Ethics and Advocacy in Special Education
Are ethics and special education mutually exclusive? As parents try hard to advocate for their children with regards to special education services, placements and supports, it can often seem like a very unfair discussion. Parents want to understand what all the possible resources that may be available, while a school district appears to provide little, if any, information about what may be available. This where the idea of ethics can come into play.
A parent’s perspective is to get any and all possible supports for their student so that the student can be educated to the fullest extent possible. Simple. However a school district’s perspective is to spend as little money as possible (but they are never allowed to mention the budget when discussing what supports may be “appropriate”). Simple. So when at an IEP meeting, should a school district fully answer when asked by a parent “what are the different supports/services/placement options?”.
As a parent, in order to have “meaningful participation” as an IEP team member, you must have the same information as the school staff in order to make an “informed” decision. So the answer to the above question is yes, a parent should be told of all of the possible support options. Then the entire IEP team can consider what is appropriate and what is not.
Advocacy and Ethics in Special Education
The issue is that school districts most often will not provide the necessary and requested information to parents (due to their budgetary concerns) and the parent then is unable to make an informed decision. This is when the ethical behavior of the district is most concerning. The district is “controlling” the information that is being considered to fully discuss what supports are appropriate for a student. This situation will likely ended up with a student being given a system of supports that are NOT based on individual need, but based on budgetary consideration and an intentional withholding of information by the school district. This will not set up any student for success.
How does a parent deal with this very common situation? Education. Read books such as “From Emotions to Advocacy” by Pam and Pete Wright. Document everything in writing and audio record all IEP meetings. Learn what “prior written notice” is.
Do not depend on a school district to act ethically.
Hire an advocate. Learn your rights.
http://www.aspireadvocacy.com
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As parents, we understand, As advocates, we can help.