I S.P.E.A.K. Resources

Initiative for Special Education Advocacy and Kindness

I SPEAK Resources are designed to help anyone become an effective special education advocate. You are the best advocate available for the child in your life. In our lessons and materials, we approach the IEP process collaboratively and are passionate that parents are quite capable of learning about special education and working with their IEP teams to build effective student-centered plans. What makes us different than any other special education resource for parents & teachers?

OUR MISSION IS CENTERED AROUND SOME IMPORTANT FOUNDATIONAL BELIEFS

Advocacy should be approached as follows:

  • IEP development, implementation, and relationships between all parties should never be approached as a war or battle. The process is a collaborative one. Every member should be well-informed and participate. This is in the best interest of all children.

  • Parents are capable, valuable, irreplaceable members of the IEP team/process. They should be viewed as partners.

  • Teachers and school personnel are professionals who have important information to share about the child and expertise needed to both develop and implement any plan successfully. They should be viewed as partners.

  • Advocacy can and should be provided by stakeholders. We believe this is almost always possible. If the outside services of an advocate are necessary, a certified, experienced ‘Collaborative Advocacy Trainer’ should be utilized. These individuals do not support children for their own gain. They are trained to assist parents in their own learning process, in the interest of all children.

  • Public Education should be available to all children and we need to do everything we can to improve, protect, and enhance it. Protecting Public Education is a matter of equity.

  • All children with disabilities, regardless of socioeconomic status, deserve to have a thoughtful, collaborative team of stakeholders planning for their education.

  • Inclusion benefits everyone. It is only possible if strategies are put in place that benefit ALL learners.

  • Kindness should be explicitly taught. It is the foundation of inclusion.