Advocate

Source: From Emotions to Advocacy Second Edition The Special Education Survival Guide, Pam Wright and Pete Wright

Who is your child’s first teacher? You are. Who is your child’s most important role model? You are. Who is responsible for your child’s welfare? You are. Who has your child’s best interest at heart? You do. Parents are natural advocates for their children. You know your child better than anyone else.

Here is how the dictionary defines the term “advocate”:

Ad-vo-cate – Verb, transitive. To speak, plead, or argue in favor of.

Synonym is support.

  • One that argues for a cause; a supporter or defender; an advocate of civil rights.
  • One that pleads in another’s behalf; an intercessor; advocates for abused children and spouses.
  • A lawyer. (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition)

As the parent of a child with a disability, you have two goals:

  • To ensure that the school provides your child with a “free appropriate public education” that includes “…special education and related services designed to meet [the child’s] unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment and independent living…”20 U.S.C.1400 (d)
  • To build a healthy working relationship with the school.

The besttip for school success is to make sure that parents and teachers are working together as allies.

Communicate, Communicate, And Communicate!

It’s something parents hear all the time, but it bears repeating. One of the keys to parents and teachers working together is to have good communication. What may not be clear is that communication works both ways.

As a teacher, you want parents who are supportive of your teaching techniques; who extend classroom activities and learning opportunities at home; and who volunteer when needed. As a parent, you want the best education possible for your child. You want a loving, caring teacher who shows your child respect; who is knowledgeable about child growth and development; and who demonstrates a professional attitude in the classroom.

Regardless of “needs” and “wants” by both parents and teachers, one thing is certain: You both want what is best for the child. For this to happen, parents and teachers must build a working partnership that will make a wonderful experience for the child.

SAVE THE DATE!

1st Annual Special Needs Resource and Wellness Fair

Bryan County Schools is partnering with Reaching Milestones, Coastal GLRS, United Way of Coastal Georgia, and our local McDonald’s to provide our First Annual Special Needs Resource and Wellness Fair for families in Bryan County and surrounding areas. The event is scheduled for October 8, 2016 at Richmond Hill Elementary School. This will be an awesome event for the entire family. We will have vendors available for you to ask questions, pick up resource information/pamphlets, “break out” sessions for you to ask questions. Some of our vendors will be pediatric therapies such as PT, OT, and Speech, Easter Seals, Gateway Behavioral Services, Georgia Southern University, East Georgia College, and the YMCA. We will have kids’ activities and childcare will be provided. FREE and fun for everyone!