Amy Quonce, author
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IEP's don't scare me

1/31/2013

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Being the parent of a child with special needs means that once a year (perhaps even more) you face the dreaded CSE meeting. For most, that means facing your child's teacher, therapists, and the head of the special education department to try and have a spirited discussion on what is in the best interest  of your child. However, when I attend meetings, I am not only sitting among the  professionals who educate my child, I am sitting among my colleagues and my boss.
 
This is a tough balancing act. There are time when I want to go all mama-bear on them and fight for what my daughter needs, yet I need to maintain a level of professionalism for the sake of my career. Still, on occassion, I have been known to remove my working cap and represent myself solely as the parent who needs to advocate for my child.
 
Just yesterday I sat at a meeting and listened to the school assure me that there was a plan in place for her and it was safe to remove her special alerts off her IEP. After all, I was just being an over protective mother and they want  to foster independence in my child. Then the very next afternoon the plan that  they had in place fell through and I was caught up in a panic attack
wondering  where my child was. Sadly, this is not the first time this has happened.

Yes, my  child's legally binding IEP has not fully protected her in the way that it  should.
 
Parents, please don't be intimidated to stand up for what your child needs. Bring advocates to your meeting. Supply the committee team with paperwork backing your reason for your special request. If you are not happy with the way the meeting is going, you have the right to table it and reconvene at a later time. You also have the right to call a meeting whenever you like. You don't have to wait until next year's scheduled meeting. Do whatever you need to do in order to get your child what they need to get them through their school years. You know your child better than anyone else, and you are the only person who is going to fight for your child's rights. I am proud to say that today I switched my ID badge from Amy Quonce: school professional, to Mama Bear: parent on the prowl.












































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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Where's Heidi? By Lisa M. Buske: A Book Review

1/23/2013

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Where's Heidi? A question that Lisa M. Buske and her family have been asking since April 3, 1994.

When her one and only sister, Heidi Allen, was kidnapped, Lisa lost more than just her sister. Her trust in her community, and her faith, disappeared as quickly as her best friend had. As Lisa searches alongside her family to find her sister, she learns that she is not alone in her emptiness, and ultimately ends up finding herself after a little boy invites her to bring God into her heart.

The author takes her readers on a journey of pain, self-destruction, and re-birth after the loss of her sister. She shares her story with us so that we might relate to a loss in our own life, wether it be to a kidnapping, death, or other circumstances. Lisa wants us to know that healing is possible, and hope is never lost.

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Behind the scenes with Lisa M. Buske:

What is your favorite part of the book?

There isn't one chapter or part of the book that is my  favorite. But to answer Amy's question, a favorite aspect of the book is to know  others will  hope and healing after tragedy. In 1994, my only sister was  kidnapped and remains missing. I spent more than a decade searching for  something to fill the void left in her absence but found nothing.

Where's  Heidi? One Sister's Journey, shares both the loss and grief in the moment  following Heidi's kidnapping but also the love, hope, and healing experienced  once I realized God never left me, I left Him. So my favorite aspect is knowing  others might experience hope and healing for the first time since they lost  their loved one.

What to you hope your reader's will take away from the story?

I pray readers recognize God's working in their life and the  possibility to overcome whatever tragedy, loss, or stressors life might place in  their path. This is my story yet we all have a story to tell and something to  learn. This is one of the reasons I included the discussion questions in the  back. If your heart is touched, don't stop there ~ open it up and share it with  someone else.
You are not alone!

You mention in the story that you had mixed emotions when the missing person's expert came to help your sister's case. Why did you feel that way?

When your loved one is  missing, emotions run amuck. The idea of a missing expert joining the  investigation instilled hope but at the same time brought to light the  realization, "Heidi is missing and I may never see her again." His arrival  triggered the reality I would probably never see my
sister alive again. This was  devastating. I am forever thankful for his coming and joining the team yet at  the time, his initial arrival ripped at my heart.

How can your readers keep in touch with you?

Website: http://LisaMBuske.com
Blog: http://lisabuske.weebly.com/blog.html
Facebook: “Where’s Heidi?” book page and “Lisa M Buske” author page
Twitter: @LisaBuske

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Where I come from

1/12/2013

1 Comment

 
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Every day this year has been spent working on the final edits of my books. (Easy enough to say seeing we're only twelve days into 2013, but I'm not against making it sound good.) My editor has gone through the manuscript and advised me how to improve it even further. The changes have been sent back, and I am now awaiting the final copy of what will become my very first novel. But knowing me, I can't just idle until I get it back. But how will I spend my time? Luckily, the answer arrived in my inbox this morning.


The 2013 Oswego Reading Council's annual writing contest is underway. The topic this year:
"Where I Come From". Oh, the story was writing itself as I was reading the contest rules. The first time I entered was in 2011, and I walked away with the 2nd place ribbon. The following year I placed third. Will this year's essay be up to par and place in the top three again? Only time will tell. Even if it doesn't, it allows me another chance to create prose, and perfect my craft.


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Want to read my stories from last year? Click the links below:
http://windingroadbook.weebly.com/1/post/2011/05/writing-contest-2nd-place-winning-story.html

http://windingroadbook.weebly.com/1/post/2012/05/woo-hoo-times-two.html

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    Author

    I have the privilege of being able to shape the minds and lives of children who are battling disabilities.  It can be very trying at times, but more often than not it is very rewarding.  As a mother of a child with a disability, I know the struggles that they go through on a daily basis.  This allows me to have a little more compassion for the people that I work with.


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