Lessons in flexing your rights.
⚖️ It's actually less of a "flex," and more of a hard-earned balance.
As an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small fee from qualifying purchases via the links below. This is at no additional cost to you. The cost of reading failure is high enough!
The experience of being a caregiver of a child in special education, dyslexia or not, can be chock full of lessons and learning curves. From neuroscience to clinical and emotional awareness to special education law — as well as high-level non-emotional* communication with school teams and record keeping. So. Much. Record keeping.
*Despite a child’s well-being at stake.
Sounds like a lot? Well, it is. It is not something you, I, or anyone ever intentionally signs up for.
We all inherit this unseen role. One where no one stands in the wings with kudos for a job well done. In fact, the odds are better than good that at least some of your school community will not look fondly at you. Peachy.
Welcome to the role of a special education parent.
While vital, today’s systems and processes make successful caregiver advocacy enormously challenging.
It’s like being recruited as a circus tightrope walker. Only you are not a performer and don’t actually know how to tightrope. Want a net? Bring your own. Just find and pay for one yourself.
Speaking of fees, there are additional costs. Time. Energy. Resources. Some may have enough financial ability to be able to pay professionals (advocates, lawyers, therapists, etc.) to help understand, navigate, and manage the way forward. This is not outsourcing; it’s out of necessity. The situation can be precarious.
Photo by Sean Benesh on Unsplash
The delicate balance that is enforcing your rights.
The first step of which is learning your rights, at least on a fundamental level. MA Dyslexia Guidelines are just one place to start. Link to it and more here.
Step number two: Learn the Process. That’s Process with a capital P. It is an entity of sorts because navigation means respecting how it works despite its hurdles and feeling counterintuitive at times.
There is such a thing as advocating too hard, too often, too much…. “too” something. You’ve got to be judicious. Choose what makes sense and time those forward steps forward just right, complete with careful word choice and documentation.
It looks a little something like this:
Nik Wallenda Tightrope GIF By Volcano Live!
What’s the point of this post?
It’s to recognize, validate, and encourage you not to give up. No matter how wobbly, each action is one step closer to support.
For more steps to take visit DyslexiaNowWhat.com
We’re also on TikTok (why not?)