Reading about the middle school teacher in Idaho who used love and compassion to disarm a sixth grade girl while hugging her until the police came; and feeling lately how much bigger my heart of compassion has expanded over the course of the last year, inspires me to share what I believe is the key to being the most powerful advocate for a child with a disability – Trust.

             If we can trust our own lives; trust the lives of our children; and trust the lives of those who work with our children, then we can turn any poison into medicine and genuine unity among any IEP team. Once we trust, we see clearly; gain wisdom; and create value in our actions. 

“When the sky is clear, the ground is illuminated.” -Nichiren Daishonin (13th Century Buddhist revolutionary and founder of Nichiren Buddhism)