Advocacy

What does it mean to be an advocate! Well to me an advocate means someone who stands up for their children, and someone who fights for what your child needs. When my son was very little and we didn't have any idea that something was wrong, being an advocate was the furthest thing from my mind. You have to realize that I am the type of person who avoids conflict. So as time went by and my son's challenges grew, the need for resources became urgent I suddenly found myself in a new role. I became a stronger mother, someone who wasn't afraid to ask for what was needed. Through many case conferences, specialists and IPP meetings my strength grew. I wasn't afraid of questions, being accused of being a "bad" mother, or anything else they could throw at me. I knew what my son needed and stuck to my guns.

Unfortunately my son only got some of what he needed. Like others in my situation, our community has limited resources. It is something that stirs resentment me to this day. I spent many years fighting for what my son needed, and I am tired. It is a struggle to fight with the government, as one person. Even with someone from the government on your side. I had always been told that when my son turns 18 everything will be in place for him. Unfortunately this too has been taken away. Not enough money, no place to put him, no worker to help him. It seems very ironic to me that all of these years I tried to get services that were there for him to access but unable to have, and now he is able to get these services and now the government has no money.

I feel that the government needs to look very closely at what they are doing to our children with special needs, to the families that need support, to the communities that these children are going to be a contributing member of. They need to walk in our shoes, understand our lives, and help our children become the best they can be.

Denise
http://www.hugz4me.com/