| Do you wonder about the most common mistakes | | | | angry ask for a break. Remember that the first person |
| that parents make in advocating for their child, | | | | that loses their cool usually loses the fight. Stay calm |
| receiving special education services? Would you like to | | | | no matter what! Find other parents that you can talk |
| be an effective advocate for your child with autism, | | | | about your experiences with, this will help you keep |
| and avoid these mistakes? This article will discuss 5 | | | | focus and calm! |
| common mistakes that parents make in advocating for | | | | 2. Always trust your instincts. If special education |
| their child and how you can avoid them. | | | | personnel are telling you something about your child |
| Mistakes: | | | | that you does not seem right to you, start investigating. |
| 1. Letting emotions get the best of you! Many parents | | | | Possibly get an independent evaluation to help you |
| are unable to control their anger which gets in the way | | | | determine if the school is being truthful! |
| of their advocacy for their child. | | | | 3. If school personnel say something to you that does |
| 2. Forgetting your inner voice! A lot of parents give too | | | | not sound right say: Show me in the federal or state |
| much weight to what some special education | | | | special education laws where it says that you are |
| personnel say, rather than following their instincts. | | | | allowed to do this! Always stand up to them in an |
| 3. Accepting lies from some special education | | | | assertive and persistent way, for the good of your |
| personnel without challenging them. It is important to | | | | child. |
| have a working knowledge of the federal and state | | | | 4. Always use the word appropriate, not best when |
| special education laws so that you can recognize | | | | advocating for your child. |
| when you are being lied to! | | | | 5. If your school district refuses to give your child the |
| 4. Using the B word, when trying to get an education | | | | special education services they need, consider an |
| for your child! The B word is Best! The Individuals with | | | | independent evaluation. If the independent evaluator |
| Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) states that children | | | | states that your child needs the service, but the school |
| have the right to a free appropriate public education; | | | | district still refuses consider filing a state complaint or |
| not the best. | | | | for a due process hearing Most special education |
| 5. Allowing special education personnel to continue | | | | personnel will continue denying services if the parent |
| year after year of not giving your child an appropriate | | | | does not stand up to them. |
| education. Your child's life will be ruined if you do not | | | | If you follow these 5 things to avoid you will well be on |
| advocate every year for the education that they need. | | | | your way to being an effective advocate for your |
| How to avoid these common mistakes: | | | | child. |
| 1. If you are in an IEP meeting and find yourself getting | | | | |