Advocacy

ARCh’s Advocacy program offers assistance for children with special needs, as they and their parents seek to navigate through the often-confusing special education system.  

 

Through information and assistance, Advocacy builds teams around children to support them as they pursue and achieve their educational dreams.  By focusing on the individual needs and abilities of each child served, ARCh works to insure that parents, medical personnel and educators understand the rights and responsibilities of all who are involved in making sure that each child’s voice is heard.  

 

Our Advocacy Program also addresses parents' concerns regarding the rights of adult children who have disabilities.

 

Advocacy Services include:

 

• Provide information and referral to community agencies and services.

 

• Critique Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and service plans

 

• Attend evaluations, IEPs and other team meetings for children

 

• Consult with families in their homes or at the ARCh office to

       answer questions and determine a plan of action

 

• Teach advocacy and self-advocacy techniques

 

• Assist with questions regarding housing, transportation, medical care, etc. 

 

• Help families understand the complexities of the educational

       and adult service system

 

• Attend residential, vocational and/or day program staffing for adults

 

• Meet with families to explain and discuss The ARCh Life Needs Trust

 

• Facilitate development of a Personal Futures Plan for an individual of any age.