Advocacy: A Journey Begins

by Shelly Hall

Your child’s school may have dismissed for the summer months, but this doesn't mean his/her advocate has to go on summer vacation, too! In fact, the school hiatus may be the ideal time to prepare for the upcoming school year, especially if the demands at home are more relaxed.

Children with mental illnesses need advocates to support and defend their right to an appropriate education. In short, an advocate’s role is to provide information to the school, showing that the program, services, and resources being sought are appropriate for the child.

Parents are a logical choice to serve an advocate. Throughout the summer, we'll share parent tips to help you begin your journey. Being an advocate can be intimidating at the start, but keep your key functions in mind:

• Research your child's issues from reputable sources
• Identify your child's problem(s)
• Organize your information and store it digitally or with paper files
• Learn the special education process within your school district
• Propose solutions

Technology has opened up the door to thousands of information portals. While some of the information is accurate, some is not. In fact, some information is misleading and sometimes sensationalized.

A couple of pitfalls are worth noting. In particular, weigh these scenarios with great caution.

1. Online encyclopedias where anyone and everyone may contribute information is risky. Basically, you have no way of knowing the information you are reading has been verified.
2. Information that is shared in chat rooms, blogs, and social media is not a replacement for receiving a diagnosis by a trained professional. While networking is important in your fact-finding process, the diagnoses will need to come from a licensed mental health professional or physician for your advocacy purposes.
3. Check your sources! Personally, I have spent many hours on the following sites for many years, and I have found their information to be valid and trustworthy.

Take a lesson from inquisitive children who always ask, “Why?” When you encounter information that doesn’t make sense or leads you to another point, go with your intuition and dig for more explanations until you understand more clearly. If you don’t understand, then you will find it difficult to explain your position to your child’s school.

The key is to be a detective, a invested researcher who leaves no stone unturned. Gaining good, grounded knowledge is empowering, and it will boost your confidence as you take a step forward as your child's #1 advocate!

Coming up on July 1st: Organizing your information