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Home > Special Ed Advocate Archives > 2015 Summer School: Self-Study Advocacy Plan for the New Parent |
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Until now, parents have been barred from effective advocacy by lack of information and isolation. The Internet is changing the status quo. Raising children is hard work. If you have a child with a disability, you’ll work harder and longer. We want to teach you to “work smarter.” In this six part self-study series for Summer School 2015 you will learn:
Intro Proper Prior Planning Prevents Pitifully Poor Performance As a parent, it is your responsibility to make long-term plans for your child - this is not the school's responsibility. It’s easy to get sidetracked and lose sight of what’s important. A master plan will help you stay focused and ensure that your child gets effective, appropriate special education services. Changes in IDEA have given parents more decision-making power when developing a special education program for your child. This Wrightslaw Summer School series will help you get some of that Parent Power! In Introduction to Summer School 2015, you'll learn how to plan and prepare to be an effective advocate, and find out where to go to get the information you need. Session 1 Get Your Game Plan
To be a successful negotiator, you must understand the system and how it works. Many parents don’t realize that school systems are bureaucracies. Parents often don’t know how important decisions are made - or by whom. In Session 1: Get Your Game Plan, you'll find "step #1" for gathering information and honing your advocacy skills and learn the next steps. Get your Homework Assignment #1, Download the Game Plan Checklist. Session 2 The Book a Month Plan
Parents are far more likely to succeed when they negotiate for special education services when they -
Read everything you can find about special education, disabilities, and how children learn. In Session 2: The Read a Book a Month Plan, you'll find recommended reading selections for every advocate. If you follow the Book a Month Plan, you'll have the necessary knowledge and skills to be an effective advocate before the year is out. Session 3 Ten Tips for Good Advocates The law gives parents power to use when making educational decisions for their children. Parents should not be afraid to use their power. But, there are better ways to obtain positive results than to roar through IEP meetings in a Mack Truck. Parents are often dealing with personal obstacles - lack of information, isolation, and emotions. What can you do? Learn: How to facilitate the IEP process, the art of negotiation, the interrelationship of laws, how to reduce barriers between parent & school in Session 3: Ten Tips for Good Advocates. Session 4
In our self-study series for new advocates, you've what you need to learn and what skills you need to acquire. Last week we posted 10 tips for good advocates.This week - two more tips. Good advocates:
The best way to become a good advocate is by exposure. If you wanted to catch the flu, you would hang out with folks who had the flu. If you want to become a good advocate, hang around with folks who do advocacy work. In Session 4: Link Up with Other Advocates, you'll learn the importance of asking questions and getting good advice from other advocates who will provide answers, offer ideas, and make suggestions about how to negotiate the maze of special education.
Session 5 Help Others! Become an Advocate So You Want to Become an Advocate! Parent advocates need to plan and prepare, learn information, and develop strategies Parent advocates need opportunities to practice advocacy skills. You'll learn how to plan and prepare to be an effective advocate, and find out where to go to get the information you need. In Session 5: Become an Advocate, you'll find what you need to learn to become an advocate and where you can get training. You'll also find a reading and resource list. Your Certificate
You have completed Summer School 2015: Self-Study Advocacy Plan for the New Parent You've learned that IDEA gives you the power to make educational decisions for your child and that you are a key member and active participant of the IEP team. In this Wrightslaw Summer School series your learned how to get some of that Parent Power!  Download your Summer School 2015 Certificate
We appreciate your positive comments about the Special Ed Advocate summer series.
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You want to advocate for your child....
Link Up with Other Advocates! Ask Questions!
