Precerpt from Raising God's Rainbow Makers: Advocating for Doah's School Placement

When we moved to California, we had to find the right school for Doah. He had specific learning issues. He had certain behavioral issues, and he had certain physical issues. The automatic placement by a school system tends to be the course of least resistance, not always the best course for the child.

Lizzie visited every classroom that might have been selected for Doah, once we learned that the planned one certainly did not meet our expectations. She found the ideal classroom and a very talented teacher, who happened to be the wife of the superintendent, but it was not on the normal bus route for our neighborhood.

We met with the superintendent and a special education committee. Our point was that if they were going to have to send a bus to our house anyway, we were already in a non-route, special bus situation, so why could it not take Doah to the program that was most appropriate for him. There was considerable pushback because it was not the way they usually did things. 

I took the bull by the horns. Looking at the superintendent, I asked him directly, "Is there a problem with that teacher that you are not sharing." Of course, he pushed back hard. Of course, not! (After all, it was his wife, but he did not know that we knew that.)

"In that case," we told him, "We have to take our daughter to a medical appointment, so we will leave you with this issue now. When we are done at the doctor's, we will call to find out whether you have worked out the bus issues or whether we need to meet in court to determine whether you should make an appropriate placement."

We left. We had the appointment. We returned home. We called.

Guess what? They saw no need for a court discussion; they had worked out the busing difficulty. For three years, Doah stayed with that teacher.

Then, the teacher was transferred to another city in the school district, the city where I worked. The superintendent called us in to let us know. He and the teacher were there - husband and wife - and just the two of them.  He was pacing, nervous. Karen, the teacher, was sitting calmly at the table. 

As soon as we came in, he told us about the transfer. Then he informed us that once Karen moved, we would have to start looking for another placement in our city. However, Karen had a suggestion that he was willing to consider if we were: assign Doah to the teacher, not to a classroom.

Oh, yes! We concurred. 

We would have to provide the transportation, something that parents were not expected to do, in general. Not too much of a problem. Both Lizzie and I worked in the same city, and Shane was a teenager and already in college. We had cars. We could take turns. The agreement was concluded.

Each morning, I put the name of the person who was to pick up Doah that day on the refrigerator, and it worked out well; not too much load on anyone. Then, one morning I forgot. I noticed as I left for work that I had not posted a name on the frig, and Lizzie and Shane had already left. No harm done; I could pick up Doah. 

At the end of the school day, I headed over to Doah's school. There I found both Lizzie and Shane; they had each come to the conclusion that since there was no name on the frig, they better go get Doah, just in case. 

With all of us converged on the teacher, she commented that had she been worried about Doah ever being forgotten, that thought had just gone right out the window!

For two more years (until high school), Doah enjoyed a good educational placement. Because we had advocated for him from the beginning.

Book Description:

Raising God's Rainbow Makers: A Family Memoir of Grace, Grit, and Growing Up Different

What happens when a military family welcomes four children—each with wildly different needs—into a world not always built to support them?

In Raising God’s Rainbow Makers, one mother shares the remarkable journey of raising two children with complex disabilities—one with spina bifida, one with CHARGE Syndrome—and two intellectually gifted children, all born in different states during years of military life. Through medical crises, educational challenges, and societal roadblocks (both intentional and unintentional), this honest and inspiring memoir tells the story of how one family built a life of strength, compassion, and resilience.

With warmth and unflinching honesty, the author reflects on emergency surgeries, IEP battles, unexpected victories, and the fierce sibling bonds that formed in the face of it all. The children—now grown—bear witness to the power of support, faith, and never giving up.

This is not just a story of survival. It is a celebration of difference, a chronicle of hope, and a powerful testament to what love and determination can build when the world says "impossible." 


Keywords:

Parenting memoir; Special needs parenting; Raising children with disabilities; Military family life; Family resilience; Inspirational family story; Faith-based memoir; Coping with medical challenges; Sibling support stories; Gifted children; Spina bifida; CHARGE Syndrome; Hydrocephalus; Congenital disabilities; Complex medical needs; Pediatric neurosurgery; IEP and special education; Gifted education; Educational advocacy; Inclusive education; Hope and healing; Courage and strength; Love and perseverance; Raising different children; Disability acceptance; Parenting through adversity; Overcoming barriers; Finding joy in hardship; Special needs journey; Family unity and support; For parents of disabled children; For parents of gifted children; For educators and therapists; Christian parenting memoir; For families facing rare diagnoses; Real-life parenting stories; Memoirs about raising children; Stories of medical miracles

 



For more posts about Elizabeth and her books, click HERE. 

Read more stories -- and photos -- about the Mahlou family in the blog (no longer maintained), Clan of Mahlou.






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