Parent Advocacy For Special Education Matters

Because You Can't Get The Time Back. Any parent of any child will tell you they can't believe just how quickly time can go. Any mother looking through her photo album will marvel at how the little baby with the messy chocolate cake face at his first birthday has suddenly morphed into the young person studiously drawing maps at his desk, reading in the corner, riding a bike in the driveway, or even preparing for a first date.

Grandparents have even been known to advise new parents "don't blink or you'll miss it" when referring to baby's early years; on the day that baby comes home from the hospital for the first time.

Any parent can tell you these precious years go buy quickly, and they are impossible to replace. It's the theme of the old song, "Cat's In The Cradle", about a father's regrets about his son's childhood.

You just can't get the time back. This is more than just a cliche, and to parents of special needs children it's worth thinking about. Even more than most children, perhaps, it is important for children of special needs to seize the moment, to make sure they aren't falling even further behind. There are early interventions, with things like autism for example, that can make all the difference to a child if implemented at the right age. There are programs that can encourage a less verbal child to speak, there are programs that can greatly benefit children with autism and other disabilities with a social component, but as time goes on and children get older these programs may become less effective. There can also be a negative effect on their self esteem when children have extraordinary difficulties in school or other social situations.

Time is of the essence when we are talking about childhood; and even more so when the issue concerns children with special needs.

 

So what is a worried parent to do? It's important that they second guess everything from the School District , don't take anything the school administration tells you at face value... do your due diligence, and make sure your child has access to all of the programs and services mandated by law; and when necessary turn to an experienced educational advocate. Sometimes parents find they need the assistance of someone with experience and knowledge of the law, as well as the school systems. It is important to follow up to make sure that rights once won are respected. The benefits to children with special needs will be immeasurable.

 

After all, "You just can't get the time back" may be a common cliche - but everyone who has had the pleasure of watching a child grow up knows just how true it is. It's the responsibility of the adults in the child's life to ensure that they have all the necessary tools to grow up and learn happily and successfully. It's incumbent upon parents to put pressure on today's School Districts to make sure that all the wonderful words they use in their mandates relating to the special needs children - and all children under their care - become a reality.