Post by Okwes on Feb 22, 2006 15:34:55 GMT -5
www.wrightslaw.com/
Wrightslaw
Parents, educators, advocates, and attorneys come to Wrightslaw for
accurate, reliable information about special education law and advocacy
for children with disabilities. Wrightslaw includes thousands of
articles, cases, and free resources on dozens of special education
topics.
LESSONS IN ADVOCATING
Here are 10 things that parents who advocate for their special-education
students should know how to do:
1. Gather information: Educate yourself about the child's disability and
special-education law.
2. Learn the rules of the game: Know how decisions within a school
district are made and by whom.
3. Plan and prepare: Get ready for meetings, create agendas, write out
objectives.
4. Keep written records: Take down what was said and by whom, make
requests in writing.
5. Ask questions, listen to answers: Know how to use "who, what, where,
why, when and how" and how to request explanations.
6. Identify problems: Learn to define and describe problems; be a
problem solver instead of blaming others.
7. Propose solutions: Offer your own win-win proposals.
8. Plan for the future: Have a vision of what your child's long-term
future looks like.
9. Answer questions: Know the answer to "What do you (as the advocate)
want?"
10. Develop a master plan: Create a broad strategy for reaching your and
your child's goals.
-- Taken from Wrightslaw.com
Wrightslaw
Parents, educators, advocates, and attorneys come to Wrightslaw for
accurate, reliable information about special education law and advocacy
for children with disabilities. Wrightslaw includes thousands of
articles, cases, and free resources on dozens of special education
topics.
LESSONS IN ADVOCATING
Here are 10 things that parents who advocate for their special-education
students should know how to do:
1. Gather information: Educate yourself about the child's disability and
special-education law.
2. Learn the rules of the game: Know how decisions within a school
district are made and by whom.
3. Plan and prepare: Get ready for meetings, create agendas, write out
objectives.
4. Keep written records: Take down what was said and by whom, make
requests in writing.
5. Ask questions, listen to answers: Know how to use "who, what, where,
why, when and how" and how to request explanations.
6. Identify problems: Learn to define and describe problems; be a
problem solver instead of blaming others.
7. Propose solutions: Offer your own win-win proposals.
8. Plan for the future: Have a vision of what your child's long-term
future looks like.
9. Answer questions: Know the answer to "What do you (as the advocate)
want?"
10. Develop a master plan: Create a broad strategy for reaching your and
your child's goals.
-- Taken from Wrightslaw.com