Educational Advocacy

Educational Advocacy

We would love to serve you! To request advocacy, please fill out this form.

To request advocacy, you may also email advocacy@thearcppr.org.

Ensuring that students with disabilities receive the services and accommodations they need, and that parents know their rights in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. Our educational advocates work to:

Educational Advocacy at The Arc Pikes Peak Region
  • De-mystify the Special Education process and assist your family in 504 and IEP meetings
  • Help you understand your rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) Laws
  • Help you navigate education programs for your child with disabilities, from early intervention to transition
  • Provide free, monthly parent workshops to explain the best methods and procedures to help your child
  • Create inclusive school environments through comprehensive IEPs.

Intellectual disabilities occur before age 18. Individuals with intellectual disabilities experience limitations in two main areas:

  • Intellectual functioning
  • Adaptive behavior

These limitations effect the person’s everyday activities and social and conceptual skills. Many people with intellectual disabilities are mildly affected; this makes the disability hard to notice with visual cues alone. Intellectual disability is diagnosed through standardized tests of intelligence and adaptive behavior.

I/DD is the term given to describe a wide range of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Keep reading below to learn more.

Many children receive a diagnosis or learning disability, developmental delay, behavior disorder, or autism instead of the intellectual disability. This makes it challenging to determine how many individuals have intellectual disabilities.

With support from family, friends and agencies including The Arc, over time many adults with intellectual disabilities can live independent, dynamic lives in their community.

Intellectual disabilities occur before age 18. Individuals with intellectual disabilities experience limitations in two main areas:

  • Intellectual functioning
  • Adaptive behavior

These limitations effect the person’s everyday activities and social and conceptual skills. Many people with intellectual disabilities are mildly affected; this makes the disability hard to notice with visual cues alone. Intellectual disability is diagnosed through standardized tests of intelligence and adaptive behavior.

Many children receive a diagnosis or learning disability, developmental delay, behavior disorder, or autism instead of the intellectual disability. This makes it challenging to determine how many individuals have intellectual disabilities.

With support from family, friends and agencies including The Arc, over time many adults with intellectual disabilities can live independent, dynamic lives in their community.

Testimonials

Joshua Ladzinski and his family came to The Arc Pikes Peak Region when his school suggested a change of placement. Joshua’s family wanted to make sure that he was in the most inclusive environment, while still getting the services that he needs to be successful. Now, Joshua’s IEP is built entirely around his strengths — which he has many!

I/DD is the term given to describe a wide range of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Keep reading below to learn more.

Intellectual disabilities occur before age 18. Individuals with intellectual disabilities experience limitations in two main areas:

  • Intellectual functioning
  • Adaptive behavior

These limitations effect the person’s everyday activities and social and conceptual skills. Many people with intellectual disabilities are mildly affected; this makes the disability hard to notice with visual cues alone. Intellectual disability is diagnosed through standardized tests of intelligence and adaptive behavior.

Many children receive a diagnosis or learning disability, developmental delay, behavior disorder, or autism instead of the intellectual disability. This makes it challenging to determine how many individuals have intellectual disabilities.

With support from family, friends and agencies including The Arc, over time many adults with intellectual disabilities can live independent, dynamic lives in their community.

Last year, I advocated for Sarah*, who has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and needed an IEP to address sensory issues, learning disabilities and impulsive behaviors in school. After the IEP was in place, we started to see some growth in Sarah. This year at her IEP meeting, we learned that Sarah has had only one behavior infraction this school year that warranted a visit to the office (last year, she had at least 10, with two suspensions), and she was able to admit her errors, apologize and return to class to be successful for the rest of the day. Her reading level has improved from 3.9 grade level to 5.5, which is right on target for her age. 

The Arc Caddo-Bossier
She is less impulsive and more able to advocate for herself. She has not made any self-harm statements or actions this year, and she has not been found stealing. The school is backing off her supervision, allowing her to regulate her sensory breaks, and discontinuing her reading intervention. It is wonderful to see how the right therapies at home, combined with the right supports at school, along with good communication between the two, contributes to a child’s success.

-Connie McKenzie, Advocacy Specialist – *Name has been changed for privacy