Excellent piece about advocacy

Assertiveness and Effective Parent Advocacy
by Marie Sherrett

I find that parents of children with special education
needs come in several categories:

Pacifists or those who gets things done;
Clinging vines or parent advocates;
Silent victims or fighters;
Dreamers or crusaders;
Waiters or initiators;
Bombshells or assertive parents;
Appeasing compromisers or action heroes.

Which are you?

Parents are not assertive if they:

Beat around the bush;
Fail to describe problems;
Feel guilty or are afraid to be vocal;
Agree with professionals to keep peace;
Ignore the right to services;
Leave everything to others;
Accept excuses for inappropriate or inadequate
services;
Beg for what the law says a child should have;
Abdicate to others the right to advocate for a child;
Depend on others to advocate;
Give up because of red tape;
Are too hasty to act;
Fail to act;
Accept the status quo;
Give in to defeat;
Are uncomfortable with accomplishments;
Discourage your child from having hope for success.

What do you do?

Assertive parents

Express themselves clearly, directly and without
guilt;
Are not intimidated;
Prepare for meetings;
Stay together;
Are informed;
Keep records;
Collaborate;
Effectively communicate;
Demonstrate self-confidence;
Advocate effectively;
Are self-reliant and independent;
Persist;
Analyze problems;
Organize to effect change;
Are positive and strong;
Have pride;
Encourage others and hold people accountable.

Does this describe you?

Advocacy helps you get services for all special
education children in the least restrictive
environment. Then you can participate, plan for
educational programs, and get legislation passed.

Advocacy opens new doors so children may become part
of the community.

Advocacy knocks down barriers and prepares children
for independence.

To meet others, you can:

Publish a letter or article for your local papers
Pass out flyers at school
Organize public meetings
Encourage volunteers
Plan
Have goals and objectives
Talk to the media (I love to do this!)

None of this is easy but the rewards can be fantastic!

Remember: Parents put together Public Law 94-142.
Parents who vote urged Congress to pass the law that
became the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act.

You can make things better for the next generation
without filing for due process.

How?

You must learn the art of persuasion, advocacy-style!

There is both safety and strength in numbers.
If you can go over a hill and change a classroom, you
can go over a mountain and change a state's respite
care services, early infant and toddler program,
inclusive educational situations and training manuals.


There is no end to the positive changes one parent can
achieve! Together, we are more powerful!

Now these things cannot occur overnight. But if a
parent says to me, "What can I do? I'm only one
person," I say, "You have no idea the power you
have."

In five years, our Chapter made local and state
changes. None of our parents felt alone.

You, too, can change the world for those with special
education needs and disabilities.

Am I asking a lot? Yes, I am.

I am asking you to learn, read and network. You must
take these steps for your children and the children
who will come along behind your children.

Marie Sherrett
Home Phones: 301-627-3042/3987
Home Email: virri345@aol.com
Work Email: msherrett@mwe.com

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MARIE A. SHERRETT is Past-President of the Prince
George's County, MD, Chapter of the Autism Society of
America.

She is or has been a member of many advocacy-related
organizations, including

MD Education Coalition;
Parent Information Network;
Parents Place of MD;
Parent-To-Parent Connection;
Family Research Council;
FIAT;
ARI;
Center For Autism Study;
Society For Auditory Integration Training;
Georgianna Foundation;
Family Voices Coalition;
CAN!;
National Association For Year Round Education;
Family Education Center of Southern MD;
National Association of Child Advocates;
NPND;
CEC;
MD Committee For Children and Council of Parent
Attorneys and Advocates.

She currently assists a P.G. County Chapter of MD
Court Appointed Special Advocates, Inc., and
Independence Now, Inc. of P.G. County.

Marie makes presentations to local and national
groups, high school and college tudents, teachers and
school board members about autism, pervasive
developmental disorder, Supplemental Security Income,
child safety, school system and recreational budget
issues as they relate to those with developmental
delays. She speaks to groups about working women
issues. These activities have lead her to The White
House, Capitol Hill, and the local
Board of Education.

Marie was a member of the parent panel about "Advocacy
For Systems Change" at the Autism Society of America
Conference in Atlanta, GA. She hosted foreign exchange
students from the Republics of Abkhazia and Georgia
and the Country of Japan through Youth For
Understanding.

Marie speaks to local and national members of the
media, giving radio, TV and newspaper interviews on
child support, special education and working women
matters, particularly with regard to issues of single
parents of those with developmental delays.

Marie has been a legal secretary since 1972.

She is the parent of Mark P. Sherrett, 20, who had
autism, and Daniel V. Sherrett, 18, who joins the Navy
in the Fall of 2001.