Parent Advocate Groups

[Alice]

I just found out today that I am entitled to have a "Parent Advocate" come with me to the school board meetings. I dont know all the details but it sounds like parents volunteer and work for an agency that comes with new parents to school meetings and help them fight for services for the child. Someone told me I should of had one and was surprised I didnt. I told her I knew nothing about it. Well when I inquired @ my sons rehab center they said yes there is an agency (non profit) that has this, but she didnt think I needed it because I did quite well without them. Maybe I would have done better and it wouldn't have taken me three trips to the school board to FINALLY get services for my son. He lost out on a whole year of services. Not sure if this is offered in all states but it doesnt hurt to ask. For all you parents having children turning 3 and leaving the EI program this would be good for you. Look into it. Just wanted to share some important info.

[francine]

thanks for posting this Alice!

[TNT1999]

Alice, thanks for posting this. It is a very good point. We have a parent advocacy center that I believe offers something like this too. We also have another agency that has an education consultant that does this as well (at no charge). I foundout about him at a seminar we went to -- he did one of the presentations. I called him before our first Transition meeting (from B23 to the school svcs). He spent a lot of time on the phone with me giving me tips (plus we'd already gotten some great info from his presentation too). We didn't have him go with us to our first meeting b/c we already had both of Nicole's B23 therapists going and acting in Nicole's best interests. Actually, here I believe it is required that the B23 svc coord attends at least the first transition meeting. Of course, you would only take this route if you had full trust in the therapist(s). I would like to point out though that this could actually backfire on you, esp. when you're just beginning the process. It could give the school system the idea that you're concerned that they might not approve svcs for your child (of course, that shouldn't matter anyway though). After speaking with the educational consultant over the phone, he felt that I would do well on my own. If you do your research and look into all the sped links that Rich posted recently, then you will be prepared. I think the advocate is more for someone who doesn't do all the research that most of us "BP parents" do and who isn't as prepared. Remember that you know your child better than anyone else, so YOU are the best advocate that your child will ever have (until your child becomes that person). I'm not saying that a parent advocate isn't a good idea. I think it's a great idea for some people, but others might also do even better w/o one. I hope this makes sense. Either way, I think it's very beneficial to at least contact a parent advocate on the phone and get some tips about the upcoming meeting. Thanks again for sharing this info. -Tina )

[Kathy Reilly]

Alice,
It's me Kathy - I will email you what I have found out for our county in NY (since we are close by to each other). Josh will be in Kindergarten next year right? Parent Advocates are assigned to families to help protect your childs rights (or to explain things to you) some are great and some not so great. Ours in New Rochelle have been wonderful and helped me educated the school board on BPI. I will email you more info.
Kathy

[Alice]

Hey kathy Thanks. We have our transitional meeting in May and am trying to get ready for it. Yes he is starting Kindergarten in Sept. This whole Parent Advocate thing is new to me. I hope they can be helpful. All the info you want to share would be great.