Trying to figure out what your child really needs and how to go about getting it? Here we offer suggestions from those who have "been there and done that."   Do you have anything you want to share with our Special Connection Community?  Please send your material to: SpecialConnection@CampDepot.com.

Want the best possible advocate for your child? Look no further...that advocate is you! No one will ever care more for, or know more about your child than you. Of course, it is always a good idea to get help from people who have special knowledge of your child's disability and the myriad of laws that pertain to special needs individuals. And it is always best to arrange for someone to go to meetings with you when planning your child's program and arranging for needed services. That person should be knowledgeable about your child and hopefully, know  "the system." At the least, he/she can be a "witness" to the proceedings and provide emotional support.

Becoming the best possible advocate for a person with disabilities can be daunting, but there are many places that can help.

Having a solid understanding of your child's needs is vital. Get the best assessment you can in all areas of your child's problems. If the school's assessment doesn't paint a clear picture that rings true to you, ask for another assessment, in writing, that specifically addresses your concerns. Bear in mind, that even when districts do not have a certain specialist on staff to do testing (for example: to determine the need for music therapy or augmentative communication), they still must do an appropriate assessment in all areas of suspected disability and can contract with someone outside the district to do it. If that doesn't do it, get your own assessment from the most qualified person you can find who is willing to help you get their recommendations implemented.

You can learn more about your child's disability, the latest research and therapies, and what has helped others like him/her from organizations like the Autism Society of America or the Learning Disabilities Association. Joining forces with an organization is well worthwhile. You can't learn too much about your child's disability. And, it is all too easy to become isolated so belonging to a support group offered by this type of organization can be invaluable. Knowing parents with kids like yours who might be attending the same schools or may become friends will prove to be a boon time and again.

To begin developing an understanding of the laws that protect your child, it is a good idea to take some training in basic special education laws from your Community Advisory Committee or organizations like Team of Advocates for Special Kids (TASK) or your local Area Board. And, you can read the law yourself. We have links to the Individuals with Disabilities Act, the regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and a Special Ed Law where you can download the Americans with Disabilities Act. You can contact your state's Department of Education for a copy of your state's laws and regulations. You also may check out our link to Wright's Law; they do an outstanding job of keeping subscribers abreast of court cases regarding special education all over the U.S. and offer excellent materials and articles to help you strategize and understand your rights. Reed Martin's site also is very informative and offers good resources.

This may sound like too much work (especially when caring for your child takes more time than is available), but it will really save you effort in the future. Very few school districts will volunteer to you that services are supposed to be based on the child's need, not the availability. Nor are you likely to hear that equipment needed to implement an IEP (like a computer, software, or augmentative communication device) should be purchased by the school district. When your child's needs are not being met because his/her plan was not individualized enough or didn't address all your child's needs, you may end up spending many frustrating hours dealing with a child who resists going to school and isn't progressing as he/she should. You'll feel better knowing that you have done all you can to ensure the best possible future for your child.

At some point, you may decide that you need the services of an attorney. In some instances, when you have prevailed in your case and you have proved that your child would not have been appropriately served without going through a due process fair hearing, attorney fees may be recoverable. Our link to the Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys for Special Needs (COPAA) is a good place to start looking.

Protection and Advocacy, Inc. also can help and does not charge parents. References from other parents help, too. Please bear in mind that it is best to use someone who specializes in this area of law and has experience handling cases like yours. Even then, try to find out from other parents what their reactions have  been. If you hear that the attorney ultimately seemed more interested in receiving their fee than in serving the needs of the student, look elsewhere.

Persons advocating for themselves can find support from their local chapter of People First, an organization of self-advocates. This is an outstanding organization. Try to do what you can to prepare your child to be his/her own best advocate. Include self-advocacy goals on your child's IEP that are appropriate for his/her functioning level.  For example, goals about expressing preferences, speaking up for themselves, asking for help, knowing where to find help, problem solving, understanding the system, etc., can lead to skills that will prepare children for the future. We will not be around forever to speak for them.