Parent Advocate Training Program Set for Launch This Fall

A "Parent Advocate" is a non-lawyer parent who is trained and has an understanding in education law and issues and works to help other parents through the educational system. Parent advocates can be a great form of moral support and assistance to parents who are just beginning to navigate the educational process or who are dealing with multiple issues with the school system. Parent advocates can help parents get prepared for case conferences, create goals for IEPs, and understand the process. There are both free and paid advocates avaliable throughout the State, however one problem that Indiana has continually faced is the lack of fully trained advocates who can attend case conferences and work effectively with parents. Many parent advocates work to help other parents, but often feel lost themselves in a sea of intertwining laws and regulations.

The Autism Education and Training Center is set to launch its Parent Advocate Training Program this fall. This will be a series of classes and certifications for both parents of children with special needs and parents wanting to become parent advocates. Part I of this program is set to launch in November 2008 with both live lectures and webinars avaliable for parents and advocates outside of the central Indiana area. To find out more about this program, please contact Sheila Wolfe at sheilawolfe@sbcglobal.net.