MORE INFO
What is Advocacy?
The meaning of "Advocate" is from the Latin: ad - another and vox – voice. It is a call to another’s aide or to provide another a voice.
What is an Educational Advocate?
As parents we advocate for those who do not have a voice, our children. If we advocate for another’s child, it is as an educational advocate or educational consultant.
"Educational Advocates promote the development of an appropriate education and community support service plan. These plans identify and address the child’s educational needs while creating societal inclusion, functional skills, and adequate measurable progress in both the educational and community environments."
Marie Lewis , RN, PhD, BCEA
A SOCIAL INJUSTICE ISSUE
Lack of access to a Free, Appropriate Public Education impacts/leads to:
Disability Segregation - which impacts the development of social skills
School Drop Out Rates - In 20 states, the graduation rate for students with disabilities, in 2017, is lower than 60 percent
Suspensions - Are more likely as students tend to act out if their needs are not being met. "Students with disabilities made up 12.46 percent of enrollment in traditional public schools and 10.62 percent of enrollment in public charter schools; 13.4 percent of students with disabilities were suspended
School to Prison Population/Crime - prison capacity needs are estimated based on a child's ability to read by 3rd grade
Job Readiness/Employment/Poverty - lack of a quality education makes it more difficult to land a job and make a living wage
Self Advocacy - the ability to stand up for ones self is a taught skill and a "must have" for post secondary education and independent living. Only 24% students with learning disabilities informed their postsecondary school of their eligibility for accommodations and only 17% got support and accommodations
College Readiness - Addressing your children's unique learning needs will help prepare them for college. Only 22 percent of U.S. high school students met “college ready” standards in all of their core subjects