Advocating for your Child Workshop Report

Advocating for your Child Workshop 

Objective:  Provide a broad overview to parents as to how and when to advocate for their child.  

·         Overview suitable for all type of needs ranging from minor to serious.  (eg my kid is getting too much homework all the way to we need more support for my child special needs)

·         Teach parents basic etiquette and protocols

·         Help parent know where to look for more detailed resources

·         Provide practical advice on how to deal with specific challenges raised by attending parents.

·         Help parents understand that advocacy is better when proactive and positive

·         Help parents broaden their perspective on how to approach challenges.

·          

Panel Composition

·         High School Administrator: Adam Bauman  abaumann@sd44.ca

·         High School Counsellor:  Katherine Sigurdsson   ksigurdsson@sd44.ca 

·         High School Teacher: Terry Mitruk  tmitruk@sd44.ca

·         Elementary school Administrator: Rick Chan   rchan@sd44.ca

·         Elementary School Teacher: Lori Kennedy

·         Student Leader: Sara MacIntosh

·         Wise Parent 1: Cindy Gerlach   cgerlach@sd44.ca

Four key elements of advocacy

1)      Goal

·         Before you start to address a problem decide what you think should be the outcome:  A change, an apology, restitution, justice, revenge…

·         Define the desired outcome as clearly as possible:  What do you want to happen.  How will you know when it has?

2) Information

·         Having adequate information is a basic requirement of becoming an active participant in the system

·         Learn everything you can and become an empowered participant in the system.

3) Voice

·         With information, support and resources, people are their own best advocates.

·         To really have a voice, people need the opportunity to say it “their way” to someone who really listens and can do something about it.

4) Inclusion

·         When everyone who “cares” or “should care” has a voice, better decisions will be made.

·         Inclusion is not just about inviting people to the table –it is about genuinely welcoming and considering their point of view.

·         Effective advocacy can only happen in a climate of mutual respect. Act respectfully in all of our relationships with participants in the advocacy process.

Key Resources:

BCCPAC Advocacy Pamphlet

http://www.bccpac.bc.ca/resources/speaking

·         An outline of parents’ and students’ rights and responsibilities.

·         A guide to working through a problem.

·         An approach for dealing with parents’ fears.

·         Information about bullying/harassment.

·         Tools to help parents stay on track.

·         Information about the public school system.

·         Places to look for more help.

BCCPAC Individual Education Plans  A Guide for Parents

http://bccpac.bc.ca/sites/default/files/resources/individual_education_plan_guide2010.pdf

·         Collaboration—What Does It Look Like? 3

·         Sample IEP Goal Showing Collaboration 4

·         Understanding Learning 6

·         Our Child’s Learning Style

·         More

BCCPAC Guide Supporting Student Success

http://bccpac.bc.ca/sites/default/files/supporting_student_success.pdf

·         How to help your kids yourself and how to play on the greater team

Parent Support Services Society of BC:  Steps to Effective Advocacy

http://www.llbc.leg.bc.ca/public/pubdocs/bcdocs/378541/advocacy_guide.pdf

·         General guide on how to advocate effectively

               

North Vancouver School District ( NVSD) : Inclusive Education Website

http://www.nvsd44.bc.ca/ProgramsServices/InclusiveEducation/Pages/default.aspx

·         Links to all sort of services  1st stop when looking for help

NVSD Policy 211: Special Education Services and Programs

http://www.nvsd44.bc.ca/Board/PoliciesProcedures/Series200/Policy211/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.nvsd44.bc.ca/ProgramsServices/InclusiveEducation/Documents/InclusiveEducation44Handbook.pdf

·         Specific practices and services available in North Vancouver

NVSD Policies on Child health welfare

http://www.nvsd44.bc.ca/Board/PoliciesProcedures/Series300/Pages/default.aspx

·         Specific policies and links to additional resources for different challenges ( eg abuse, bullying, medication)

NVSD Policy 406: Complaints Concerning Personnel, Programs or Procedures

http://www.nvsd44.bc.ca/Board/PoliciesProcedures/Series400/Policy406/Pages/default.aspx

·         Procedures for dealing  with complaints

NVSD Advocacy efforts

http://www.nvsd44.bc.ca/Board/Advocacy/Pages/default.aspx

·         Examples of how the school board has addressed advocacy on behalf of your students

Ministry of education:  Awareness of Students with Diverse Learning Needs,  What the Teacher Needs to Know, Volume 1

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/specialed/awareness/5.htm

·         Information intended to assist classroom teachers in understanding the implications for classroom instruction and management of a number of diverse learning needs. Each section includes a definition, recognition signs, classroom strategies and contacts for more information.

·         Lot of  links to support organizations

Ministry of Education:  Special Education Services:  A Manual of Policies, Procedures and Guidelines

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/specialed/ppandg.htm

·         Provincial policies: Help understand constrain in school system

·         Links to supports

Ministry of Education: The BC Safe Schools Strategy

 http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/sco/

·         Resources on social responsibility and bullying avoidance

Ministry of education Dispute resolution Process

http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=9455A1DB98FE4DACBD5813668E253D06&title=Student%20Disputes%20and%20Appeals

·         Instructions for escalation of issues to province