Before I became a mom, teaching was my favorite job. As prepared as one could be, I began the school search. My criteria did not seem unreasonable: the right composition of kids, a challenging curriculum, along with the necessary life skills support that Luke required.

I thought I was prepared but soon would discover that being the parent is an entirely different gig. The prism, from which I was now looking, filled me with an unsettled feeling about where my delicious son would attend. I was becoming disheartened and feeling rather alone in my quest.

Nobody would dispute the importance of a good education, or that a strong foundation is in the best interest of our children's future. Or that intervention is critically important in the early stages of development.

Each of us has a story, some more painful than others. The reality is sobering; enrollment is increasing at a stunning rate and there are too few schools; those of consideration may be geographically undesirable, besieged with more applications than openings and/or available programs may not be the right fit; more often than not schools and districts are burdened with shrinking funding and budget concerns.

Further complicating matters is the fact that we are likely to be involved in several searches when, during the course of their school life, our sweet kids age out of appropriate programs.

That our special children are guaranteed an education through the age of twenty-one is little consolation when searching for the placement that fits specific, individual needs.

The greatest lesson I learned, thanks to the supportive insistence of my sister, was that not only am I his greatest advocate and champion but I truly know Luke best.

Eventually, after traversing in and out of several situations, some that were very distressing and debilitating to Luke, we happened upon the Westchester Exceptional Children's School. As the name suggests, it is exceptional in every way. Finally, Luke belongs to a school, a home away from home, and is thriving in ways that we could not have predicted. Relief and gratitude are now our companions as we watch Luke grow into an independent, productive, happy person.

As a mom whose heart is never far from her teaching days, having an area devoted to education was paramount.

Luke's experience in this exceptional school ought to be the norm. When Luke was young and going through a particularly stressful situation, Dylan turned to me and said, "Mom, this is ridiculous. If this happened to me or to my friends, they'd solve this immediately. Why should it be any different for Luke and his friends?" A brother's insight and wisdom; how right he was.

These special kids deserve, need and are entitled to all the support we can provide, so that they have every opportunity to become productive engaged citizens.

It is with this fundamental belief that we debut my personal favorite learning center whose current sections include:

- Know Your Rights - Coming Soon
- Exceptional Schools
- Library

In the spirit of Lambdoodle, we invite you to share relevant, useful and inspiring information in what I've come to regard as our community classroom. Information is knowledge, knowledge is power and together we can build a robust, creative, informative, supportive education area.

Knowing you possess resources that may benefit another and the reciprocal is true, underscores that we are in this together. None of us can be the keeper of all information and as such our collaboration is key. You never know what will matter to someone; sometimes it's the smallest reference that makes the biggest difference.

Inside each of these extra special individuals is magic waiting to be discovered and unleashed; what could be more gratifying than helping to make that happen, for when we do, each of us thrives.

Suggestions, additions, and enhancements are enthusiastically welcomed. To do so, please write to Education@Lambdoodle.com. Appreciative that you made the effort to connect, we'll do our best to respond in a timely manner.

Upon receipt, we'll give it a quick road test, and publish in the respective area as soon as possible. New postings will be listed within the 'What's New' button on the Home Page.

Heartfelt thanks for your participation; we leave you with this.

'Everything that happens to you is your teacher. The secret is to learn to sit at the feet of your own life and be taught by it. When we do not take the time to sit at the feet of our own experience, we bypass significant opportunities for learning'

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