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Article: Five steps to becoming your child's best advocate. (Networking: Information from the National Parent Network on Disabilities)
- Article from:
- The Exceptional Parent
- Article date:
- September 1, 1992
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1992 EP Global Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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What is an advocate? An advocate is not an adversary. According to Webster's Dictionary, an advocate is "someone who speaks for another person or cause." We hope you will use this article as a guide for "speaking" on behalf of your child.
1. Start with the assumption that you are an equal partner in your child's education.
Parents of children with special needs should be involved as equal partners in their child's educational planning. Unfortunately, many parents say, "How can I be an equal partner? I am just a mother or father. I don't know anything about school. I don't know enough to work with all those professionals!" And a parent who feels this way ...