When you feel like a school is not doing enough to educate your special needs child, you may feel frustrated and confused about the best way to go about making sure they do. Children with specific types of learning disabilities may fall behind other students because teachers do not see their need for individualized attention. If your child has a learning disability and you are worried his or her school is not taking steps to accommodate it, find out how you can be your child's best educational advocate and ensure he or she gets the education you can feel good about.

Learn As Much As You Can About Your Child' s School District

As your child's advocate, your job is to learn what is available in your child's school district for children with learning disabilities. Learn more about the district and who is responsible for making important decisions about special needs children. Find out more about your rights as a parent and about your child's legal rights to an education. If you are unsure about rights, contacting a special education attorney is a good way to find out.

Remember the difference between an appropriate education for your child and the best education for him or her. A public school is generally bound to offer to offer your child an appropriate education. If you want the best education possible, you may end up hiring tutors or placing your child in a private school for more individualized attention. Knowing ahead of time what you can expect from the school district when you approach them with your concerns is extremely important to meet your child's educational needs in school.

When You Feel Like You Are In Over Your Head

Not every parent is perfectly versed in the educational levels available to special needs children. For this reason, having a lawyer on your side is best, especially when you are dealing with school personnel that are giving you a hard time about child's placement. You, as a parent, know your child better than anyone, and when you see his or her educational opportunities being balked at, proving it may take the expertise of a lawyer. For example, if you child has a learning disability and you feel he or she is ready to test out to regular classes, you may end up fighting the school board to make it happen if just one teacher disagrees with you.

When you know what you want for your child and you are aware of what your child needs, you have the ground work for being your child's best advocate. However, when IEP (individualized education program) meetings with school personnel do not go well and you feel as though your child is falling through the cracks of the educational system, talking to a special education attorney is the best way to learn what steps you need to take next. For more information, contact Law Office of Mark W Voigt or a similar firm.