| Are you the parent of a child with autism that is having | | | | the services that you want for your child, be leery! |
| a dispute with school personnel, and would like some | | | | Unfortunately, there are no guarantees in special |
| help? Are you the parent of a child with a learning | | | | education, and advocates should not promise things |
| disability, or another type of disability, that could use an | | | | that they may not be able to get. An experienced |
| advocate to help you in getting an appropriate | | | | advocate who knows the law and your school district, |
| education for your child? This article will give you 5 | | | | should have a sense about what can be |
| qualities that make a good special education advocate | | | | accomplished. |
| An advocate is a person that has received special | | | | 3. A good advocate should be passionate about your |
| training, that helps parents navigate the special | | | | child, and the educational services that they need. |
| education system. In some cases the advocate is a | | | | Advocacy sometimes takes a lot of time. If the person |
| parent of a child themselves, but this is not always the | | | | helping you is not passionate about your child, they |
| case. Before you hire an advocate check on their | | | | may not be willing to help you for the length of time |
| experience, and also make sure that the advocate is | | | | that it takes to get your child an appropriate education. |
| familiar with your child's disability, so that they are able | | | | 4. A good advocate must be willing to stand up to |
| to advocate effectively | | | | special education personnel, when they disagree with |
| Qualities: | | | | them, or when the school personnel tell a lie. If the |
| 1 A good advocate must be familiar with the federal | | | | advocate you pick, has every quality, but is not willing |
| and state education laws that apply to special | | | | to stand up to school personnel, he or she will not be |
| education, and be willing to use them, when needed. | | | | an effective advocate for your child. |
| This is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act | | | | 5. A good advocate is detail oriented, and makes sure |
| (IDEA), State rules for special education (how they will | | | | that any services promised by special education |
| comply with IDEA), and No Child Left Behind Act | | | | personnel, are put in writing. A good advocate will read |
| (NCLB). The advocate does not have to memorize | | | | the IEP before they leave the meeting, and bring up |
| the laws, but should have a basic knowledge of what | | | | any changes that should be made. Sometimes the little |
| is in them. The advocate must also be willing to bring | | | | details are what makes for success! |
| up the laws, at IEP meetings, if this will benefit the child. | | | | By keeping in mind these 5 qualities, you will be better |
| 2. A good advocate should not make false promises | | | | equipped to finding an advocate that will be able to |
| to parents. If an advocate tells you. that they will get | | | | help you, get an appropriate education for your child. |