My name is Frances, and my child has special needs. Why am I starting my blog this way? Well, because I have a different topic I would like to share with you. And the topic is about advocacy.
I have strong emotions when it comes to advocacy, especially when it comes to advocating for children. These emotions did not come about once I became a parent even though I knew I was adopting a child with different medical, emotional, physical, and educational needs. Nope, these emotions have been a part of me forever. However, the weird thing about this is I don’t want to advocate for your child.
I want parents to know how important it is that we advocate for our own children. Because honestly the more we advocate for our own children, the more we help other families also. Now don’t get me wrong, I am consistently helping other families find information and get answers. I am also that listening ear people may need. I do know that it is so important that parents and other family members have the resources they need to be advocates for their children. I also know that this is not always the case.
Why am I even bringing this up? Well because the other day I was speaking to a mom and she shared with me that she made decisions about her child’s educational plan based on what she did know. The issue is mom did not know all of her and her child’s rights. I know, I know she should have asked or known. Well, if only it was that easy, but it is not.
If you think I am rambling well you are right. I get like this when I make changes to the program, my program, my business direction. I realized after talking to that mom that more parents need a grassroots approach to advocacy. The grassroots approach where parents know the ones and twos of advocacy before they are faced with having to know the higher levels of it. The higher levels where you may have to pay for an advocate and/or a lawyer. I am not saying that knowing how to advocate for your child will stop these things from happening, but it will give you more understanding and a feeling of control.
Okay so the point to this rambling of mine is that starting in January 2022, I will be offering a virtual course to help parents advocate for their children. I will be sharing the things all parents and guardians should know from the beginning, the grassroots approach to advocating for your child. So be on the lookout for more information coming soon.
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