When I was a young special education administrator, I was very concerned whenever an advocate arrived at a meeting. Over the course of my career my opinion changed considerably. Yes, I did find that some were very helpful, some were just there and others were a pain in the backside. In all, however, I felt that having an advocate helped the parent to feel like they were a contributing member of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and multidisciplinary evaluation team (MET) teams.
Where to Look
How does a parent find a good advocate and what should they be looking for in that person? The easiest way to find an advocate is to network with other parents of children with disabilities–in other words, asking other parents if they have used or use an advocate. As with a lot of things in life, the best reference is a referral from a trusted person who uses the service you are seeking. If that doesn’t yield a satisfactory reference, find out if there are non-profit organizations that can assist you free of charge. For example, in Arizona, the Arizona Center for Disability Law can help or refer you to someone who can. Even a parent network in your state that is a part of the Office of Special Programs in the State Department of Education may be a good resource. You can also find out who other parents have utilized by going to parent organizations that are intended to help parents network with each other. In addition you can advocates locally by asking your district’s special education department or doing a good Google search.
There are also advocates who charge for their service; however, I prefer those who are giving their service to you as a way to pay back what they received at some point. While I have known paid advocates who served a very important role, this can become very expensive.
What to Look For
In order to work well with your advocate, you must select one with which you can connect. The first priority is to ensure that the advocate knows special education law in its entirety, as well as the processes that are mandated by it. I find that those with personal experience with their own children are usually very in tune with what goes on within special education and can help other children as a result. Be careful in selecting an advocate who is too aggressive or is always asking for better than the minimum the law requires. You want the advocate to represent you for the good of your child, not be an added expert on the team. On the other hand, you don’t want to select an advocate who is too timid to speak up, and thus, is of little help to you or your child. I would want an advocate who is knowledgeable, comfortable at the table, willing to speak her or his mind and helps you obtain the best possible services for your child.
A Word of Caution
My primary caution for you is to make certain that your advocate doesn’t get emotionally caught up in an event. You will notice what I mean, when the discussion turns away from your child and becomes more about the advocate, a document or one specific apparatus or program, which may or may not be what your child needs. When this happens, talk in private with the advocate; if the advocate can’t adjust his or her focus back on the process, find another advocate.
When to Seek an Advocate
With all of that said, when should you seek an advocate? First, try the process by yourself. Go through the initial evaluation process, and take part in the first IEP meeting. If you find that the process is going well for your child, totally trust your team and your participation in the process, then you don’t need an advocate.
You will need an advocate if you don’t feel like you are being treated as an equal in the process. This is when the team talks down to you like you don’t have any knowledge, and asks you to blindly trust them, the almighty educators. Another time you may need an advocate is when there is a clear difference between what the team is advocating for and your opinion of what your child needs. Keep it clear in your mind: this is all about the education of your child– that is always why anything in special education is done! In short, look for an advocate if I you feel discomfort with the process; if you see a clear distinction between goals and desired results, if open conflict between you and one or more team members results in the team being swayed by the one voice; if your child’s rights are being violated through actions of the team; or if you are being treated as less than an equal by the team as a whole or by influential team members.
How do I get an advocate
how do i find a advocate in houston texas to attend an ard for my son
I’m looking for an advocate for the northwest side of Chicago.