Navi Parents

Hello everyone this is my first blog for Navi Parent.  Navi Parent came about through several things.  Mostly because as a parent of two international adoptive boys the frustration I had working with multiple agencies (school districts, medical community, and local community organizations) from the employees not having an understanding of the needs and issues of my boys.  Also, how I was told that I don’t understand the situation that the boys are having in school.

Additionally,  I have over 20 years of experience as an educator and special educator from being a classroom teacher for both general and special education students, principal of special education schools, President of an educational professional development company, and consultant. Being told multiple times that I do not know understand the issues of my children is beyond words.  And, I have a doctorate in educational leadership and my dissertation was titled International Adoption: Perceptions of parents, teacher, and social worker. I choose that topic because I had such a hard time with educators understanding my internationally adopted children.  I also have a master’s in special education and an undergraduate in elementary education.  Being told that I do not understand the needs of my own children is over the top exasperating and absurd.

Besides, when I was a special education teacher working in a large inter-city school district, I was told multiple times in different ways that the parents are not right and do not know the needs of their own children.  I remember stating to a friend that was a special education lawyer that I wanted to help parents especially when I became a parent.  Now that I am a parent and the continual annoyance I have with professionals implying that I do not understand my child’s issues made me start on this path to help other parents navigate through systems.

This blog is going to tell my experiences, knowledge, and stories, and other topics I have been involved in as a professional and especially as a parent. I hope this will help you navigate through systems not just for adopted children but special needs children and children in general.