How did you become a parent advocate?

Question: How does a person become a parent advocate, or how did you become a parent advocate?

Answer:

Many advocates are certified special education teachers, or social workers, or even parents of students with special needs who have walked the walk before. It's definitely a job about passion. There are also trainings available, conferences to go to, and organizations to join so that you can have constant training or just be around other advocates, attorneys, and parents who are as passionate about a subject as you know you are.

 I personally became an advocate through on-the-job training. I also took a course through an organization called COPA, which is the Council of Parents, Attorneys, and Advocates. But as a Certified Special Education Teacher, I was always advocating for my students—like all day long! It was like a constant battle (or passion) of mine. But after taking a job at a charter school, I was in a position of authority where it was my job to get things done, so I had to build a department. I had to work with the district to provide the needs of the charter school students, and there seemed to be a little bit of resistance because charter schools were still relatively new. So it appeared at times like everything was a fight, like I had to go through a lot of red tape in order to get the basic things that my students with disabilities needed. I had people speak into my life during that time—they kept saying that I was really good at my job.

It was right around that time that I had to go to Springfield, IL (the capital) to present to the Illinois State Board of Education in order to change policy and to make things less discriminatory for students with special needs who also attend charter schools. So I essentially had to argue that with the largest school district in Illinois and tell the state that the largest school district in Illinois was wrong and that they were discriminating against students with special needs. It was really a defining moment in my life. People just kept saying that I'm really good at this, and that I was able to fight without burning bridges. So that's how it all began for me.

If you would like to learn more about Special Education Advocacy for your child, please schedule a free intro call with Laurie McDevitt, Special Education Advocate & Consultant. Serving families in the Chicagoland area and throughout the country.