Workshop two – Parent Advocacy

“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”
                                                                                                -  Alice Walker -

This is how Holly Major, support specialist for Pathfinder Parent Center began her workshop on parent advocacy at the Region VIII conference in Fargo, ND.  She had further expanded on a recent post regarding this topic, so I found it helpful to parents and families wanting to become more involved in their child’s lives.

Experiences are valuable and will go by very quickly.  A parent will always be a childs first and most important teacher and parenting is the most important job that every parent takes on.  Here are some tips to becoming an affective advocate for your child:

1 -  Understand your childs needs/abilities

• Know the services appropriate for your child
• Have high expectations for your child and the service they receive
• Find the right accommodations
• Use resources to learn more!

2 -  Know the Key Players

• Find out who the decision makers are
• How can you find their names?
• What type of organization are you working with?

3 -  Know your rights/responsibilities

• Read websites
• Ask how service is funded
• Ask to see laws
• Ask questions – It’s likely others have the same question
• Join a group

4 -  Be well organized

• Keep records
• Put everything in writing – email, letter, text, etc.
• Keep a phone log
• Have a meeting, keep accurate notes

5 -  Use Clear/Effective Communication

• Keep your eyes on the prize! – Find the right services for your child
• Listen and ask questions – What is right?
• Turn negatives into positives
• Speak clearly, don’t make people feel defensive
• Much of communication is non-verbal, remember that when meeting face-to-face
• Show respect, be thankful, manage your emotions
• Apologize if necessary
• Separate the person from the problem
• Remember that not everyone has all the answers
• Check your facts
• Choose your battles

6 -  Know how to resolve disagreements

• Talk to the right people first
• Follow the formal processes for solving the problem
• Remember, being fair is not about treating everyone equally, but about giving everyone what they need. 

Resources:

• Pathfinder Parent Center
• South Dakota Parent Connection