Eye-level view of a culinary lab with a wheelchair accessible workstation Accessibility at Levellan