How Important Is A Special Education Advocate?

Navigating the maze of special education can be mind-boggling. At the very least, the process of securing services related to special education for a child with a learning disability can be frustrating and emotional. The good news is that under the IDEA program (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), a child’s rights are protected and they are entitled to an appropriate and free public education. This also means that a parent or guardian is entitled to become an involved member of the team of professionals that are responsible for developing an Individual Education Plan (or IEP) for their children.

There are also a number of resources available to parents and guardians to help them understand their rights under the IDEA program. Some of them are as follows:

· Annual Guide to Special Education, Parent’s Rights (provided by the school)

· Online independent websites about specific disabilities

· The Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs

· Local school district’s website

· Parent Advisory Councils

However, when developing the IEP, the emotional interest factor is sometimes the very thing that makes parents ineffective negotiators or advocates as well. Sometimes it is difficult to actively and objectively listen when trying to openly communicate with school officials. There may be some parents that feel overwhelmed, intimidated or inadequate at comprehending all the complicated laws and available educational services. This is when the choice to have an advocate may be the right option to explore.

An educational advocate is not necessarily someone with credentials…although they can be. There are those who specialize in this area, however, there are no requirements for a person to advocate for special education services. Anyone, invited by the parents or a guardian, is welcome to attend the IEP meeting. Ideally this will be someone who supports you, but is also objective and a good listener. You may want to consider the following when enlisting a person who will assist you and make the best advocate for the special education of your child:

· Someone without children in your public school system. They may otherwise have had past prejudices, negative interactions or be viewed as biased.

· Someone who has some background history or experience at navigating the special education system is a definite plus! And if they are familiar with education laws or your child’s disability…even better!

· Someone who is an effective communicator and uses active listening skills.

· Someone trustworthy who can support you and aid in making appropriate decisions regarding a special education plan.

· Above all…choose someone with whom you are comfortable.

Ultimately, an expert in the area of special education law can be enlisted in the event that all appropriate services are not being offered or provided to your child. An individual in the field of education law who has knowledge of your child’s disability is most important if you feel your child and his/her rights are not being protected.