Special Education; 4 Mistakes Parents Make and How to Avoid Them

Are you a parent of a young child with autism, learning disabilities,
who is having difficulty navigating the special education process?
Would you like to learn about the mistakes that parents make, and
learn how to avoid them? Then this article is for you! You will learn
4 mistakes that a lot of parents make trying to fight for an
appropriate education for their child with a disability. You will also
learn how to avoid these mistakes and work toward being an effective
advocate for your child.

Mistake:

1. Letting emotions get the best of you.
It is so easy to let anger and other emotions cloud your judgment, but
this will prevent you from fighting for the educational services your
child needs.

If you are in an individual educational plan (IEP) meeting, and feel
yourself getting emotional, ask for a few minute break. This will
allow you to clear your head, and get yourself focused on the task at
hand, advocating for your child. You also may bring someone with you
to the meeting; this may help keep you focus on your child.

2. Forgetting your inner voice. Parents often make the mistake of
giving too much weight to what school personnel say, rather than
trusting their own instincts.

You know your child better than special education personnel. If a
disability educator tells you something about your child, that you do
not think is right, question them. Parent’s instincts are almost
always right. You have to remember that school personnel may say
certain things, to prevent them from having to give your child
services. Follow your instincts!!

3. Accepting lies from school personnel. Parents often do not stand up
and question school personnel when they are told things that are not
true. If you are speaking to a disability educator and they tell you
something, that doesn’t sound right to you, then question them. Ask
them what state and federal laws they are using to come up with this
information. And also, ask them to show you written proof, of the law.
If they cannot show you written proof, then it is probably a lie.

Another thing that school personnel often state is their reason for
doing things, is that "It is school policy." Ask for written proof of
the school policy.

4. Using the "B" word, when trying to get an education for your child.
The "B" word is BEST!! The Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA), does not require school districts to give your child the
best education, only an appropriate education. The main place that
best is usually brought up is at due process hearings. If you are at a
due process hearing for your child, and the special education
personnel ask you if you want what is best for your child, this is
what you should say. "As far as my child’s education, I want what is
appropriate, not what is best."

You have the right to stand up to disability educators when they tell
you lies and deceptions. You can do it in a respectful way, and I call
this being assertively persistent. You are now prepared to avoid the 3
biggest mistakes that parents make. Good Luck!

JoAnn Collins is the mother of two adults with disabilities, and has been an advocate for over 15 years, helping other families. She is the author of the recently published book Disability Deception; Lies Disability Educators Tell and How Parents Can Beat Them at Their Own Game. The book is filled with advocacy tips, and resources to help parents. For a free E newsletter send an E mail to JoAnn@disabilitydeception.com. For a link to more free articles go to www.disabilitydeception.com.

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