Many parents who enter the special education system do so with quite a bit of apprehension. They may have heard horror stories from parents of other children with special needs. They may have had to fight in order to get their children qualified for special education. They may be unsure of what to expect from special education and from their child’s teachers. Overall, there are several things to keep in mind when you are dealing with special education. Keeping these ideas at the forefront of your mind will help you to better advocate for your student and for yourself.
First of all, try to give everyone that you encounter the benefit of the doubt. Most of the people who work in special education truly care about their students and about what they are doing. However, many special education teachers find themselves overwhelmed with paperwork and politics. This does not mean that they are not doing their best for your child. When you are dealing with teachers and administrators try to assume that everyone involved wants what is best for your child. This will make it much easier to negotiate if you do have a disagreement about something. Continue Reading