What is a special education advocate? What is the difference between an advocate and an attorney, and when do I need the services of an advocate? When hiring an advocate, what can I expect and how can an advocate benefit my child? Today on Parent Choices for Struggling Teens, host's Lon Woodbury and Elizabeth McGhee welcomed their guest, Nicole Shelton, M.Ed, MS an Advocate Consultant, and explored how her services help parents with children with special educational needs, navigate the "maze" through public school districts to get the help their children need.
"A special education advocate is an expert in special education rights for students. They help educate the parents in what their children's rights are, are knowledgeable and familiar with special education needs for students; they will determine what is appropriate for their child and the correct steps it takes to get the necessary resources for that child" Nicole shared. An attorney (a piece of the puzzle) may be needed if a school district is unwilling or unable to provide those resources to the student after an advocate has worked with the parents and district in setting up the necessary requirements for special education needs for a student. "Then the alternative is due process and an attorney working with the advocate, will take the school district to court" shared Nicole, "but the goal is not to go through 'due processes."
When a parent feels they are not getting the results their child needs at school, when an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) is being denied, or when an IEP is not working for their child is when an advocate can help. After meeting with the parent and child and all records have been reviewed, an advocate will contact the school district that their services are now involved and a plan of action is set into place. "Working with districts can be extremely difficult to navigate, like a dance, and there are subtleties and key words and phrases (jargon) that can lose someone that is not familiar with the nuances of special education needs within the public school sector." It is important to educate parents on what is appropriate, what their rights are, what the school districts rights are and what the laws mean. And each state's school districts differ and within the laws, they have the leeway to determine what the needs are and how they will use the money within the district….money is a driving force. "Parent education is very important, and the school district is responsible for providing the tools, services or alternatives to those kiddos with special education needs."
Nicole shared this website for parents looking for an advocate in their area: www.copaa.org .
Lon Woodbury is the owner/founder of Woodbury Reports, Inc. and www.strugglingteens.com. He has worked with families and struggling teens since 1984 and is the host of Parent Choices for Struggling Teens.
Nicole Shelton, founder of Shelton Consulting, a private Advocacy Consulting firm that focuses on nationwide special education advocacy, individualized placement services for clients with special needs and consultative services to attorneys and therapeutic programs. Nicole holds a Master of Science in Educational Administration, a Master of Education in Special Education and BA in Psychology. She is currently working towards her Juris Doctorate.
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