Advocacy Services

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Advocacy is a type of problem solving designed to protect personal, and legal rights, and to insure a dignified existence.  There are many types of advocacy. 

Individual advocacy is useful for changing a particular environment (school/work/home) for a person. Additionally, it is used to promote causes.

Self-advocacy involves advocating for oneself; while individual advocacy involves advocating for another.

We can help you learn how to advocate for yourself. Well practiced advocacy skills will increase your chances of getting what you want; when you want it. Effective advocacy is built on a broad based analytical approach to problem solving.

Advocacy Skills include:

• Goal analysis
  
• Goal setting
  
• Problem solving
  
• Decision making
  
• Advocacy plan
  
• Action plan
  
• Assertiveness skills/plan
  
• Educational rights
  

School Advocacy involves intervening to address an individual child or family’s problem. By being aware of and documenting service-delivery problems, providers can share important information that help identify issues and accommodations to assist your child in their educational development.

We also participate in forums (school or legal) where decisions are made.

Individualized Education Plans (IEP)  for special education needs should outline:

• Active participants in the child's program (parents, teachers, counselors)
  
• Accurate diagnosis of child
  
• The child's disability and needs
  
• Short-term and long-term goals for the child’s development
  
• What services/accommodations will be provided
  
• How to best serve the child in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
  
• Establish the date the services begin and their duration
  
• How often, where, and for how long the services will occur
  

Examples of Services to be Evaluated for an IEP

• Speech therapy
  
• Reading assistance
  
• Resource room
  
• A classroom assistant or para-professional
  
• Audiology
  
• Counseling sessions
  
• Mobility training for visually impaired
  
• Music therapy
  
• Occupational therapy
  
• Physical therapy
  
• Psychological services
  
• Recreational therapy
  
• School Health services
  
• Social Work services
  
• Speech therapy
  
• Transition services
  
• Transportation services