Mrs. DeFusco's Classroom

12/08/2025

And when we talk like this, no wonder all other stakeholders roll their eyes..🙄

11/15/2025

🎉🍔 Fundraiser Time! 🍟🎉

GoldStar Learning Options is teaming up with Lazy Dog for a fundraiser from November 15th–19th! 🙌

All you have to do is mention GoldStar or use our coupon code when you order, and a portion of the proceeds will come back to support our amazing participants and programs! 💛

We can’t thank you all enough for the incredible support — but we can send you to a great place for a great meal! 😉

So grab your family, tell your friends, and treat yourself while helping a great cause! 💫

11/05/2025

🍎✊🏼
Candidates backed by across the state won or are currently leading their race. Supporters of and said NO to conservative donors and the attempts from out of state billionaires interfering in our schools and our local elections.

09/23/2025

🚨 AUCD Responds to the White House’s Autism Announcement
Today, President Trump and HHS officials amplified debunked science linking autism to Tylenol as well as the childhood vaccine schedule, and touted folinic acid “cures,” —ignoring decades of sound research and silencing autistic voices.

The facts:
✅Acetaminophen use during pregnancy has not been shown to cause autism.
✅Evidence for folinic acid as an autism “treatment” is extremely limited.
✅Vaccines are safe and do not cause autism.

Read AUCD’s full response debunking the Administration's dangerous claims here: http://bit.ly/4gBLkCY

09/23/2025

Tylenol does not cause autism.
Vaccines do not cause autism.
RFK Jr is not a Doctor.
Dr. OZ is a forporfit snake oil salesman.

RFK Jr:
-- Is a recovering heroine addict
-- Unknowingly had a worm eating his brain
-- Gave himself mercury poisoning, which he made worse due to inability to listen to his Dr and his continuing to eat contaminated tuna.

08/07/2025

While I was scrolling on LinkedIn I came across this post, and left a comment, which was then removed in under 10 minutes.
Good thing I thought to screen shot right away.
Why it's Dr. Marrero, DPS, and The DPS Foundation censoring their posts?

07/29/2025

✈️ such an amazing opportunity!

There is still time for you to REGISTER (it's FREE!). Join us at Denver International Airport (DEN) this Saturday, August 2 @ 10am for the 2025 WINGS FOR ALL event!

Wings for All® is an airport rehearsal program designed specifically for individuals with Autism or other intellectual disabilities. Families are given the opportunity to practice all steps involved in air travel including: entering the airport, obtaining a boarding card, going through TSA security, and boarding a real plane (that does not take off, but does travel a lap around the airport!). A follow-up Q&A and reception will be held for all participants with light snacks and refreshments after deboarding the plane.

This event is FREE to families, but pre-registration is required as space is limited. Wings for All is a national program of The Arc of the US. For more information, check out the Wings program website at thearc.org/wings or contact Kerry Mauger at ([email protected]). Feel free to reach out to Yaletzi ([email protected]) in The ArcCO Office

Participant Registration Link HERE:
https://fs30.formsite.com/wingsforautism/0j6iae4k7u/index

Spread the word!!!

Denver International Airport, Arc Thrift Stores, AdvocacyDenver, The Arc Mesa County, The Arc Pikes Peak Region, The Arc Arapahoe, Douglas & Elbert Counties, Arc of the Central Mountains, The Arc of Northeast Colorado, The Arc of Southwest Colorado, The Arc of Pueblo, The Arc of Larimer County, The Arc of Adams County, Association for Community Living (ACL), The Arc of Aurora, The Arc in Jefferson County, PEAK Parent Center, Disability Law Colorado, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council, Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association,Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council, Denver7, FOX31 KDVR.com, Colorado Public Radio, 9NEWS (KUSA), The Denver Post

05/04/2025

Educators said time and time again that increasing class size to maximize enrollment would decrease the quality of the education we would be able to provide.

We begged at local school board meetings.
We wrote letters and emails to elected officials from the local school board all the way to governor of our state.
We engaged to families we serve, we disseminated FACTS and peer reviewed research.
We stood up, marched, gathered and yelled from the streets to board meetings, on social media and in person.

No one listened.

And now, here we are..

When will the people that make the decisions listen to those in the classrooms?
Better yet, when are we going to start putting actual educators in these positions instead of professional students who have never worked as a classroom educator or have spent less than 10 years, in a classroom.
Just because you have a PhD or multiple credentials doesnt mean you understand what it is like in the classroom.

Stop ignoring Educators.
The proof is there, the vast majority of the time that we unite like this, stand up and say "No, dont do that! That is a bad idea.." we are right.

These children are the future, not just in Denver, and not just this generation, but all students.
Generations of students across the country have had their educational experience put at risk in some way or another.
American students are treated like lab rats time and time again, by those placed in positions of power who are attempting to run schools like a for profit business.

And then, we wonder why literacy rates are down
We wonder why we rank 28th out of 37 compared to other countries.

Our supposed leaders in education are intentionally diminishing the quality of offered programming. Even after given research backed information why their decisions are harmful.
Leaders force schools to pack classrooms with too many students. Governmentment Authoritarians slash funding our districts have counted on for decades, and programs (HeadStart & Early HeadStart) that support the most vulnerable in our communities that are proven to be effective, are being shut down.
Large school districts bargain with educators in bad faith, revoking promised raises and ignoring the pleas of educators and community members.

Then all those who ignored the pleas, everyone who said educators were fear mongering and lazy, turn around and lash out at the educators and say they are the root cause of the problem, if only they would just shut up and do their job.

If only we could.
If only we were trusted to be the professionals we trained to be.
If only we were recognized as professionals who not only earned degrees, some more than 1 and passed exams for our credentials, again many educators have various credentials they've earned.
If only the people that make the decisions had to be licensed or have to pay out of their own pocket to: continue their education, renew credentials, attend conferences, workshops and continue to stay up to date on the most current peer reviewed research.
Not only are educators required to collect continuing education credits in order to maintain credentials, they are also in charge of finding opportunities for continuing education, pay for it, sometimes pay for travel and take time off to engage in the learning, complete courses or other specialized trainings.

If only half the jobs in our corrupt society were regulated a fraction of the amount educators are..maybe then society would not only respect those who educate our future but maybe then society and its figure heads would also listen when educators say, "thats a bad idea".

05/02/2025

What about the COLA that the union bargained for, that was agreed to and signed into contract and then revoked?

How come there is never money for the educators in the classrooms face to face with students, but there is always more money for the figure heads?

Why are we continuing to reward someone who bargained in bad faith going back and taking money out of the pockets of educators with not only a contract extension but continuing the offer them a bonus structure?

Where is the money for those who do the real work day in and day out?

05/02/2025

Take a few minutes to educate yourself on what Apraxia is today.
👄
🔗 https://www.apraxia-kids.org/