As a Parent...
As a parent, I’ve been in your shoes. My daughter struggled with speech development. I used all the tools I had as a special education teacher to help her communicate. I was doing all the translating for her. It was her pre-school teacher that finally brought it to my attention that more help would be needed.
I could see what was happening, but I was too close to the situation. I needed someone else to step in and guide. I went through the assessment process. I lived through hearing the negativity about my child. I grieved the loss. Unfortunately, the system is set up to not step in until all has failed.
Thankfully, I knew how to advocate for her and stepped in to be her advocate. I worked with the team. I could highlight her gifts and help them see her possibility instead of her deficiency.