The title of this piece paraphrases the words of Melanie Perkins McLaughlin in her story (https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/ed/18/05/parents-advocates) about becoming an advocate for system change for her daughter’s sake and it echoes the sentiment of many parents!
Families are powerful forces for system change when they unite together. In 1972 Massachusetts passed the first law Chapter 766 permitting children with disabilities to attend public schools because of parent advocacy. Over the next few years, federal laws were passed that eventually became the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), requiring public schools to provide equal access to education to children with disabilities by offering a “free and appropriate public education” (FAPE) in the “least restrictive environment” (LRE) — the environment that offers the maximum possible opportunity to interact with non-impaired students, the right to due process and a formal complaint procedure for families.
But there is still work to be done! Are you ready to make your voice heard?
For those of you ready to become engaged in school reform or local policy, we have a class to help you. This dynamic and interactive, 6-session workshop prepares families with the skills and tools needed to partner and engage in all levels of public advocacy on behalf of children with special needs.
Call us at: (707) 253-7444 to register.
This class meets on Thursdays from 9:00am – 1:00pm on the following dates:
August 30, September 6, September 13, September 20, September 27, October 4, 2018
