A first step for every parent should be getting educated about education laws as pertain to children with disabilities. The family resource center on disabilities is one place for parents to go to learn about these laws. Executive Director Charlotte Des Jardins says the goal of the center is to make all parents advocates for their children. Parent training and information center is to basically inform parents of their rights and make sure that they understand what their responsibilities are to make sure that their child receives the services that are required by law. But once a parent becomes aware of the law, that parent has to fight to make sure it is implemented.
Implementation can be difficult for a number of reasons.
The school districts by law are required identify children with disabilities. But how they serve those children is very, very unclear in the law because in one paragraph it says they have responsibility to provide services then in another paragraph it basically limits what they're required to provide and it all comes down to finances. For some parents of children with disabilities, education and training from places like the center has paid off. He is now attending college. I don't know how well the system would have worked with preparing him and giving him the services that he need than I would have because I have a much better understanding of what his needs are.