If you are the parent or guardian of a child with special needs, the public school system can be a tough one to navigate.  One minute you feel like you're finally on the right path and the next you realize how far you have to go.  Our family's ride has been a rollercoaster to say the least.  This journey has opened our eyes to the cracks within the system and fueled the desire to expose them in order to create a more productive, appropriate, and pleasant educational experience for children with special needs. As an educator with a degree in special education and a mom of children with special needs, I am completely baffled by the inconsistency and lack of transparency I have encountered on both sides of the table.  It has always been a mystery as to why it is such a challenge for people to listen to one another and devise a plan that is individualized... truly individualized ,  for a child with special needs.  It is called an IEP team for a reason:  to ensure a child's