Mosaic Learning

08/20/2026

I’m genuinely wondering:

When did protecting students with technology become so restrictive that the technology itself started creating barriers to education?

I understand student privacy.
I understand cybersecurity.
I understand safety.

But when teachers can’t access apps, Chrome extensions, accessibility features, instructional websites, or even control basic settings that help their students learn…

When students have to navigate unnecessary technology procedures just to make sure their work doesn’t disappear…

When the tools we were given to remove barriers to learning start creating new ones…

What are we actually accomplishing?

And then we turn around and ask teachers why students aren’t meeting expectations.

Especially in special education, technology isn’t a luxury. Sometimes it is the accommodation, the communication system, the reading support, the writing support, or the thing that makes independence possible.

I’m not saying schools shouldn’t have safeguards.

I’m asking:

Are we protecting students—or are we protecting the system from risk at the expense of student access?

I’d genuinely love to hear from parents, students, teachers, and administrators.

What are you seeing?

Because I have a feeling this conversation is much bigger than my school district.

07/29/2026

📢 Important Federal Special Education Legislation to Watch

Parents, educators, advocates, and anyone who cares about students with disabilities—there are several federal bills currently being considered by the U.S. Senate that could have a meaningful impact on special education and disability rights.

While these bills cover different topics, they all touch on how students with disabilities are identified, supported, and protected.

Here’s a quick overview:

✅ S. 5046 – Prohibit the Transfer of Certain Department of Education Programs
This bipartisan bill would prevent several key offices—including the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)—from being moved out of the U.S. Department of Education. Many disability advocacy organizations support this because they believe special education should remain an education and civil rights issue rather than be administered by another federal agency.

❌ S. 5038 – Special Education Administration Protection Act
This bill would prevent OSERS from being moved specifically to the Department of Health and Human Services, but it would not prevent it from being transferred to another federal agency. Some organizations, including COPAA, believe this leaves an important loophole.

✅ S. 3589 – RISE Act
This bill would make it easier for students with disabilities transitioning from high school to college to access accommodations by allowing existing documentation—such as an IEP or Section 504 Plan—to satisfy many documentation requirements, reducing the need for costly reevaluations.

✅ S. 4689 – READ Act
This bill aims to strengthen evidence-based reading instruction and literacy supports for students, including many with disabilities.

❌ S. 3010 – 21st Century Dyslexia Act
Although the title sounds appealing, COPAA opposes this legislation. Their concerns include reopening portions of IDEA, requiring IQ testing for dyslexia identification, and potentially weakening existing protections by emphasizing one disability category over IDEA’s comprehensive evaluation process. Other organizations support this bill, so it is worth reading multiple perspectives before forming an opinion.

💬 Why should this matter to all of us?

These bills are about much more than politics. They shape how special education is governed, how students access services, how colleges recognize disabilities, and how disability rights are protected at the federal level.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, administrator, therapist, or advocate, staying informed helps ensure that decisions affecting millions of students include the voices of the people who know them best.

📚 Learn more:

* COPAA Policy Issues & Position Statements⁠
* COPAA Public Policy Letters⁠
* RISE Act Information & Advocacy Page⁠

I encourage everyone to read the bills, review perspectives from multiple organizations, and reach out to your elected officials if you have concerns or support. An informed community is one of the strongest advocates our students can have.

07/29/2026

I’m excited to share that I was selected for the New Hampshire Leadership Series through UNH’s Institute on Disability!

Each year, only about 30 people from across the state are chosen for this eight-month cohort. The group brings together people with disabilities, family members, educators, advocates, and community leaders. The focus is on disability rights, education, public policy, state systems, and how to turn what we learn into real, meaningful change for people with disabilities and their families.

One of the parts I’m most excited about is the action campaign. Participants work together on a real disability-related issue and take concrete steps toward change. Past participants and graduates have helped influence policies, improve services, strengthen inclusive practices, and build organizations such as ABLE NH.

This opportunity feels especially meaningful to me because I care deeply about both protecting individual students and families and changing the systems that continue to create the same barriers. I’m incredibly proud and honored to be one of the people selected. It feels like real recognition of the work I have done, what I believe in, and the kind of difference they think I could make.
-Dena

07/03/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1HP6Vv4qmb/?mibextid=wwXIfr

07/02/2026

This TED Talk by Catlin Tucker is exactly the conversation education needs right now.

We cannot keep preparing children for the future using systems designed for the past.

It is time to stop pretending that outdated models of teaching and learning are still working for today’s students. Kids are different. The world is different. Learning should be designed differently, too.

If you care about children, access, engagement, and meaningful learning, take 15 minutes and watch this keynote.

It is powerful, timely, and necessary.



Record numbers of teachers are leaving the profession, and too many...

06/16/2026

This June, don’t overlook the small steps. They were the beginning of something beautiful. 🐛🦋

Growth was happening all along!

06/08/2026

Parents should not need a law degree to participate in special education meetings.

So I made something simpler ❤️

Save this for your next IEP meeting.

05/30/2026

We need to stop educating our students like it is still 1900!

12/08/2025