Going Public - Speaking Out!

By ...Eva Marie Roberts..P2PSS's own Big Mouth and Troublemaker!

Things are BAD. Not only for your child but many children within the special education system of your school district. You can't sleep at night. You've been singled out as a "troublemaker".."nutty parent". What do you do? Do you keep quiet with what you know? Live your own personal Hell in silence? Do you garner support from others? Whatever you decide to do, respect that decision. I know it's a hard one!

If you decide that you want to lead the way in confronting your school district on the rampant non complaince, know that this is a rocky road. There will be times that you will want to crawl under a rock and then there will be other times when you feel and see the accomplishments of your efforts. Know that you and your child will now, for certain, become targets! Know your rights and DOCUMENT everything!Be assured that the school district attorney will be invited to your child's IEP. Realize that you may never receive the credit and respect you deserve - don't do it if that is what you are after or needing. It will not happen for those reasons.

Start by talking with anyone and everyone in your community. Tell them whats going on...show them what's going on. Know your facts. Have facts handy at all times. Handout fact sheets. Attend school board meetings. Get to know who your School Board Members are. See how they operate! Pay attention to how they listen to citizens at the Board meetings. Read your local newspapers - get a feel for the reporters in your area. Listen to your local radio stations - listen to the "call in" shows - hear what is on the minds of others in your area - pay attention to any other people who may be upset about the way the school district is ran...do this even if their cause differs from yours. Most likely you will be able to form a working relationship with them and you both can pool resources and knowledge.

You do NOT need 100 parents behind you to create positive changes...it helps but you can do it with 20 - 10 - 5 or even just by yourself. You do NOT need to be highly educated - You do NOT need to be wealthy - You do NOT need to be a homeowner paying property taxes - You just need to follow your heart, act upon your thoughts, and stay true to your cause and always be persistent!

Choose your battle! Will it be getting rid of an abusive administrator..or will it be the formation of a "parents advisory panel"? Write out your porposal. Make sure it's feasible. Make sure it's clear with an outcome lined out. Have open and steady communication with your supporters and allies.

You Are Now Ready To Take Action!

During a public comment session of your School Board meeting, address the Board Members and audience. Public speaking not your thing?...it wasn't mine either. I was the type of person who didn't even like my own Bridal Shower..I didn't want to be the center of attention. This is where staying true to your cause and following your heart comes into play. It will get you past your own insecuritires. Trust Me! I couldn't and still do not believe what I have pushed myself to do. It's amazing what a love for child can do to a person!

Most likely the School Board told you that they would look into your suggestions or allegations. Then they had the administrators report to them..let's guess what those guys said? I'll bet you everything it wasn't.."She's right! We're screw ups!" You have now been discounted by your School Board! But you are prepared for that!

Time to contact that news media you've been following. Hopefully they had someone at the Board meeting. If not don't worry- just present them with your story. My own personal luck has been by contacting the reporter directly, not the editor. I have always given them a call, then followed up by an email. After the group was formed, we then sent out press releases. They are easy to write. Keep content simple. Remember that the person who reads it may have NO IDEA what an IEP or IDEA is. Explain those terms - keep it simple. "The law that protect's our students rights is the Individual With Disabilities Education Act, otherwise referred to as IDEA". Have in the press realease the Who, What, Where, When and Why! Make sure to include quotes from others or refer to other organizations. Insert your contact infromation..give two representatives contact information if possible. Send it out and then follow it up with a phone call. Be prepared to be interviewed. Have facts. Give the reporter resources..fact sheets...reports..clippings from major papers on "Special Education" articles. You may be teaching this reporter on what "Special Education" really is! He will then be teaching his readers about it!

If at first you don't succeed....ignore that and keep going!Keep showing up to the Board Meetings, stay in contact with that reluctant reporter, keep those outreach efforts up..and be more visable in your community! Go to other organization's meetings. TALK TALK TALK TALK! PTA here you come! Senior groups are a fantastic ally! They are the property owners in a community...they represent a majority of the community's volunteers...they are active in their churches...They VOTE! Let them know how their tax dollars are being wasted and how that affects all aspects of the community...including property value, juvenile crime, drug use, gang activity, drop out rates, prison overcrowding...etc..the list goes on!

Take those same arguments with you to "town meetings" with your local public officials...believe me when I tell you your state legistlatures run in the same circles as many of your school board members. Make sure you keep these people informed on what is happening in their schools to their voters children. Press releases can be sent to their fax machines as well!

Where will you find the time for all this? You have little ones still at home with you? You work at a job? Somehow the time seems to find you! When I started with all of this I was a "stay at home mom" with a 16 month old baby boy home with me. That little guy went with to IEPs, "town meetings", and to Representative and Senators offices. He was a modern day "flower child". You're a parent. There is no need to pretend you are something you are not. Let them see how much this impacts your life. Bring the little ones with.

One time, when I first started being the "mouth", I attended a "town meeting" and present was Senator Dave Sullivan and Representative Rosemary Mulligan - IL. I talked their heads off...I showed them documents. It was pretty cool and my first experience doing that kind of thing. The next day I recieved a phone call from a school board member telling me that I had to attend a "town meeting" that was occurring in a couple of days. I thought to myself the last one didn't go so bad..."why not!" So off I went, my little guy in tow, expecting the same type of casual public meeting. NOT! When I got there I was the only attendee that was not an agency employee or a public servant. Everyone was in suits and I was in jeans with my little one sucking on a bottle. The Superintendent of my school district was there, as was some political big shots. It was a roundtable discussion on new legistlation. I saw people who knew me...I couldn't run out, I had to stay. So there I was, feeling out of place, my little one was stripping in the background and acting his age. I didn't say much of anything. I was a bit shell shocked but what did come of that was Senator Sullivan and Rosemary Muligan were there. I was now not to be forgotten...Within a few days Rep. Mulligans office phoned to see what I wanted to be done. Turned out after months of discussion, Senator Sullivan's office ended up getting what we wanted...but it got done! So don't think you are not the "person" who can do this. If I can...you can!

...more to come.. check back often...