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Why Advocate for Special Education

Why Advocate for Special Education. Do you have ideas on IDEA?. Why it’s Important. NIMH survey that many people started symptoms at age 14 Children/adolescents spend a great deal of time in school

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Why Advocate for Special Education

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  1. Why Advocate for Special Education Do you have ideas on IDEA?

  2. Why it’s Important • NIMH survey that many people started symptoms at age 14 • Children/adolescents spend a great deal of time in school • Children with an emotional disturbance are more likely to be in a segregated classroom, to be suspended, to fail and to drop out of school

  3. Don’t Others Advocate Already? • Parent Training and Information Centers (PTI). They get federal dollars to advocate for children receiving special education. They are supposed to conduct trainings, work with schools, etc. They often influence policy.

  4. Who Else? • Other disability groups such as Arc, UCP, Federation for Families, Autism Society, etc. • Directors of Special Education, School Social Workers, Counselors, Psychologists

  5. More to add to our full plates? Why? • Because most of the groups don’t understand mental illness • Focus on functional behavioral assessments, PBI • Little focus on integrated mental health services, reluctant to talk about mental illness, no recognition of biological basis

  6. Where to Start • Respond to the proposed regulations. Numbers do count. Use the material that will be produced by NAMI. • Testify at one of the hearings. Tell your story, say you’re representing other families.

  7. Keep Going • We need people who understand mental illness in children to be represented on the mandated State Advisory Panel. Parents have to be a part of it. • Monitoring and enforcement – feds come in and hold mini-hearings about how things are going. Show up. Talk about what isn’t working.

  8. Statistical Hunt • States have to report data • What’s the graduation rate for kids with EBD? • Any suspension data? • Is NCLB leaving behind our kids?

  9. Local Level • Many local school districts have parent advisory committees on special ed or regular ed. • Don’t forget the school board, site based management teams, etc. • Check out local NCLB data.

  10. Watch Pilots • Pilot programs permitted – watch them like a hawk! • Don’t give up on due process rights

  11. New State Laws and Regs • Many states will look at changing their laws to reflect the federal law and regs. • States can have better laws – such as transition at age 14, short term objectives, etc.

  12. Know your Stuff • Look over the resources • Read the material from Centers for School Mental Health • Read CECP for back up • Use their information to strengthen your position and for ideas.

  13. It’s Time • We cannot leave our fragile kids to other groups • We need to advocate for them • We need to organize them

  14. Educate, Support and Advocate Provide education to families Provide support to families Teach them to advocate for themselves Advocate at the local and state level

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