What Parents Can Do To Help Their Child
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- The Lanterman Act
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- Receiving Quality and Effective Services and Supports
- Early Start – Birth to 3 Years
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- Transitioning from Early Childhood Services
Developing Advocacy Skills
Other than the very important role that all parents play in the lives of their children, parents of a child with a developmental disability have another special role – that of an advocate for their child. The Regional Center’s service coordinators can help parents find and access the information and training they need to become a more effective advocate for their son or daughter, not only with the schools, but also with other public and private agencies. As parents develop advocacy skills, they will also be able to help their child develop the skills necessary to advocate for himself or herself.
One of the most important things parents can do to prepare themselves for this role is to sign up for “Service Coordination and Advocacy Training: Navigating the Special Needs System.” This class provides an overview of the regional center system, developing a partnership with your regional center, Lanterman values in action, and advocacy and the legislative process. Workshops focused specifically on the IEP process are also available. Information about these types of activities is available through the “Training” section on Lanterman’s Web site at www.lanterman.org and at the Koch-Young Resource Center.
Improving Your Parenting Skills
As their children grow older, parents often find that the quality of life for their family is improved if they acquire skills that help them better manage their children’s behaviors. The Regional Center offers behavioral skill-building classes for parents. Parents should discuss their interest in and needs for this type of training with their service coordinator. While information is available in the “Training” section of Lanterman’s Web site at www.lanterman.org or through the Koch-Young Resource Center, parents must be referred by their service coordinator for behavior classes.
Setting Appropriate Expectations for Your Child
Parents’ expectations are critical to any child’s development. This is just as true for a child with developmental disabilities as it is for other children. Having reasonable expectations that challenge your child can give the child a positive message about his or her parents’ confidence in them and can boost the child’s self- esteem. Parents should have clear and reasonable expectations that are consistent with their child’s abilities, for his or her conduct, achievement in critical areas, and requirements for him or her to accept responsibility.
Social research has demonstrated repeatedly that it is particularly important for the siblings of a child with a disability to perceive fairness in the way that child is treated by parents. So, for example, rules should apply equally to all siblings in a family, as should expectations for children’s responsibilities as a family member. Simple chores such as clearing the table, feeding the pet or making the bed may be more difficult or time consuming for a child with a disability than for siblings. At the same time, it is important to the child with a disability, as well as to his or her siblings, that he or she share equally in family responsibilities to the extent that he or she is able, and that your child be seen as assuming his or her rightful responsibilities.
Finally, parents should keep in mind that their child’s optimal development depends on his or her being viewed first and foremost as an individual with unique strengths. The presence of a disability is not a defining characteristic of any child. By working collaboratively with the school and the Regional Center, parents of a child with unique needs can help their child learn the things he or she needs to live a full, productive, satisfying life as an active and fully-included member of the community.