MaDonna Maurer’s Post

Learn how to support children's natural desire to learn and connect by developing our interactions and ensuring that they are playful, with these tips from Dawn Rigby: https://buff.ly/3ZwtQjC #PlayMatters

We know that Camp Lighthouse is over, but those of us involved with this amazing experience are still buzzing over it. We truly couldn't pull it off without partners, sponsors, and friends like Region 7 Education Service Center. Our partnership and shared mission to serve students with visual impairments has grown year over year, ultimately resulting in Camp Lighthouse. We are so grateful for the input and hours of time given to help make our camp a success! Check out this blog, so perfectly written by Lannette Burlingame, Special Education Specialist in the area of Visual Impairment at Region 7 ESC, that explains in more detail the importance of opportunities like Camp Lighthouse. (and keep an eye out this week for our official camp video!)

Engaging with school children through icebreakers is a delightful experience that brings forth moments filled with laughter, enthusiasm, and a chance to reconnect with the exuberance of youth. These interactions transcend mere activities, becoming bridges that span generations and evoke the boundless curiosity and vitality that define youth. In my role at Zav Foundation, I am privileged to work at the grassroots level, where each icebreaker session presents an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution. Interacting with school kids in these activities not only sparks joy and camaraderie but also nurtures connections that run deep. Through our initiatives at Zav Foundation, we strive to empower these young minds, equipping them with skills and experiences that shape their futures positively. Every icebreaker session serves as a platform for building confidence, fostering teamwork, and instilling a passion for exploration and learning. These interactions underscore the profound impact of simple yet meaningful engagements and shared moments of joy. It is in these instances that we discover the essence of effecting change at the grassroots level. Let's continue to embrace the energy and excitement of icebreakers with school kids, for in those moments, we not only connect with our youth but also rediscover the youthful spirit within ourselves. [Visual: An image capturing the dynamic interactions during an icebreaker session with school children, radiating joy and connection.] #AmanJainPhD #AJInsights #AJSpeaks #Icebreakers #SchoolKids #YouthfulEnergy #ZavFoundation #GrassrootsImpact #Empowerment #ZavFoundation

Looking for ways to raise responsible, independent, and caring children? Check out our latest article for practical tips and fun activities that make learning responsibility enjoyable. From chore charts to role-playing games, we've got you covered! Read more and start building a bright future for your little ones!

Day 38 of my #70DaysOfDSA challenge, and I tackled the following problem: Candy (Hard) Problem Summary: There are n children standing in a line, each with a rating value given in the integer array ratings. The goal is to distribute candies to these children such that: Each child must have at least one candy. Children with a higher rating get more candies than their neighbors. The task is to find the minimum number of candies needed to distribute to the children. Insight of the Day: This problem highlights the importance of understanding greedy algorithms and their application in optimization problems. Distributing candies according to the rules requires careful consideration of each child's rating relative to their neighbors. Key Takeaways: Greedy Algorithm: A two-pass greedy algorithm can be used effectively to solve this problem. First, traverse the array from left to right to ensure each child has more candies than the previous one if their rating is higher. Then, traverse from right to left to make sure the left child has more candies than the right one if their rating is higher. Optimal Distribution: The key is to ensure that the local conditions are met (each child with a higher rating than their neighbors has more candies) while minimizing the total number of candies distributed. Learned Question: How does the greedy approach help in optimizing the distribution of candies in this problem? Answer: The greedy approach helps optimize the distribution of candies by ensuring that at each step, the local conditions are met. By making two passes (left to right and right to left), we ensure that the children with higher ratings get more candies than their neighbors, and we do so in an efficient manner that minimizes the total number of candies needed. If you found this helpful, please hit the like button! I'd love to hear your thoughts on greedy algorithms and any tips you might have for similar optimization problems. #SoftwareDevelopment #ContinuousLearning #ProfessionalGrowth #DSA #Day38 #JoinMe

Curious about the alphabet soup of special education terms? In this EdWeek article I define some of the common terms and explain their origin and evolution over time.

🌟 Introducing Harmony Hare: Uniting Hearts & Lighting Up the World 🌟 Imagine a classroom or community where every child knows they are valued, every star shines brightly, and no one gets left behind. This is the vision of Harmony Hare, representing Unity Consciousness and the Heroes for Humanity mission of "We Are, I Am." 🐰💫 Through the compassionate guidance of Harmony Hare and Goose's "V" method, children are discovering the power of shared leadership, inclusion, and the beauty of lifting one another. Together, they learn that their unique strengths are part of something much bigger—the light they create together illuminates the world. 🌍✨ 🦢 Goose’s Guidance – The "V" Method 🦢 With Goose’s wisdom, children embrace the idea of flying together, taking turns leading and supporting so that every friend can soar. No Goose Left Behind! ⭐️ Each Star Shines Brightly ⭐️ Every child is celebrated for their strengths, and every "star" adds light to the group. When they all come together, they create a powerful glow that reaches far beyond the classroom. Daily Practices with Harmony Hare 🌞 Morning Reflection: Daily affirmations with Harmony Hare, inspiring kindness and unity 🤲 Shared Leadership Rotation: Everyone has a turn to lead and support 🎉 Celebrating Each Child: Every child's contributions are recognized and celebrated Through the spirit of Harmony Hare, children don’t just learn values—they live them. They feel the joy of connecting with others and know that together, they are part of something beautiful. 🌠 Let's raise empowered kids who know that “We Are, I Am”—who understand that their light matters and together, they have the power to light up the world. 💖🌏 #HarmonyHare #HeroesForHumanity #UnityConsciousness #EmpoweredKids #SharedLeadership #shinebright

Today we look at Empathy, the last element of PACE. Empathy creates an environment where young people feel safe, valued, and free to be themselves. It sits at the heart of Limitless Futures CIC provision because it: - Builds Trust: When we listen with empathy, we show young people that their feelings and experiences matter. This builds trust, forming the foundation of strong, supportive relationships. - Promotes Emotional Safety: Empathy helps create a space where every child feels understood and accepted, allowing them to express themselves without fear of judgment, knowing we are with them every step of their journey. - Fosters Connection: Empathy deepens our connections, creating a sense of belonging that encourages young people to fully engage in learning and life. To find out more about how we use empathy to create environments where every child feels safe to be themselves: https://lnkd.in/eT_pFp-7 The PACE approach help adults build safe, trusting relationships with children and young people, It stands for Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy. Please see previous post to learn about the other elements. #empathymatters #safespace #EBSA #eotas #anxiouschild #alternativeprovision

Breaking: Save As: Ability | Ep.48 - Mastering College with a Disability—Mr. Motivation’s Playbook! Are you ready to crush college with confidence? 📚 David interviews Michael J. Herman "Mr. Motivation"®, bestselling author and disability advocate. Michael shares his secrets to surviving and thriving in college with a disability. From building your "winning team" to developing unstoppable habits, this episode is packed with tips and strategies for success! Don't miss this masterclass on mastering college life. 🎧 Website: ⁠https://lnkd.in/eJt4vTXj⁠ The Critic At Large: ⁠https://lnkd.in/eYMNM7p8 David D'Arcangelo is your #DisabilityPolicyExpert. #SaveAsAbility lives within the #PodcastNetwork of PodPro Entertainment. #PodernFamily #PodNation #Podcast #TheNewRadio Michael J Herman is a screenwriter, speaker, entrepreneur, business owner, advocate for the disabled, and author of the book How to Succeed in College With The Disability: The No BS Roadmap to Your Diploma. Herman is the real deal! Blind and paralyzed at the age of five from a traumatic brain injury, Herman has crawled back, scraped back, and kicked back succeeding in ways never imagined. Teaching himself to see, speak, and move again was only the beginning. He had to overcome massive neurological and cognitive deficits in order to surmount and succeed in the educational system, and thrive as a creative entrepreneur. Herman has traveled the world, delivering more than 4000 professional presentations telling his story of overcoming disability, and giving people the permission they need to live their best life. He’s also raised more than seventy million dollars on behalf of the Disabled. Herman’s 2017 book, How to Succeed in College With A Disability: The No BS Roadmap to Your Diploma, available on Amazon and Kindle, inspires and empowers college-bound and college students on how to dominate the college experience. Herman’s company Enticing Enterprises coaches and consults in manifesting unrealized super powers. Herman’s motto is You Can Do It. And if you don’t know how, he’ll show you. #SaveAsAbility #Ability #Inclusive #Inclusivity #LaborForce #Disability #DisabilityEmployment #DEI #ReasonableAccommodation #Accommodation #DisabilityAdvocate #CollegeSuccess #InspirationDaily #StayMotivated #MrMotivation #DisabilityPride #WinningTeam #LifeWithDisability #AccessibleEducation #MotivationMonday #SuccessStories #Perseverance #CollegeLife #OvercomingObstacles #InclusionMatters #DareToSucceed #EducationForAll #BelieveAndAchieve #DisabilityAwareness #TheNewRadio IG: https://bit.ly/3QfkiEY X: https://lnkd.in/dnheWwbi TikTok: https://bit.ly/4538VVV Website: https://bit.ly/479sm0R Stream/Subscribe to Save As: Ability podcast our YouTube channel: https://lnkd.in/dHmwYxJy Rate/Review us to help our show reach new audiences!

“The unemployment rate of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities following high school is upwards of 70 percent,” Lidgus says. “There are a lot of reasons for this. However, the employment rate for students exiting our program is between 75 and 80 percent. Getting gainful, supportive, and meaningful work is what we all want. By unlocking a student’s interest in what they want to do, giving them the opportunity to take courses in that area, and supporting them along the way, we feel we have really flipped the script.” Every time I learn more about the inclusive post secondary education programs and educators I am awestruck as a Montessori educator. Why, because the phenomenon of nurturing the innate human potential that Dr Maria Montessori explained is abundantly thriving throughout life. We just need to prepare the way, and ourselves as educators. Beautifully written story/article on how inclusive post secondary education works.