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Child Advocacy |
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Families whose children need special education find support at the Arc of Denver when they feel that their children are being neglected by the system. There are some perverse incentives built into the educational system which can keep young people out of the programs which would most aptly challenge them. Our advocates attend IEP (Individualized Education Program) meetings in the Denver Public Schools to seek out proper supports and appropriate inclusion. Not only do the children tend to flourish, but their families learn how to advocate.
What to do when someone sticks
a Huge, Honking Label
on your Cute, Little Kid:
When a family gets a diagnosis for a child, they can almost hear the doors closing in the child’s future. All medical labels sound horrible. However, remember that new doors are also opening. Other doors open just fine, and still others are hinged on a different part of the frame. If some doctor has stuck some yucky label on your cutie, here is what we’ve found works:
1. Get a second opinion. Document the diagnoses.
2. Find examples of successful people who share the diagnosis. Focus on your child’s abilities; the prognosis is only the worst case scenario. Remember “delayed” only means “slower,” not, “never going to happen.” Have a healthy skepticism of authority.
3. Find a support group for families with the same issues.
4. Determine if your child is eligible for special education services.
5. Learn about your child’s rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
6. Set up a meeting with the principal and teachers at your child’s school. There is a huge variance from school to school and class to class.
7. Work closely with your child’s teacher, the school, and the Individual Education Plan (the IEP Team) to keep your child in the most challenging atmosphere where he can succeed. If he does not succeed, drop back for a little while and try again when you sense your child is ready.
8. Challenge the system to get what you feel is appropriate. If your child is not getting the appropriate accommodations, use the set of parents’ procedural safeguards that are provided at the first specialized meeting. Escalate the matter through the chain of command. Call the Arc of Denver of Advocacy if you would like to dispute an eligibility decision.
9. Let your kid be a kid. Typical family activities should not be sacrificed for the sake of therapy. Balance is important to the whole family.
10. If you can, play with your kids for 15 minutes every night using the ideas being covered in school. Stop when you are not having fun.
11. Make sure that everyone in the family has a job to do for the family welfare and at least one extra curricular activity.
12. Set your goals for the stars and enjoy the ride!
Everyone has a birthright to be a contributing member of the community. When you develop a working knowledge of your child’s needs, the law, and advocacy … you can spend less time managing that huge, honking label, and more time enjoying your cute, little kid.
If you need to "learn the ropes" of special education, please contact the Arc of Denver.
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Arc of Denver1905 Sherman Street, Suite 300 Denver, CO 80203 Phone: 303-831-7733 Fax:
303-839-5179 Email: advocacy@arcofdenver.org |
| Arc of Denver, Inc. is a membership association dedicated to advocating with people with developmental disabilities in the pursuit of social justice and community participation.
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