Why Advocate for Why Advocate for Special EducationSpecial EducationWhy Advocate for Why Advocate for Special EducationSpecial Education

Do you have ideas on IDEA?Do you have ideas on IDEA?

Why it’s Important• NIMH survey that many people

started symptoms at age 14• Children/adolescents spend a

great deal of time in school• Children with an emotional

disturbance are more likely to be in a segregated classroom, to be suspended, to fail and to drop out of school

Don’t Others Advocate Already?

• Parent Training and Information Centers (PTI). They get federal dollars to advocate for children receiving special education. They are supposed to conduct trainings, work with schools, etc. They often influence policy.

Who Else?• Other disability groups such as

Arc, UCP, Federation for Families, Autism Society, etc.

• Directors of Special Education, School Social Workers, Counselors, Psychologists

More to add to our full plates? Why?

• Because most of the groups don’t understand mental illness

• Focus on functional behavioral assessments, PBI

• Little focus on integrated mental health services, reluctant to talk about mental illness, no recognition of biological basis

Where to Start• Respond to the proposed

regulations. Numbers do count. Use the material that will be produced by NAMI.

• Testify at one of the hearings. Tell your story, say you’re representing other families.

Keep Going• We need people who understand mental

illness in children to be represented on the mandated State Advisory Panel. Parents have to be a part of it.

• Monitoring and enforcement – feds come in and hold mini-hearings about how things are going. Show up. Talk about what isn’t working.

Statistical Hunt• States have to report data• What’s the graduation rate for kids

with EBD?• Any suspension data?• Is NCLB leaving behind our kids?

Local Level• Many local school districts have

parent advisory committees on special ed or regular ed.

• Don’t forget the school board, site based management teams, etc.

• Check out local NCLB data.

Watch Pilots

• Pilot programs permitted – watch them like a hawk!

• Don’t give up on due process rights

New State Laws and Regs

• Many states will look at changing their laws to reflect the federal law and regs.

• States can have better laws – such as transition at age 14, short term objectives, etc.

Know your Stuff• Look over the resources• Read the material from Centers for

School Mental Health• Read CECP for back up• Use their information to strengthen

your position and for ideas.

It’s Time• We cannot leave our fragile kids to

other groups• We need to advocate for them• We need to organize them

Educate, Support and Advocate

Provide education to familiesProvide support to familiesTeach them to advocate for

themselvesAdvocate at the local and state level