Episode 6: Special Education and the Impact of Covid

This episode is EXTRA Special: we were able to get our amazing friend, John Cordova, to be a guest announcer and help us introduce the episode. John's mom, Shari, joins us to share a parent's perspective on how CoVid and virtual learning impacted her child with special needs. Shari is the founder of a wonderful organization in Albuquerque, NM called The Rio Grande Downs' Syndrome Network. She is also an attorney and mother of 3, and all around amazing lady! She shares some of the details of her fight to get John what he needed and the creative way she found a "work around" virtual learning by employing grassroots methods with fellow parents of special ed students. Shari opens up about some of the experiences they have had with inclusion, and unexpected prejudices from people in education, along with how students responded. Her attitude, and approach to inequity, is at the heart of what this podcast wants to highlight!Next, we talk to the AMAZING special education teacher, Amber Main. Her energy and creativity are unparalleled! Shannon and I have worked closely with Amber for years; she impresses us at every turn. She shares how she navigated CoVid, virtual learning, and being a 1st responder for the students and families she was teaching through all of it. Amber shares the resources that she relies on, for in person learning and during virtual learning. She has some excellent advice for ALL teachers on her take aways from CoVid: how to stay sane AND give 110% in your teaching.This episode is a little longer than previous episodes. We just couldn't cut out any of the wonderful details. Besides, special education is our PASSION.Even if you do not have a student in Special Education, these conversations will draw you in. This episode will get your wheels turning about inclusion, equity, and questions like "Should general education classes take on some of the effective, and ENGAGING, methods that special education classes have put into place?"Join us for this extravaganza episode, and get excited about how special education is breaking old school molds to provide cutting edge options!