Wow, “parents who work two jobs, group home guardians, and unconcerned parents” – quite a lumped together category. In my opinion, having a child w/ special needs comes with “special costs” – $$$$ it’s EXPENSIVE! I can’t imagine having to work a 2nd job (well I have 3 full-time jobs as it is, I work full-time, I’m a single parent, and I advocate for all 3 of my children – 2 of whom have special needs) – all of these are full-time jobs! But I only have 1 paying job… which doesn’t quite cover things even though I am a well-paid white collar worker.

Group home guardians – I do not have first hand experience w/ these people – but the fact that “guardian” is attached to the title, and not just group home leader, implies to me they are involved, they have a stake in that child’s future.

Unconcerned parent – I’m not sure I’ve ever met a parent of a child with special needs that I would label “unconcerned” – maybe I would say, “in denial”, “depressed”, “needing help”, but “unconcerned”??? how can a parent of a child with special needs EVER be labelled “unconcerned?”

I spoke to a group of parents tonight about advocacy for children – I was shocked/dismayed/saddened by the stories I heard about how parents of children with special needs were bullied, strong-armed, threatened into signing paperwork, putting their kids on medication, having their concerns about their child’s suspension, removal from the school bus, expulsion blamed on them. I was sick to my stomach to hear what these families are going though – all the while the SPED process puts it on us parents to self-educate, to find out what our rights are, to know what we can ask for and how.

So sad – and I will continue to help educate families on how to effectively advocate for their child, what is not acceptable and what is illegal.

I love yours and Jills posts. Keep it coming – you are doing so much for so many families. My best to you, Jill and the boys.
regards,
Linda