Be an Advocate

I feel like I am constantly at a meeting about V.

I need to leave my office job 1 to 2 times per week for a meeting for V.

I call his teacher 2 to 3 times per week. I email her a couple times a week.

I spend many hours each week focused on advocacy for V.

This is all so new and developing for me and the needs of V are overwhelming.

I want to see him be as successful in life as his potential allows. And I think he has so much he can and will accomplish in life. With every kid, their parent needs them to help navigate the way, but with V, I believe he needs me more than ever to help pave the way for him.

I am constantly asking around, reading materials, asking people, learning about Asperger's. In the last few months since I determined V must be Asperger's I have become more and more convinced that this is indeed what he struggles with.

In order to help him, I need to ask lots of questions, keep the school team on the ball (make sure they are following up quickly with what was promised), keep track of what others said they would do to help him, connect with his teacher often.

Due to the crisis we have had this week at school, I also spent an entire day making phone calls trying to get to the right person in our town. I finally found someone with a nonprofit who helps represent families as an Advocate. A big way they serve as an Advocate is at IEP meetings. I look forward to connecting more with the Advocate rep in town, I can't wait to share my learnings on this blog.

I need to be paying attention to what is going on with V at school, I need to constantly be making sure he is getting the BEST services possible.

I am a huge Advocate for my son. I MUST BE A ADVOCATE FOR HIM. He needs me to.