Parent Advocacy Training

Parent Advocacy Training (PAT) was designed and developed by AG Bell parents interested in sharing their wealth of experience in advocating for their children. PAT provides information and resources for advocating for children through negotiation skills and a foundation in legal information. Through PAT, parents learn from the successes and failures of other parents as they all learn to achieve better services for their children with hearing loss. After completing PAT, you will be able to:

• Use negotiation skills to prepare and manage your own child's Individualized Education Program or Individual Family Service Program.
• Access legal information (laws, regulations, policies, etc.) that will provide you with a solid foundation for obtaining services and support for your child.

PARENT ADVOCACY TRAINING POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

PARENT ADVOCACY TRAINING HANDBOOK

Here are some resources for you as you prepare for IFSP and IEP meetings:

• A Guide to Mainstreaming a Hard of Hearing or Deaf Child
• Acronyms in Special Education
• AG Bell's Children's Legal Advocacy Program
• Components of a Quality Oral Program
• Handout on Extended School Year
• Facts on Newborn Hearing Screening and Data on Cochlear Implant outcomes
• Summary of Cochlear Implant Research
• FAQ on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
• Keys to successful negotiation (for IFSP or IEP)
• How to have a winning year
• Letter from US Department of Education stating that families need to be presented with communication options
• Legal Precedents:
• • Case showing that tuition at placement a private oral school may be reimbursed if parent can prove that school district's placement is not appropriate
  • Another case where private oral school's tuition was reimbursed