Megan Barella

Best practices in school (and at home) for neurodiverse learners are best practices for all students.

Individual students' IEPs and accommodations that: can take years to obtain; schools may/may not have the support and education to implement; will eventually sink under-resourced schools is NOT the goal imo.

The goal IS rather widespread transformation in the shift from behaviorism to brain-based discipline in schools.

Where does that begin?

A small, but big step is instead of asking:
"What is the consequence for that?"

We start asking:
"What is the solution?"
"What unmet needs is this behavior communicating?"

This shift takes no more/less time to implement, but it is more effective!

It also requires training and support for staff - and the belief that we can consciously choose to invest time and energy into our young people proactively, rather than reactively. ❤️🚸❤️

Discipline means to teach and guide, not punish.
And remember that in 2021 a National State of Emergency was declared on Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

Young people today have been through a lot and it is our duty as their stewards to protect and guide them to the best of our ability.

2016 was about...
Wooden blocks for hours
Sand boxes
Art and science projects
Library and scooters
almost every day after school
House full of kids all day everyday

2016 was about...
Living in 3 different homes 🤷‍♀️
Learning how to use the riding lawn mower
Unexpectedly trying on wedding dresses to raise awareness for victims of trafficking
Online dating before the pandemic made people weird

2016 was about...
Family visiting from abroad
Endless beach days
Friends that are still family

2016 was about...
Blogging
Working at my son's school
Teaching in the community

2016 was about....
Loving the kids who are teens now when they were littles.

A decade ago that feels both like a lifetime and a blink of an eye. 🩷

A legal observer is not a protestor.
Not that any protestor should ever be shot and killed.
Protesting is protected under this shaky Constitution of ours.

As someone who has gone through the legal observer training, it is strictly enforced that we do NOT EVER interfere with ICE activities.

That is NOT the role of the legal observer.
Being a legal observer is a volunteer, professional role.

To say that Renee Nicole Good was trying to run over ICE agents is an outright lie.

ICE is a terrorist organization.

As we mourn Renee's life, let's also remember the 32 people who died in ICE detention in 2025 alone.

Renee's life is no more or less valuable than the innocent people slaughtered in ICE detention.

And if ICE felt comfortable murdering an innocent person in PUBLIC yesterday and then denying her medical access, what are the ICE terrorists doing behind closed doors?

Now is an important time to get involved with the Immigrant Rights Coalition and/or Migrant Watch in your community. Donate, train, show up, even just getting on the email list.