At a holiday networking event several years ago, an educational therapist asked Leigh why parents needed help advocating for their children; why do parents need an advocate?
The simple answer: special education rules and regulations are complicated. There is a lot of information to remember and parents need to know—and use—those rules when in an IEP. Once you’ve learned some of the rules and regulations, practical application can be an additional challenge. Simply knowing the rules is not enough: one must also understand team dynamics.
Every IEP decision is a team decision. Is there someone present at the meeting who can authorize district spending? Did the student receive evaluation in all suspected areas of disability? Are the speech language pathologist’s goals measurable? What do you do when he insists they are, the team backs him, and you know they are not measurable? How does one respond when the administrative designee announces she will be reducing services at the next IEP? She is the employer of everyone else on the IEP team. The parent has to be both the parent AND the person watching the IEP team to make sure that their student is getting what they need. These are just a few examples of when parents need an advocate.
Do I need an advocate if I am familiar with the rules and regulations surrounding IEPs and special education?
Many of our parents are skilled at knowing the rules. They have done their homework, they know their child’s team, and are experts on their children’s educational needs. They work full time, with their children or in corporate jobs, and know how to read a team. Why do they need an advocate?
Advocating for YOUR child is hard. We speak from experience on this. The parental love that makes us want to give our all for our children can sometimes complicate IEP discussions. A district can keep throwing objections at a parent. If the parent cannot answer one of the objections, the school district may attempt to persuade that parent to withdraw their request. An unreasonable district response may be so frustrating that it can be hard to think clearly in that moment. This has happened in the past to both Susie and Leigh when they advocated for their own children.
As professional advocates, Susie and Leigh care passionately about your child’s education. We are there to support you and your child. We can either speak on your behalf at meetings, or provide backup when you speak.
Talk to an advocate! As parents, we understand. As advocates, we can help.