Introducing 14 Days of Simple Special Needs Advocacy

When it comes to special needs parenting, one thing quickly becomes clear. If you expect your child to have the best life possible, than you must become their best advocate.

Too often when parents hear the word advocate or advocacy they question their ability to be effective, citing time constraints, lack of knowledge and people skills, no confidence or lack of training and limited finances. They think that to be an effective advocate they must take on a big challenge in the outside world.

The reality is that many parents are just too overwhelmed or too pooped to even consider taking on such a big role. Many are just trying to make it through the next IEP, family gathering, appointment with the specialist or therapists, or survive the bedtime routine. They aren't up for saving the world, just a small piece of it.

So I want to simplify the word for you. Because sometimes, the most effective advocacy for a child with special needs begins with seemingly simple actions taken in the home, actions that go a long way toward improving a child's life, and your own.

I'm talking user-friendly advocacy that anyone can take on, the kind of valuable advocacy that changes lives, too. The kind that can help you take on the bigger stuff.

In the spirit of creating empowered parents who effectively advocate for their kids in the simplest ways each day, I'm introducing 14 Days of Simple Special Needs Advocacy. I hope these helpful, proactive reminders over the next two weeks will prove useful to you and your family throughout the year.

Afterall, April is all about rebirth and remarkable new growth after a long, dark winter...

Let's get started.

SIMPLE ADVOCACY-DAY ONE:

Tell your children that you love them, no matter how rough the day, complete with great big hugs. If he/she is touch sensitive, hug more gently and build on the effort each day.

Now that wasn't so hard, was it?


JudyWinter.com
Breakthrough Parenting for Children with Special Needs: Raising the Bar of Expectations
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