Providing hands-on support for families

By DANIELLE LYNCH

WEST GOSHEN — Advocates like Connie Mohn provide additional help and assistance to families with disabled children, particularly with special-education issues.
Mohn, an education advocate and family mentor with the Arc of Chester County, said she provides hands-on support to families. Her work can range from a simple referral to the extent of attending all Individualized Education Program meetings with parents.
Individualized Education Program meetings are considered “big stumbling blocks,” Mohn said, adding that parents have an equal say in the in the process. “But I don’t feel I’ve met one parent who says they feel equal,” she said.
Mohn said that parents often feel intimidated so part of her role is to help empower them. Parents also have to play an active role and know the special-education laws, she said.
In addition to empowering parents, Mohn said her advocacy work includes helping parents connect with resources. She said there is also a snowball effect when information is spread by parents.
“We love it when parents help other parents,” Mohn said.
There are paid advocates and unpaid actives. Paid advocates tend to get more involved in the cases, Mohn said.
Volunteer advocates like Mohn will help parents write letters to school district officials; follow the paper trail; review records; and attend IEP meetings.
“If I do my job right, most of the advocate work is done before the (IEP) meeting,” Mohn said. “Documenting is so critical.”
Mohn said it’s important for parents to question district officials when talking about providing services for their special-needs child.
“IEP team decisions trump district policy almost 100 percent of the time,” Mohn said.
There are guiding principles for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act such as Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE); appropriate evaluation; Individualized Education Program (IEP); Least Restrictive Environment (LRE); parent/student participation in making decisions; and procedural safeguards.
Overall, the advocate’s role is to make sure that the child receives free and appropriate public education, and also empower the parents, Mohn said. In some cases, advocates will recommend due process and help the parents find an attorney, she said.
“The majority of the time, if the district knows it’s not a good place, they’ll end up settling,” Mohn said.
But Mohn said she thinks there are some school districts that will prolong the process if they don’t like the parent’s attitude or demeanor.

The Arc of Chester County sends out a monthly newsletter called Arc Connections that includes contact information for advocates and advocacy programs. To receive this information monthly by e-mail send your e-mail address to jcaldwell@arcofchestercounty.org.

To contact staff writer Danielle Lynch, send an e-mail to dlynch@dailylocal.com.