Amy & Aron's

My husband and I have been down a long road with our youngest daughter and her education. It has been a very bumpy and exhausting ride, but day by day we are getting there. She started with a special program when she was 3. At this time, we do not know what is causing her disability. We have been to so many doctors and have been to referred specialists. One doctor even tried to suggest that it might be a behavior issue. That is nowhere near the issue, we didn't go back.





Today is her 9th birthday. We had another meeting with her teacher and RTI/TIE program instructor. After a few tries, we are now getting her ready for her IEP (Individual Education Program). That way we can get her FAPE on track with what she needs. A FAPE is a Free appropriate public education, which is very important to us. We don't want her treated better or different than any of the other kids, we just want her to get the same quality of education as the other kids. We want the same opportunities for her as all the other kids have and don't feel like that is too much to ask for.

We have 4 children between the two of us. She is the only child we have with any learning delays. Our frustration with the school system started her first year in regular school.  She made it 2 months into first grade and got put back into kindergarten. That was okay with her because she loved her teacher but, that's when the other kids started talking and noticing that she was different. The kids that were in first grade picked and teased and said that she wasn't smart enough to be a "grader".

It hurts so bad to see your child hurt. Especially when its, not a visual disability.  I will never forget the pain in her eyes when she realized she was different than other children. She said "Mama, why can't I learn to read?" I explained to her as soft and comforting as I could that everyone is different. If we all did things the same then nothing would be fun. I will never be able to share or express in words the hurt that I felt talking to my then 6-year-old baby girl because she was hurt.

She looks, speaks, acts, and reacts just like a normal 9-year-old girl.  But she can't read clearly. It affects her comprehension, math... everything. It's amazing how the mind works. She can understand everything we tell her and she communicate back, but she can not get it to her paper once she learns it. Once all of this is processed and she is placed in the right classes, the instructors said we can get her spelling tests to be done verbally instead of handwritten. Little adjustments like that will affect her in such a positive way.

We are so proud of our daughter. for all of the obstacles, she has overcome. Our little girl, Cassidy Rae Ann, my little Sun Shine. Happy Birthday, Baby. Mommy and Daddy love you so much.