Qualities To Consider When Searching For Special Education Parent Advocates

By Eliza Mendoza


If you have a child suffering from autism or one who has difficulties in education, it is recommended that you should seek help from parent advocates. There are different situations in which you can seek services from these professionals for instance when you are having challenges dealing with special education personnel. The advantage of this type of expert is that he undergoes training that enables him to guide you through the system involved in special education. At times, you will find a parent who acts as an advocate. This is not advisable since you do not have the knowledge and skills offered by the experts. Provided here are qualities that will help in making your advocates search easier.

Before you hire him, first you have to check his experience. It is important to be sure that the advocate is familiar with the kind of disability your child has. This way he will be able to advocate effectively. So you should ask him about the different cases he has handled.

A good quality about a competent advocate is that they should be familiar with federal and state laws governing the special education system. He should use the laws whenever necessary. There are various federal and state laws that govern special education. They include No Child Left Behind act, special education state rules and Disabilities Education Act.

It is important that an advocate should have basic knowledge on what is comprised in the different rules and regulations. This will help the lawyer to apply laws that will benefit your child during IEP meeting. A lawyer without the knowledge of the laws will be unprofessional and will not help in meeting your needs.

A good advocate should not make false promises to the parents. You should be suspicious of an advocate who promises to get all the services that you want for your child. Special education does not offer any guarantee and the advocate should not promise things that he may not be able to get. An experienced advocate who understands law and the school region should know what needs to be done to help your child.

Passion is one thing that you should look for in a competent professional. He should be zealous about your child needs. A professional who is not passionate will not help in acquiring your child needs within a particular period. This will have a negative impact on your child education.

Good justification skills are something else that should be considered. This is something that will help your advocate to effectively defend your child even when dealing with the special education personnel. This is an important quality that should guide you to the best professional.

One has to ensure the advocate he hires is detail oriented. He should also make sure that any service promised by the special education staff is written down. Good parent Advocates should be able to read the IEP before leaving the meeting and bring up any changes that should be made. At times the small detail is what makes for success. By considering these tips, you will be well equipped to find an advocate that is able to help you get the right education for your child.




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