Becoming a Special Needs Advocate: February 2012

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Things I'm Learning From Megan - 1

I have to stop myself from saying - "She just said hello to you" - with some attitude when people ignore my daughter's cheerful "Hi". She is teaching me that it doesn't matter how they react to her, that I should just do the kind thing, the nice thing, the loving thing, like her.

ADVOCATE ad·vo·cate

–verb (used with object)

to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly: He advocated higher salaries for teachers.

–noun

a person who speaks or writes in support or defense of a person, cause, etc. (usually fol. by of ): an advocate of peace.

a person who pleads for or in behalf of another; intercessor.

a person who pleads the cause of another in a court of law.

MISSION STATEMENT

It is my hope that this blog will serve as a help to other parents along side me in this world of "SPED" (Special Eduction). I hope that the stories I share about the insight I have gained and the pitfalls I have encountered will help others on this journey. I don't know it all, hardly, I'm still learning the ropes, but every time I go to another meeting or finish another phone call I hope to have gleaned something that will help me or others in the next step.

There are so many little secrets that if we share them, will no longer be secrets, and will enable us to advocate for our children more effectively. Every child deserves to be educated and this can only happen if we are diligent and do what we can to make that happen. There are some really good districts that do the best they can for the kids, but there are far too many districts out here that believe it is their job to save money --- at the expense of teaching young people what they can and need to learn to lead productive, and meaningful lives.