6 Reasons Teachers Need to Tell Parents to Get an Advocate

Imagine being a parent and walking into an IEP meeting for your child.

Maybe you’re new to the IEP process. Maybe English is not your first language. Maybe you had a negative experience at school yourself and are distrustful and wary of school officials. Maybe you, yourself, have the same learning disability as your child and are automatically on edge.

Maybe you just need someone on your side.

In those instances – and so many others – it’s okay for teachers to suggest that parents get an advocate to accompany them to the IEP meeting and beyond.


When Parents Should Get an Advocate

When Parents Should Get an Advocate for their ChildThere is a misconception that advocates are out to get the school or argue unnecessarily about the accommodations, goals and objectives, and placement of a child. In actuality, advocates have the same goals as schools should have – to help the child in question get the most effective services and placement so that he can be successful.

So, when should it be recommended to parents to get an advocate? Here are six times it might be the most appropriate thing to suggest.

1 – The Child Has Complicated Needs

Sometimes children have complicated needs and issues. They may have a learning disability as well as another issue that impairs their ability to succeed without accommodations and support. The more complicated the issues, the more in-depth the IEP will be. Having an advocate who can help explain some of the finer points of the IEP and why certain things are being recommended – and why others are not – can be a huge help for parents.

2 – The School Administration Has a History or Reputation of Being Resistant to Providing Services

Let’s face it, some school administrators have a reputation for being resistant to providing all of the supports and services that would benefit the children in their school district. While it’s not necessarily a “fight” to get the services that are needed, parents can feel a lot of pressure to give in to what the school is suggesting – even if they feel like more is needed. Advocates can help push for those services.

3 – It’s the First Time the School Has Had a Child with the Particular Needs

For children with rare or unusual issues, their services are often the first time a school district has dealt with those needs. Advocates can help educate the schools on the child’s condition and what they see as the most important things needed for the child to succeed. In cases like this, an advocate can be a huge help for both the school and the parents as they act more as an educator about the child’s needs.

4 – The Parents are Distrustful of the School

When parents have had a negative experience in school they tend to be distrustful of schools. This can be problematic when faced with the necessity to advocate for their children during IEP meetings. Advocates can help bridge that gap and ease the tension that families might feel when they have to deal with the school.

5 – The Parents Do Not Feel Comfortable Advocating Themselves

Not everyone is good at advocating for themselves or their children and that’s okay. Some parents feel very uncomfortable challenging or questioning schools which means that their child may not be getting the help he or she needs. It’s helpful in those circumstances to have an advocate who is able to step in and take charge of advocating for the child being discussed.

If you want a resource to provide your parents about their Procedural Safeguards – you can have access to this one when you join The Intentional IEP.  Join here, or click the image above.

6 – If Parents Have a Hard Time Focusing

Sometimes IEPs are overwhelming for parents and having an advocate there to help them focus on the bigger picture is important. An advocate frees them up to take notes, formulate their questions without feeling as much pressure and helps them secure the services their child needs.


Check out a snippet from a live training from inside the TII membership on involving parents in the IEP:

If you’re looking for more specifics on IEP’s like general education collaboration and functional behavior assessments – you’re in the right place!

You can join The Intentional IEP to gain access to over 150+ different IEP related trainings and access to our IEP Goal Bank.  Click the image above to join!


When you believe that a family would benefit from having an advocate, it is absolutely okay to suggest that they contact one. Not only does it indicate to the family that you are looking out for them, but it also shows that you truly want the best for their child. Remember, advocates are not foes and can be a huge help for families.

 

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