Why You Need an Advocate

• Have you had a problem with convincing your school district to evaluate your child?
• Does your child receive only a minimum of assistance?
• Do you feel that your child's teacher(s) don't understand his/her unique needs?
• Is your child suffering from low self esteem?
• Do you worry about your child's future?
  

Talking to an Advocate can help! Advocating for your own child is like trying to add a room onto your house with a Time-Life Book! Without objectivity, it's harder to get your point across without emotion. School meetings can become frustrating, intimidating, and draining.

• An experienced Advocate can help you to get your child evaluated and provided with a Free Appropriate Public Education.
• You may need help in developing and negotiating an Individual Education Plan that specifically meets your child's educational needs. Bringing an Advocate to school meetings often makes a tremendous difference in the types of accommodations, modifications and services that are made available.
• If your school district claims that your child is not eligible for classification, services may still be provided under Section 504. An advocate knows how to arrange for 504 consideration, and also knows what accommodations, modifications and services would best benefit your child's academic, social and emotional experience at school.
• Perhaps you know what you need, but you have difficulty writing effective letters. An Advocate can help with this too.

If you live in New Jersey, I can help. For information about Advocacy services, email me

Return to excerpts from Attention Deficit Disorders MADE EASY!

Page last updated 3/27/00 by Roz.