Becoming an Informed & Empowered Advocate for Your Child
Although parents are the most important members of the IEP team and know far more about their child's challenges and abilities, they often feel at a disadvantage and outgunned at IEP meetings. How can they begin to leverage their in-depth knowledge of the child into effective advocacy? The key to unlocking effective advocacy is is understanding the critical fundamentals of documentation, using a strategy of specificity, deconstructing challenges, realizing the roles of professionals involved with their child and simply becoming an organized advocate with a focused mission. This session is all about empowering the inner advocate with easy-to-undertand tips and strategies for parents of kids affected by autism.
Lynne Arnold, MA
Lynne is the mother of a 15-year-old son recovering from autism and a 13-year-old daughter. Through conference presentations, writings and mentoring, Lynne helps parents to understand their child’s rights to appropriate interventions and education. She is the editor of Autism: Asserting Your Child’s Rights to a Special Education. Lynne has presented at many national and local autism conferences including Autism One, National Autism Association Conference, Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT), Autism Society of America, Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) and other autism groups. Since 2004 she has been a chapter coordinator for Talk About Curing Autism of Visalia and Fresno, California. Lynne is also Operations Director for the Elizabeth Birt Center for Autism Law & Advocacy.
Timothy A. Adams, Esq., Esq
Is the principal attorney at Adams & Associates, APLC, a disability rights law firm. For over a decade, Tim has zealously represented families affected by autism. Tim received his BA from the University of California, Irvine, and his JD from Pepperdine University School of Law, where he has also served as an adjunct professor and Associate Director of the Special Education Advocacy Clinic. Tim is the chairman of the board of directors for the Elizabeth Birt Center for Autism Law & Advocacy.
