Education Advocacy Program steps in to make an impact
Imagine not receiving the resources and support your child needs to succeed in public school. Imagine your child facing academic, behavioral, or social challenges due to a lack of understanding of their needs. What if you, or even the school staff, weren't aware of your child’s rights or the accommodation that could address these concerns?
At Children’s Law Center (CLC), through our Education Advocacy Program (EAP), we are committed to educating families, like Ciara and her father, about their rights in public education and supporting them in their advocacy efforts. Ciara is a Black elementary school student in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS). Her father reached out to CLC when he encountered barriers in securing an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for her. As a person with a disability himself, Ciara’s father faced many challenges in both the medical and educational systems while trying to get Ciara the support she needed to succeed in school.
When Ciara’s father contacted EAP, Ciara was at risk of being retained in the 2nd grade and was struggling to focus at school. Although Ciara had not been formally diagnosed with ADHD, there were communication issues between the school system, her doctor, and her father that were affecting the process. School administrators informed Ciara’s father that a medical diagnosis was required for her to be eligible for an IEP. Meanwhile, the doctor was unable to give Ciara an ADHD diagnosis due to insufficient information.
EAP intervened to support the family in navigating the IEP process and to help bridge the communication gap between the school and the doctor’s office. EAP reached out to Ciara’s doctor, who provided a Vanderbilt Assessment Scale—a tool used for diagnosing ADHD—to the school. This allowed Ciara’s teachers to fill it out and help determine whether Ciara met the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. Simultaneously, the school district agreed to evaluate Ciara for an IEP under a different eligibility category, as requested by EAP.
As a result of these efforts, Ciara was found eligible for an IEP. Her father reports that Ciara has been doing well in school since receiving the necessary support. “Thank you so much we never would have made it this far without your help. Things are going well. I really appreciate you.”
How many other children in similar circumstances would benefit from families who are informed about their rights? Make a difference today! Support the Children’s Law Center’s work to continue educating families and advocating for children’s rights in public education.