Special Education Today newsletter 4(46)
What about the past week on SET?
It’s time again to take a look back at the previous week as we begin this next one. In this edition of the newsletter for the week ending 11 May 2025—and, hey, it’s the 46th of this fourth year of Special Education Today!—you, Dear Readers, will find a photo, a report about the current SET situation, a listing of posts for the week, and (maybe) some commentary.
Photo
Even though mother’s day is in the rearview mirror for this year, I wanted to acknowledge my own mother life. I added this photo of my mother1 and my aunt from—I’m guessing—the 1940s. Alice Roberta Hannah Lloyd had her first child in 1941 at age 18. My aunt, who was 15 months older than my mother, had her first child in 1951.
I am deeply indebted to my mother, She was wonderful to me (as she was to all of her children). She was my first and probably my most influential teacher. For mother’s day, Pat and I took flowers to her grave (and to the grave sites of three more generations of mothers before her).
Status
SET has been on a growth spurt for the past month. Since 11 April 2025, > 50 new subscribers have joined the ranks. The total number of newsletter subscribers and notes followers is > 1200.
For those who are new to SET, here’s the essential difference between subscribing and following: (a) Subscribers receive posts in their mailbox but (b) followers see notes (briefer messages that sometimes refer to (b1) posts and show my ac (b2) activity (e.g., likes) on other ‘stacks.
Welcome to lots of new subscribers. I’ve sent some of you individual “howdy” messages, but I’m way behind in managing that correspondence. Here is a welcome to Scott S., Fang X., Gina M., Robin S., Jamie D., Sarah W., Gary S,, Heather B., and others who signed up recently.
And here’s a very special welcome to Pam S., Anna O., and Jane N. Y’all rock!
Jen W., Leena S., Angelique, W., and Betsy T. for dropping comments this past week. Keep ‘em coming! And, a tip o’ the cap to Sandra D. for restacking a post.
Also, thanks to the 50-55 or you who dropped likes on posts this week. I don’t have the data in a nice orderly array, but I am pretty sure there have never been that many likes in any one week.
Posts
The posts for this past week were headlined, of course, by our remembrance of Lynn Fuchs. That post quickly became the most frequently viewed post of all those I have published on SET. The eight other posts, listed here, were also quite widely read and you may revisit them via the links on each one. Except the newsletter 4(46), they will go behind the pay wall 4 to 10 days.
Special Education Today newsletter 4(46): Are you ready to review the last week's traffic and read some other notes with the recap?
It's easy: Say, "Thank you!": What's the right gift to teachers for teacher appreciation week?
JAMA reporter on removing food dyes: What did this reporter learn from authorities?
"Sketching a New Conservative Education Agenda" by R. Hess and A. Low:
What's to know about special education in the newest edition of this book?
Dancing with crutches: What can one learn about mobility assistive devices from a dance company?
Lynn S. Fuchs, 1950-2025: A giant among giants passed away
International views of RFK, Jr., comments on autism: How have the US cabinet secretary's words about autism been received around Earth?
"SoR" and "DI"—free Webinar: What's the overlap between the science of reading and Direct Instruction?
Once again: Saluting the mothers among us: Thanks for the gift of life!
To read all the posts including those behind the pay wall in the archive, please upgrade to a paid subscription.
Notes & comment
Writing remembrances and obituaries is one of the most difficult parts of editing SET. Almost all of the people for whom I’ve added obituaries here have been at least repeated acquaintances of mine, and often they are friends. The research and writing is demanding in itself—reviewing documents, establishing the facts, phrasing—but when one is writing about a friend of long-standing, the task is it all the more difficult. It’s a damn good thing that modern keyboards are largely water resistant. Of course, one always frets about spilling a beverage on them, but writing these obituaries makes me worry about shorting a keyboard by crying on it.
As it happens, when I travelled home from the Bader-Kauffman (there’s a reminder of another obituary), I listened to an audio book called “I See You’ve Called in Dead: A Novel” by John Kenney. The story is about Bud Stanley, a newsman who writes obituaries for a news-wire service. One night, on a lark he accidentally wrote and then mistakenly published his own obituary (“Bud Stanley…former Mr. Universe, failed porn star, and mediocre obituary writer, is dead”), and that led to a series of ironic experiences. His publishing company’s Human Resources office seeks to discipline him, but can’t because the HR database has him listed as dead. He has extended conversations with a neighbor boy who many of us would probably say has high-functioning autism. He cements his relationship with a house mate named Tim who uses a wheelchair and needs assistance to get from his chair into the driver’s seat of his specially equipped car. On the recommendation of a woman he met, he takes to attending the funerals of people he doesn’t know (many providing opportunities for ironic observations about people and life). Ultimately things are resolved, and along the way to that resolution, Bud left his mopey, self-pitying way of living behind.
Each of the characters—Bud, his pal Tim, the boy Leo, the woman Clara—embrace life, albeit in different ways. Writing obituaries reminds me that I must do so, too. Life is too brief to waste. If one loves something, one shouldn’t let it slip away.
And I hope that is the case for you, Dear Readers. I hope that you are taking care of yourselves, occupying yourselves with rewarding (even reinforcing) activities, taking care of your friends, and (of course) teaching your children well.
Peace & love,
JohnL
John Wills Lloyd, Ph.D.
UVA Professor Emeritus
Founder & Editor, https://www.SpecialEducationToday.com/
Please do not confuse SET with a product that uses the same name and is published by the Council for Exceptional Children. SET predated CEC’s publication by decades. Despite my appreciation for CEC, this product is not designed to promote that organization nor should the views expressed here be considered to represent the views or policies of that organization.
Footnote
There’s something that feels off about this photo.