From the Editors
A nationwide training program designed to help parents advocate for their child with an IEP or 504 plan is coming to Champaign on Jan. 31 and it’s an opportunity you won’t want to miss, according to one local mom.
Amy Armstrong of Champaign has attended the conference twice and is looking forward to participating again at the end of the month. Amy tells us why other parents should consider going too.
1. What is this workshop about? Learning skills necessary to take a step back and putting emotions in check to become an effective advocate for your child during their educational career and so much more.
2. Who should go? Parents of a child with special needs, caregivers, therapists, teachers, aides, school administrators – really anyone who wants to be an effective advocate for themselves and others.
3. Why should they attend? This conference has it all for learning how to advocate effectively AND it doesn’t come this close to home very often – the last one in CU was 2006.
4. How many times have you attended? Once in 2006 and again in Ohio in 2009. I have referred to my books from that conference over and over and over and over…. I am excited to bring this conference back to CU and can’t wait to attend again.
5. Why would you recommend it to others? The information gained from a Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy conference and the books provided are tools that I use in many different aspects of my life, not just when advocating for my child’s education. I have taken the skills I learn along with the confidence of knowing the law and apply it across many settings I enter in daily life. I approach difficult situations with the ability to team build and advocate without being adversarial.
6. Why do you attend? The first time because I knew very little about advocating without the raw emotions taking over and capsizing myself. This time for a refresher. It always helps to review tools and how to use them effectively.
7. Any other information you would like to add? Even if your child is an infant and it seems like school is so far away, you should attend. This conference is about so much more than just advocating for your child’s education. It teaches how to be an effective team member in any situation and using your passion to get you where you want to be vs your emotions. You will not regret attending, but you will regret skipping it!
About the Workshop
The workshop is a one-day (six hour) event held at Hilton Garden Inn in Champaign. The cost is $65 individual/$95 couple. The cost is $80 for school staff and caregivers receiving continuing education credit hours.
Participants will learn how to assess your child’s strengths and needs; how to prepare a Parent Report for the IEP team; how to build healthy working relationships with school personnel; how to document information that may prevent or resolve disputes; and how to participate as an equal member of your child’s IEP team.
Wrightslaw programs are designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providers, advocates and attorneys who represent children with disabilities regarding special education. The program is not disability specific.
For more information about the workshop or to register for the event, go here.