ADVOCACY
“You’re not broken!” “It is important to tell these vulnerable kids with disabilities that they are not broken. . . Often their struggles have more to do with how they’ve been treated than anything that is intrinsically wrong with them. It is important to refute the message they receive over and over that they are ‘stupid, crazy and lazy’...we have to work with the schools and the different systems that surround them to make sure they are celebrated for who they are…” -Jonathan Mooney-
PARENTAL ADVOCACY
You will hear the expression “you are your child’s best advocate” repeatedly and there is a reason for this - it’s true! You are likely the one who identified that there was a challenge, then researched it and brought it to the attention of others for help. During your child’s elementary education, and sometimes into middle school, you will need to be their voice and help them develop their own voice. You will have to keep tabs on what is going on and make sure their services and accommodations are being followed. We all want to help our children succeed and this is a very powerful way to do so. Here are some things you can do to advocate for your child:
· Educate yourself: Familiarize yourself on dyslexia, school services, and your child's rights, etc.
· Keep detailed records of all documentation, correspondence, test results and
meetings
· Be prepared to help educate others on dyslexia and how it affects your child
· Try to think ‘outside the box’ to find solutions for your student’s challenges
· Make yourself available for meetings with the school and be flexible
· Begin teaching your child, in partnership with their teachers, about how to self-advocate (see below)
· Stay personable and positive while you consistently monitor your student’s services and accommodations
Keep in mind, although classroom teachers are trained educators, they generally have very little specific training about learning disabilities. You do them (and your child) a service by explaining what dyslexia is, what it will look like in the classroom and how they can help.
SELF -ADVOCACY
Self-advocacy is the ability of your student to know what they need and be able to effectively communicate it to their teachers. You can make arrangements for accommodations for your student, but unless your child is clear on what those accommodations are and knows how to remind his/her teachers about them, they may be of no value. There are many ways for a student to self-advocate and it looks different depending on his/her age. Here are some examples:
· Educate their teachers on their disability and needs
· Respectfully remind the teacher of accommodations
· Ask for help or take the initiative to schedule a meeting with the teacher to prepare for or review a test or assignment
· Self-manage their grades by asking for extra credit when they need it
· Meet with the teachers prior to the start of the school year (or near the beginning) to review what the teacher(s) can expect from the pupil and what accommodations will look like in the classroom.
Sample Video of Student Self-Advocacy PowerPoint:
You will hear the expression “you are your child’s best advocate” repeatedly and there is a reason for this - it’s true! You are likely the one who identified that there was a challenge, then researched it and brought it to the attention of others for help. During your child’s elementary education, and sometimes into middle school, you will need to be their voice and help them develop their own voice. You will have to keep tabs on what is going on and make sure their services and accommodations are being followed. We all want to help our children succeed and this is a very powerful way to do so. Here are some things you can do to advocate for your child:
· Educate yourself: Familiarize yourself on dyslexia, school services, and your child's rights, etc.
· Keep detailed records of all documentation, correspondence, test results and
meetings
· Be prepared to help educate others on dyslexia and how it affects your child
· Try to think ‘outside the box’ to find solutions for your student’s challenges
· Make yourself available for meetings with the school and be flexible
· Begin teaching your child, in partnership with their teachers, about how to self-advocate (see below)
· Stay personable and positive while you consistently monitor your student’s services and accommodations
Keep in mind, although classroom teachers are trained educators, they generally have very little specific training about learning disabilities. You do them (and your child) a service by explaining what dyslexia is, what it will look like in the classroom and how they can help.
SELF -ADVOCACY
Self-advocacy is the ability of your student to know what they need and be able to effectively communicate it to their teachers. You can make arrangements for accommodations for your student, but unless your child is clear on what those accommodations are and knows how to remind his/her teachers about them, they may be of no value. There are many ways for a student to self-advocate and it looks different depending on his/her age. Here are some examples:
· Educate their teachers on their disability and needs
· Respectfully remind the teacher of accommodations
· Ask for help or take the initiative to schedule a meeting with the teacher to prepare for or review a test or assignment
· Self-manage their grades by asking for extra credit when they need it
· Meet with the teachers prior to the start of the school year (or near the beginning) to review what the teacher(s) can expect from the pupil and what accommodations will look like in the classroom.
Sample Video of Student Self-Advocacy PowerPoint:
A great way to boost your child’s confidence is to role play. He can then work out what he might want to say ahead of time and feel better prepared when the time comes. Give him or her express permission to self advocate and then practice until it becomes comfortable.
It is also advantageous to ask teachers to partner with you in helping your son or daughter learn to self advocate. Teachers will appreciate the fact that you are trying to teach your child this important skill and they can be a huge support in this area.
For more information, check the following link to LD Online.
It is also advantageous to ask teachers to partner with you in helping your son or daughter learn to self advocate. Teachers will appreciate the fact that you are trying to teach your child this important skill and they can be a huge support in this area.
For more information, check the following link to LD Online.
Check out the YES! Program
sponsored by Learning Ally
The purpose of YES! is to train students with learning differences to recognize their strengths, to help them build confidence and to provide them with the tools to become strong self-advocates.
For details and member application: CLICK HERE
sponsored by Learning Ally
The purpose of YES! is to train students with learning differences to recognize their strengths, to help them build confidence and to provide them with the tools to become strong self-advocates.
For details and member application: CLICK HERE
SUPPORT ADVOCACY
There are many people who may be willing to volunteer their time to act as an ‘unofficial’advocate. He/she can be a tutor, someone in an LD organization in your area, another parent who is further down the path, or even a supportive relative or friend - hopefully someone who knows about dyslexia and understands your child's needs. In order for this individual to be the best help to you, look for someone who is objective and not emotionally involved. This would be the person who accompanies you to school meetings to take notes and act as another set of ears. There are other ways he/she can support you too. This includes acting as a sounding board for your ideas, providing helpful suggestions or resources, and allowing you to vent when necessary. This advocate is really there to support you while you support your child.
PROFESSIONAL ADVOCACY
Professional Advocates are hired by the family to represent their child’s rights during the IEP process. A Special Education Advocate or lawyer is a representative that informs the parents of their educational rights and assists families in negotiating and
resolving disputes with their school. To quote Pete Wright of Wrightslaw, “….understand that special education cases can generate as much emotional intensity as a bitterly contested divorce. . . .”. Although occasionally it may be necessary to hire a professional advocate, keep in mind that it can be a lengthy and expensive process.
For more information on special rights and advocacy, visit The Legal Center or COPAA (Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates).
There are many people who may be willing to volunteer their time to act as an ‘unofficial’advocate. He/she can be a tutor, someone in an LD organization in your area, another parent who is further down the path, or even a supportive relative or friend - hopefully someone who knows about dyslexia and understands your child's needs. In order for this individual to be the best help to you, look for someone who is objective and not emotionally involved. This would be the person who accompanies you to school meetings to take notes and act as another set of ears. There are other ways he/she can support you too. This includes acting as a sounding board for your ideas, providing helpful suggestions or resources, and allowing you to vent when necessary. This advocate is really there to support you while you support your child.
PROFESSIONAL ADVOCACY
Professional Advocates are hired by the family to represent their child’s rights during the IEP process. A Special Education Advocate or lawyer is a representative that informs the parents of their educational rights and assists families in negotiating and
resolving disputes with their school. To quote Pete Wright of Wrightslaw, “….understand that special education cases can generate as much emotional intensity as a bitterly contested divorce. . . .”. Although occasionally it may be necessary to hire a professional advocate, keep in mind that it can be a lengthy and expensive process.
For more information on special rights and advocacy, visit The Legal Center or COPAA (Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates).
