Module 6: Advocating for Families
While engaging and supporting families is necessary and important work, families may also look to you as an advocate and somebody who can help them advocate for their child/children.
Advocacy can be defined as the act or process of supporting and offering resources on behalf of another person to advance something they need; here advocacy typically relates to ensuring a parent of a child with a disability knows their rights and how to request them or helping a child access equitable educational resources to advance learning.
Several resources are available for supporting an understanding of advocacy. Take a few minutes to explore the resources included below. As you read, think about what advocacy means to you and how you will serve as an advocate for the students and families you work with.
- The Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA America) has provided several resources related to Disability Rights and Advocacy. and various levels of Advocacy
- Although this resource is for supporting children in Australia, several of their recommendations are universal (e.g., knowing the child, knowing the need, etc.)
- Being a disability advocate for children | Raising Children Network
- Another resource is Exceptional Lives which provides additional information about supporting parents as advocates.
- Additional supplementary sources include the following, which may also be a great resource for families:
