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Advocacy

Updated: Oct 29



The first thing in advocating for your child is to really know your child, to be able to see exactly what your child really needs. You see their struggles everyday, you see their pain and their joy. You just want your child to feel supported, loved and connected. You want the world to see them for their beautiful selves, and not their “deficits”. We all have “deficits” but for neurodiverse individuals society seems to define us by them. So, as an advocate for your child, you must not only see those challenges, but also shout from the rooftops, their gifts, their brilliance and their loves. Being an advocate means loving your child fiercely and not letting anyone treat your child as less than. 


For a lot of parents this can be a challenge. Things are so confusing, you might not know what your child needs, and are so overwhelmed by the challenges that you might not see the bright spots. I totally get that, I was there for years. When all the big emotions and meltdowns and challenges just seem to drag you down every day. But you still know your child. You know what they need, and you do see their beautiful little souls. It is time to focus on the good, what they excel at, what amazes you about your child. For my oldest, it was their intense passion and memory for all things Titanic. It was their intense love for their stuffies and all things soft. Use your love for them to fight for them, in all situations. 


So, the second thing, knowing you and your child’s rights. I found that once my child had an IEP, I had a lot of legal power to fight for my kids needs. But, if you don’t have an IEP, you can still demand reasonable accommodations for your child. 


I won’t even begin to talk about the laws as that is not my area of expertise but please, please take a look and know your rights. Seek out those who can help you with that, ask your school for a copy of the rights of your special education student. 



Other Resources: 


https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/parents-toolkit-advocating-neurodivergent-child-uk-sandeep-bains-sa5ue/ This talks about the programs in the UK, but there is one thing that is the same across the board: 

“Documentation is Key: Keep a record of all communications, decisions, and agreements reached during meetings. This can be crucial if further action is required.” 


“Focusing on changing your child’s world rather than changing your child in the world.” John Sharry


“If your child doesn’t qualify for an IEP, they might still be eligible for a 504 Plan under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which provides accommodations like extended test time, quiet environments for taking tests, or physical movement breaks during class. As a parent, it’s important to understand what your child is entitled to and advocate for their educational rights. You can learn more about these programs at the U.S. Department of Education’s website and resources like Understood.org.” Dr. Whitney Casares



 
 
 

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