As a parent navigating the IEP (Individualized Education Program) process, it’s natural to want the best for your child. Sometimes, parents are encouraged to hire an advocate, someone who can represent them and help negotiate with the school. While there are situations where an advocate might be helpful, there are several reasons why hiring one may not always be the best decision.
As a school psychologist in the public school setting, I have typically encounter around two-three students per year that have advocates supporting their parents at IEPs. As the district employee I have to sit there, answer questions, and listen to advocates talk (mostly about themselves) and drag out getting supports to help the student over several months. I’m not allowed to pull parents aside an tell them the truth…that the their “fighter” is really just a predator trying to steal their money with dragging out meetings to having multiple meetings, as these people get paid…by the hour.
That’s right, “Advocates” are typically people who have no degree, maybe not even an undergraduate degree, and no special training in learning about disabilities, and are just trying to rack up their hours. They’ve just become “experts” on the laws and experts on stressing out people that just want to help your child. Even if they get you to “win”, meaning get their services paid for by the district (instead of by you, the parent with a child with a disability), who is the real winner? I can tell you, it’s not your child, the person that they are supposed to be advocating for.
Here are 10 MORE reasons why hiring an advocate for your child with a disability are a waste of money:
1. You Know Your Child Best
No one understands your child’s needs, strengths, and challenges better than you. While advocates may know the law, they don’t have the personal connection or the insight that comes from being deeply involved in your child’s day-to-day life. Your involvement and intuition are often far more valuable in advocating for your child’s educational needs.
By using an outside person who does not know your child, and may not even ever meet your child, you are taking away your power and putting it in the hands of someone who only has their own pocketbook in their best interest.
2. Schools Are Legally Required to Follow the IEP Process
The IEP process is guided by strict federal regulations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Schools are already required to follow these guidelines, so bringing in an advocate to enforce rules that are already in place might not add any real benefit. The IEP team is composed of professionals with specific roles, and they are obligated to ensure your child receives an appropriate education, regardless of advocate involvement. By empowering YOURSELF, with knowledge, you can guide the team, ask important questions, and make decisions without someone in your ear, telling you that you are not getting something…and need another meeting. (Cha-ching)
3. You Can Access Free Resources
There are many free resources available to parents who need support during the IEP process. Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs), community organizations, and online parent groups can offer guidance and answer questions at no cost. These resources can often provide the same insights as an advocate without the financial investment.
I’m a member, myself, of Facebook groups, and I pretty much watch YouTube videos for everything new that I want to learn about. For me, it’s being a business owner and making “content”, like what you are reading here. But, if you’re like me, you watch YouTube for everything from recipes to putting together IKEA furniture. This is no different. And it’s YOUR child! So, turn off the Netflix for a week, and watch YouTube videos, download free parent resources from websites, and create a file of knowledge to help YOU become the expert on Special Education Laws and YOUR parents’ rights. Here’s a link from the California Department of Education to start on Parent rights. So, get going!
4. You Have the Right to Ask Questions and Request Changes
You don’t need an advocate to ask questions or request changes to your child’s IEP. As a parent, you are a key member of the IEP team and have the right to request revisions, additional services, or evaluations at any time. Empower yourself by understanding your rights, and you can be just as effective in steering your child’s educational plan as an advocate would be.
You also, do not have to sign the IEP at the end of the meeting if you don’t feel comfortable. So, take it home. Show it to someone you trust. Look up ideas for additional accommodations that you think would help. And then ask for another meeting to add things (if needed), until you are happy. Just remember though, if you don’t sign, then your child’s current IEP is what h or she will still be getting…no new goals, no new services. You can also sign in partial agreement, however, if you agree with some parts and not other parts of the IEP. See how I’m says YOU? Not your advocate,
5. IEP Meetings Don’t Have to Be Confrontational
Hiring an advocate can sometimes introduce unnecessary tension into the IEP process, making the meeting feel like a standoff rather than a collaboration. Often, schools are willing to work cooperatively with parents, and the presence of an advocate can send a message that conflict is expected. Approaching the meeting with an open, communicative mindset may lead to better results for your child.
Ask yourself, will I catch more flies with honey, or with vinegar? Will my child’s service providers want to communicate with me more, or less, if a bring a confrontational person, who is not a family member, into the mix of making decisions for my child. Will they make that extra special effort to help my child if we have a confrontational relationship? I’m sure you can guess the answer. Even if your child’s teacher or service providers are “directed” in the IEP to communicate daily, the quality and care that they have for your child will likely be diminished. Teachers are only human.
6. You Can Use Your Money More Effectively
Instead of spending money on an advocate, consider investing it directly into services that will benefit your child, such as private tutoring, therapy, or extracurricular programs that can build social skills and bring enjoyment for your child. These resources may have a more direct and positive impact on your child’s academic and personal growth than paying for advocacy services. And they are likely more fun for your child. If school is a place of stress for your child, having outside of school activities can being them a sense of joy and build skills beyond reading, writing, and math…Life skills.
7. Advocates Can’t Guarantee Results
There’s no guarantee that hiring an advocate will lead to better outcomes for your child. While advocates may be skilled negotiators, they cannot force a school district to provide more services or accommodations than the law requires. In the end, the decisions made in IEP meetings must be in line with legal standards, and advocates don’t have any special authority over those decisions, no matter what they claim on their websites.
8. Your Time and Effort Can Be More Effective
While hiring an advocate might seem like an easier option, investing your own time and effort in understanding the IEP process can be more fruitful. By attending workshops, reading up on special education law, and collaborating with your child’s teachers and school staff, you can become a knowledgeable and confident advocate for your child without spending extra money.
9. The School Team Wants to Help Your Child Succeed
The primary goal of the school’s IEP team is to help your child succeed. While it’s easy to feel like the school is against you in these situations, most teachers and specialists want to work with you to provide the best possible education. Open communication, mutual respect, and collaboration can often achieve better results than hiring a third party to mediate.
10. Empowering Yourself Is More Sustainable in the Long Run
Learning how to navigate the IEP process and advocate for your child is empowering and sustainable over time. Relying on an advocate for every step may not teach you the skills you need to effectively handle future challenges. Building your own knowledge of the system equips you to support your child more confidently, not just for this year’s IEP, but for the years to come.
Your child is going to be in school, grades TK-12th, for 14 long-years. Do you want this person on your payroll for 14 years? While I rarely don’t see the outcomes of students that I have evaluated or counseled because I’ve been in Elementary and Middle Schools, I can tell you that I don’t sense better outcomes for students with advocates that wouldn’t occur naturally from just natural maturation, cognitive development, services that are appropriate to their needs, and access to social interactions.
What you can do to Empower Yourself as Your Child’s Advocate
While advocates may have their place in certain situations, they’re not necessary. That’s not to say that if the district has really failed your child, you don’t need help. In these circumstances, an actual lawyer might be a better bet.
As a parent, you have the power to be an effective advocate for your child, often without the need to spend money on professional advocacy services. By building a strong understanding of the IEP process, maintaining open communication with the school, and utilizing free resources, you can successfully navigate your child’s education and ensure they receive the support they need. You can do this on your own through free research.
If you need a little extra support, however, SoCal Educational Evaluations offers consultation services, where we can review reports, IEP documents, and answer questions about the law and IEP process. We want to empower YOU, the parent. We do not want to take your money for years and convince you that endless IEP meetings are in the best interest of you or your child. They aren’t. Your child needs a comprehensive evaluation and appropriate services based on data. If you would like more information, click HERE to learn more about how SoCal Educational Evaluations can help you!
