This article was written for an autism-specific newsletter. When you read it, please know that these tips apply to parents who have children with any disability. As printed in the ASCR Network, a publication of the Autism Spectrum Resource Center of Wallingford, Connecticut.
November 2008, volume 4
I didn’t plan on having a child who would be diagnosed with autism, but I did. That was ten years ago now and Alex is just about to turn 14 years old. Advocating for him changed the focus of my personal life and career and brought me total, unexpected joy and fulfillment.
Make no mistake about it, there have been very difficult times and I still have those days. But advocating for Alex and other kids with autism grew into my true passion. Along the way, the number of kids being diagnosed with autism kept growing and growing and the need for advocacy for kids with autism grew with the increased incidence.
I didn’t plan to devote my personal and professional life to autism and that it would lead me to have my own private practice as a special education advocate. Nor did I expect I would end up going back to school to earn an additional degree as a disability specialist. All of it happened very naturally and I can’t think of doing anything more rewarding. Advocating with parents for their kids with autism is what I love to do.
It can be challenging to secure appropriate educational services for our kids with autism. I truly believe that we, as parents and advocates, need to know some basic and simple facts about the PPT process and advocacy. I speak to parents groups throughout Connecticut on a variety of autism and advocacy-related subjects. One of my presentations is The 10 Things Every Parent Needs to Know About Advocating for their Child with Autism. In my discussions I share far more than ten tips. But for the purposes of this article, let me share with you ten of most basic and important advocacy tips I’ve learned over the last ten years.
#1 Education is not just academics
It’s so much more…….
especially for kids who have autism. So don’t let anyone tell you you’re child has “great grades” so he doesn’t qualify for special education. Examine the areas beyond academics, as I explain in tip #2.
#2 Know the categories of IEP goals or the areas that autism could be effecting your child in school:
- Academic
- Cognitive
- Social / Behavioral
- Self Help
- Communication
- Gross / Fine Motor
- Community Participation
- Independent Living
- Employment / Post Secondary
- Health
#3 What you don’t know can hurt you – and ultimately your child’s education program – so you should become as knowledgeable as possible about:
• Your child’s disability
• Your child’s educational needs
• Best educational practices in your child’s disability
• Special education law / procedural safeguards
#4 You are a member of the Team
- Be included in the planning of IEP goals and objectives
- Request proposed IEP goals prior to PPT
- Meet with the team regularly
#5 Appropriate programming is rooted in evaluations and in the evaluator’s recommendations. Evaluations should identify issue and make prescriptive recommendations on how to appropriately address the issues. So know when your child is due for his or her triennial evaluations.
#6 Your school district has the right to evaluate your child and you have the right to disagree with the results. You have the right to disagree with the results and ask for an independent evaluation at the district's expense. If the school district decides not to pay for the evaluation, the school must ask for a hearing without delay.
#7 Understand the purpose of a PPT
A PPT is a forum in which to make decisions about your child’s education program. A PPT is the only place the team can make substantive decisions or changes about your child’s program. Teachers can’t make decisions alone – especially outside of the PPT process. Decisions are made by the PPT team at a PPT.
#8 “the devil is in the details”
If it’s not in writing, it didn’t happen.
If it’s not in writing, there’s no commitment to do it.
Follow up important conversations with emails that document your discussions.
#9 You can write an addendum to a PPT
You can submit an addendum to the PPT to add anything that was discussed but not included in the PPT document. You have the right to add any information that was discussed that you want to have on the record. You’re addendum can also serve to correct discrepancies.
#10 Learn about transition services
If your child receives special education and has an IEP (Individualized Education Plan), he or she are eligible to be educated until the age of 21. This process should start around 15 years of age. Transition services include post-secondary education, vocational training, integrated employment, continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living or community participation.
Julie Swanson appears regularly on Connecticut affiliate television news stations discussing a variety of disability-related issues. She also speaks to parent groups throughout Connecticut on aa variety of autism and advocacy issues. You can visit her website at www.yourspecialchild.com or contact her directly at julieswan@comcast.net
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