I was invited to show up today to share information about 504s & IEPs. The invitation was overwhelming to me & caused me to consider what I’ve witnessed as a provider & a person. (Valuable resource linked below!)
As a provider I’ve seen many instances when parents have brought their child in to me with desperation in their eyes, exhaustion on their faces, and near hopelessness in the hearts. I’ve seen the other side too, where teachers have come in overtaken, overworked, and overwhelmed from the sheer weight of the responsibility of providing and educating in a system that is often anything but easy and accommodating.
Over the years, I’ve made one clear connection: there’s DEFINITELY a language barrier. No matter which side of the table you’re sitting on, the language barrier remains and up until now has appeared nearly impenetrable.
I’ve pulled on my experience, both lived and learned, to put together what I hope to be a useful resource for parents & educators alike. My hope is that this resource will provide a bridge across the cavernous communication between desperate parent and exhausted teacher.
It answers simple straight forward questions and encourages advocacy for the child by allowing parents to be prepared and therefore attend the meetings while using the right words to communicate effectively. The resource also contains additional resources & strategies to communicate and advocate in a way that is clear, concise, and considerate. (I’ll include it below.)
Here’s the invite to the conversation from today for Malachi’s Corner, birthed from a place of a learned, lived, and loved experience with Paula Lewis, Host.
If you’ve read this far, you’re likely invested in the advocacy and care of our children! Every child needs to be heard! Every child matters! Let’s work together to learn how to equip and empower the best possible outcomes for them.
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