“Student has significant cognitive disability and accesses curriculum through pre-requisite skills in all areas.”

Ruby has an IEP meeting tomorrow and reading through the proposed goals just never does get any easier. Coming across a statement like this is literally like getting the wind knocked out of you. I usually have a good cry for a few minutes…because I feel like if I don’t, that hurt will show up in all the wrong places. Don’t get me wrong, NOTHING in my heart hurts for WHO my daughter is, and who she will become. It’s actually quite the opposite. My heart and life are SO full of joy with her perfect lil’ self in it. I get excited at the thought of her on graduation day, being proud of every.single.little.accomplishment it will have taken her to get there.

This pic brings tears to my eyes…not because I don’t think it will happen…but because I KNOW she will do great things. Things that society may not believe she can accomplish. Coming across statements like “significant cognitive disability” may sting for a bit, but it only pushes me harder to shout the worth of my amazing, smart, capable, funny, sassy lil’ lady and continue to give her all the tools I can for her to be the best she can be. I hope the world sees past the almond shaped eyes, the statements, and the societal standards and sees Ruby for exactly who she is…and the endless amounts of potential that is yet to come.

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