Sayonara Minivan

Forget that we just bought a new handicapped-accessible minivan. I'm still thrilled to hear that I may not be destined to drive a minivan for the rest of my life, now that the Vehicle Production Group has created the new MV-1. This car has been specifically created to meet the needs of passengers in wheelchairs, and it does so in a way that looks safe, economical and fun -- not to mention just a little bit English. Move over Mini Cooper, here we come!

When our family traveled to London recently, we marveled that every black London cab had a ramp and could easily accommodate the five of us, including Andrew in his wheelchair. Looks like New York, along with many other U.S. cities, may now be able to follow suit. And if I'm lucky, I'll be cured of my minivan-itis forever! Silly thing to hope for with everything wrong in this world, but a mom can still dream.

Work for Change at Any Age

With back-to-school season upon us, I thought it was worth pointing out something great that just happened in Kansas. According to local media, students at Lawrence High School recently overhauled their homecoming rules so all students are eligible to serve on the homecoming court. This is really inspiring, especially given that many school districts across the country still don't fully comply with ADA laws, which were enacted more than 20 years ago.

I was never a homecoming queen, but I remember this part of high school quite fondly and am thrilled that kids in Lawrence care enough to include everyone. 800 signatures is a lot. So refreshing to see this behavior instead of reading about people who burn the Koran. Even the youngest people in our society can challenge unjust laws and outdated "rules."

Teach your kids to advocate for things that matter to them. It really does make a difference.

High School Here We Come

Andrew started high school today. New school. New teachers, New aide. New bus drivers. New schedule. New challenges. New fears. He definitely could use a new mother to help navigate all this.

His old mother (me!) is filled with emotion as we enter this next phase of life. Flooded with memories about how far he's come, awed with all that he's accomplished, and terrified by some of the obstacles that no doubt lie ahead.

But just as we tell our kids not to fear the unknown and to persevere in times of challenge, and just as we tell our kids to try their hardest and not let the tough times dampen their spirits -- so must we as mothers and fathers follow these instructions. To that end, here are some specific things to keep in mind along the way:

1) Focus on the positives -- Stay grounded in all that's working, and try not to get hung up on what might need fixing. New staff, new building, new processes. We need to allow time for a learning curve. People will get it (and him) if we give them time to learn.

2) Aide progress -- Look for small ways to help your child and/or his school. Since high school is all about independence, we're going to direct our energies to finding ways for Andrew to gain independence. His principal spoke about this yesterday, and Andrew is pumped! Enhancing school/home communication is another key focus area.

3) Don't sweat the small stuff -- Life is an adventure and school is a big part of it. Don't let the daily minutia of problems overtake the joy of daily successes. Look for things to celebrate.

4) Enjoy the ride !

We spent countless hours working with our local school district to identify the best high school environment and program for Andrew. Now that school is about to begin, we are reminding ourselves that this is a commitment -- to our son, to his teachers and other expert resources, and to our family. Andrew is clearly committed to achieving success in high school. We must all commit to helping him in whatever ways (big and small) that we can.

Bring it on!