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Navigating the field of special education can be extremely confusing and arduous for many parents. Without the proper knowledge of your child's rights as a special education student, it is possible your child may be receiving inappropriate services without you even knowing it. If you are at the point where you feel your school district is not listening to you, or you need additional knowledge and help in acquiring appropriate goals or services for your child, then an educational advocate might be the right choice for you. Educational advocates are trained professionals, without law degrees, who can support parents and children by attending IEP meetings and various other educational meetings. Advocates are hired to "fine-tune" IEPs (help draft appropriate goals, accommodations, etc.) and to help parents navigate the special education process. In many cases, advocates are former social workers, teachers, parents of children with disabilities or disabled individuals themselves who are educated on the world of education and can help parents find appropriate educational and community resources to help their children toward independence. Advocates usually charge lower hourly rates than most attorneys, so they can be a less expensive alternative to hiring an attorney if your conflict with the school district does not require litigation and can be solved in a reasonable amount of time. Sometimes, advocates can be more effective than attorneys, whose presence occasionally polarizes the situation. WCT offers the advocacy services of Margot K. Andersen and Laura M. O'Connor. Margot M. Andersen, M.S.W. has concentrated in the area of educational advocacy and consulted with families who have children with special needs since 1997. She has developed an in-depth knowledge about various learning and emotional disorders. Ms. Andersen received her B.A. degree in psychology from New York University and her Masters in Social Work from Loyola University. Prior to becoming involved in educational advocacy, she enjoyed a successful career in the business world. She has held leadership positions in the special education arena and has lectured locally. Margot also currently serves as the President of Thresholds, an Illinois-based, nationally-recognized organization that provides transition services to adolescents and adults with serious mental illness. Laura M. O'Connor is a graduate in communication from Northern Illinois University, and trained as a corporate litigation paralegal at the law firm of Foran & Schultz prior to joining the special education field exclusively in 2001. Ms. O'Connor has extensive experience as an advocate representing families in a variety of special education matters and disciplinary issues, resulting in favorable outcomes including eligibility for special education services and Section 504 services, private day school and residential school placements. In addition, Ms. O'Connor has extensive special education litigation experience, assisting families and school districts as second chair at administrative due process hearings. Successes:
Frequently Asked Questions ("FAQs"): 1. What can an advocate accomplish at an IEP meeting? If your child is currently eligible for special education services, but you do not feel that he or she is receiving appropriate services, there are a number of items in your child's IEP that can be modified to allow for a more appropriate education. Many school staff members do not have the ability, time or resources to devote to making each child's IEP the most comprehensive that it can be. As a parent who is not trained in the field of special education, you rely on your child's school team to determine what educational resources are available for your children. Schools typically do not educate parents on the law or about all of the resources available in their districts. The language of education and jargon can be intimidating. As advocates trained in the field of special education and having attended hundreds of IEP meetings regarding children of all types of disabilities, we know the right questions to ask and the resources which can be made available for your child. We help parents understand their child's IEP, and can help draft more appropriate educational plans for your child, including receiving additional assessments (if necessary), drafting more appropriate, measurable goals, ensuring appropriate related services, and making sure the proper modifications and accommodations are in place in your child's classroom(s) to set them up for educational success (not failure). In addition to improving a child's IEP as necessary, should your child require a more intensive educational placement in order to make appropriate progress, we can work with your school district to identify and observe potential placements, such as resource programs, self-contained classrooms or even private day schools or residential placements outside the school district to assist in determining which would be more appropriate for your child. If your child has not yet been found eligible for special education services, we can work with your school districts to obtain Section 504 Plan services or full IEP services. Please see our memorandums, Guide to Educational Services for Ill and Disabled Children , and Section 504 in the Public Schools: How Does It Differ from the IDEA? for information regarding the difference between Section 504 services and full special education services through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). 2. Why should I use an educational advocate? Utilizing an advocate to act on your behalf can be the right decision for many reasons. Being a parent is a very specific, nuturing, supportive role. When you attempt to take over the role of teacher, therapist, etc. (because current school staff is not providing appropriate services), then your role as a parent gets compromised. Having a third party present can diffuse tumultous emotions on both sides of the table at an IEP meeting, allowing for smoother bargaining. Or, perhaps you just don't feel you are well versed in the area of special education and your child's specific disability needs, and wish to hire someone to represent you who is more knowledgable about the services that might be available and can represent your child's unique presentation of his or her disorder. In addition, educational advocates provide an alternative, less expensive, option for parents who are not quite ready to hire a special education attorney or file for due process. There are also some specific benefits of using a WCT advocate. Our advocates have the full support and supervision of special education attorneys, should negotiations break down with the school district. In addition, they have the added benefit of litigation experience, as they have worked as second chair in numerous due process hearings. And, because of their years of experience, WCT's advocates already have established positive working relationships with numerous special education directors, school district attorneys, and other school staff, aiding in the negotiation process. 3. What other services do advocates offer? In addition to attending IEP meetings with you, our advocates offer other services to help parents and professionals navigate the broad field of special education. Our advocates can:
4. How do I know I'm choosing the right advocate? Choosing the right advocate for you and your child is a very personal decision, and one that should not be taken lightly. The Illinois Attorney General's office offers some Guidelines for Choosing a Lay Advocate in Special Education, which may be able to point you in the right direction initially. However, most of all it is important to chose an advocate who can provide a clear and precise strategy for working with your school district, one who lays a solid foundation for better communication between you and your school district, and most importantly is someone you can work with and feel safe that your interests are understood. Memorandums:
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