Sarah Palin and Parent Advocacy for Children with Disabilities
NPDCI has a tool designed to ensure that parents’ participation is meaningful and their voices are heard.
“To the families of special needs children all across this country, I have a message for you . . . you will have a friend and advocate in the White House.” So said Sarah Palin in talking about her son with Down syndrome during her convention acceptance speech. Her remarks sparked spirited conversations across the numerous listservs, blogs, and discussion boards in which parents of children with disabilities participate.
Parent advocacy is certainly nothing new. Parent leaders across the country have helped shape legislation on behalf of individuals with disabilities. In fact, it is often, those of us sitting on the other side of the table—administrators, policymakers, educators—that need to work at tapping into parents’ expertise and experiences.
NPDCI has a tool designed to ensure that parents’ participation is meaningful and their voices are heard—Recommendations for Meaningfully Involving Families in State Planning Meetings. Please check it out and add your suggestions to this list of tips. Please also let us know ways that you have used this checklist or others like it.
For more information: Governor Palin’s speech
