Advocacy assistance for parents w/ the navigation of the IEP/ARD/504 processes.
Misc Parent LINKS
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-Your child is struggling with learning or behavior issues that interferes with success in school.
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-You are concerned about your child’s progress in school.
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-The ARD Committee does not allow meaningful participation.
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-Your child is suspended from school or involved in a disciplinary proceeding for a behavior you believe is disability related.
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-You feel the child needs a service, or a different education placement, including a private placement, in order to make progress.
-The school does not consider the child’s strengths.
-You feel hopeless or are intimidated by either the child’s educators, the special education processes, or the overwhelming technical knowledge required to effectively advocate for your child.
“Whether we send our children to private school or public school we should take a constant interest in all educational institutions and remember that on the public school largely depends the success or the failure of our great experiment in government “by the people, for the people.”
- Eleanor Roosevelt
A Parent Might Need help if...
Days until the 2009-2010 winter break...
ADVOCATE-(noun)
apostle, backer, campaigner, champion, counsel, defender, exponent, expounder, pleader, promoter, proponent, proposer, speaker, spokesperson, supporter, upholder
ADVOCATE (verb)
advance, advise, argue for, back, be in corner, bless, bolster, boost*, brace up, build up, campaign for, champion, countenance, defend, encourage, favor, further, get on bandwagon, give a leg up, give a lift, go for, go to bat for*, go with, hold with, justify, plead for, plug*, plump for*, press for, promote, propose, push, recommend, ride shotgun for, root for, run interference for, say so, side, speak for, spread around, stump for, support, tout, uphold, urge, vindicate
DISCLAIMER:
During my years of professional advocacy, I have collected an arsenal of data about resources available for parents, including information/resources related to specific disabilities. It would be impractical, if not impossible to personally endorse each link provided on this website. Parents are encouraged to obtain additional information themselves.
Since this area of education is such an extreme specialization, and because unlike public school districts, it is fundamentally difficult for a parent to fruitfully research, know where to inquire, or locate an expert with experience or talent who can help their child, I have chosen to list experts whom I (or my clients) have personal knowledge, on this site. Parents are encouraged to seek additional information from any examiner who is under consideration for a child’s evaluation.
Additionally, I am not an attorney, and as a lay advocate, I do not practice law. My professional role is to assist parents and/or attorneys. I have specifically chosen to list parent lawyers with whom I am familiar, and who I believe are ethical. Those listed on this site practice Special Education Law and represent parents and children, exclusively.
Other than stated above, any link, parent advice or information located on this website is provided for the sole purpose of passing along information and with the hope that it might be of assistance to parents pursuing an education for their child with a disability.
My Best,
Melanie Watson
Melanie is dedicated to serving families of special needs children in the state of Texas
We reach out to the community and provide talks, seminars, workshops and tutorials, aimed at parents, educators, and professionals who deal with special needs children. Please contact Beth to make a request, and schedule Melanie to speak at your next function.
