My name is Dominick, I am in third grade and today is my first day of school. It's been a little while since I’ve been in school, especially in a new state and town.

Before we moved to the United States, I lived in Honduras. My mom thought it would be a great idea for our family to explore the opportunities we could find in America. So, we got on a plane and headed there! I was so excited because I had never been on a plane before.

In Honduras, my family and friends all knew that I could walk, but in my own way. They knew that I had a disability called cerebral palsy. Basically, it means that my brain sends signals to my muscles a little differently than most people’s.

When we got to America, I hadn’t been in school for a while because we were busy figuring out where to live and getting

 in touch with the family we had here. 

We ended up moving to Nashville, 

where my aunt and cousins 

lived.

Some people see me and think I can’t walk, but I can—I just need a little support. My mom was nervous about sending me to school because she’d always helped me walk by holding my hand. She was worried about who would help me when she wasn’t there. But my aunt told her that in the public school system, I had the right to a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE), which meant I could go to a public school, no matter what.

A few days later, we went to my new school. When we got there, I was excited to see all the other kids my age. I sat in the office with my mom, waiting to find out where my classroom would be.

 I didn’t really understand what they were saying since I only spoke Spanish, but Ms. Christy, the school translator, was really nice and funny.

 I liked her, she would always check in on me and say hi.

 I think I even made her laugh with my Spanish jokes.

The principal came down and asked my parents if they had any paperwork for me, something that was called an IEP, which would state any information that would help me walk or move throughout the school building. We had no idea what they were talking about.

The principal explained that because I had a clear physical disability, my family could start the process of getting an appropriate evaluation. She said that the testing would help provide support and accommodations, especially to assist me with moving around the school. She said everyone who could support me would be at the meeting (PT, OT, SLP)  I was kind of excited because it sounded like they would help me walk at school without my mom having to be there. I love my mom so much, but I was excited to be with my friends without her always being around.

PT?  OT? SLP? 

?????

My mom agreed and set up a meeting to sign the papers so they could help me. In the meantime, I made new friends and met some teachers. They were all really nice, but in the classroom I was in, I felt like the other kids were younger than me. They told me it was a special classroom that could help me until my education plan was ready. It was fun, but I wanted to spend most of the day with kids my own age, not just part of the day.