I was recntly watching the Dr. Phil show and he had a special education lawyer on his show and her name was Areva Martin. Now typically I do not pay attention to a lot of celebrities who are trying to make a dollar off of parents with special needs children. They are often trying to make money off of their books or talk about a new treatment for children with special needs and I just don't buy into it unless the science and research is there to back it up. However, I continued to watch the show and listen to what she had to say. She has recently written a book called, "The Everyday Advocate". She discussed the importance of parents being advocates for their children with special needs in order to be their voice. I purchased the book at Books-A-Million and just finished it. This book is a must read for all parents of children with special needs. In her book, Areva outlines clear advocacy strategies and provides useful information and resources for families. A lot of books that discuss special education law are complicated and hard to follow but Areva does a great job clearly defining terms and gives multiple examples of cases she has worked on. She has seven Advocacy Principles and they include:
1. Take Responsibility...Be a leader
2. Learn...Be an expert
3. Think Critically...Be discerning
4. Speak with Authority...Be proactive
5. Document...Be prepared
6. Collaborate...Be a team builder
7. Educate...Be a voice for your child
I encourage all parents reading this to purchase this book really take note of what she is saying. You don't have to be a lawyer to take a stand for your child...your love, determination, and only wanting what is best for them is enough to make you the best advocate ever!
"Leaders rarely fail because of lack of knowledge or technical incompetence; they fail from lack of character."
Until we meet again,
Mallory
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