How does a Special Education Advocate work with parents or caregivers?

Question: Can you tell me more about your role working with caregivers or parents in the school?

Answer: 

Overall I help navigate the system. I will definitely advocate and work with the team in order to best meet the needs of your child. I will definitely review paperwork. I'll listen to the parents. I'll ask the parents or caregivers what they really want or need as an end result so we know what we're working towards. I will then either (1) share my notes with the parents so they can attend meetings with my thoughts and hopefully feel more empowered, or (2) I will actually attend the meetings and be an active participant in those meetings with the parents or the caregivers.

Something that's important to know is that sometimes advocating is about fighting and sometimes it's about building bridges and collaborating, but at the end of the day, I will fight for the needs of your child. I speak both languages—I speak the language of a parent (and I definitely have the heart of a parent), and I also speak the language of the school and I know the IEP process and I know the system. So I'm in a great position to help navigate in order to get your child what they need.

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.