Advocacy to Help Individuals with Disabilities Pursue Higher Education
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Assessment Traits
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Assessment Description
Special education staff have a professional responsibility to advocate for their students and their families. When collaborating with families, there are often opportunities to empower families and help them find services and resources in the community. Awareness of disability advocacy organizations and their relationship with public schools will help the educator assist families as they navigate the systems of support in their area to access needed supports and services.
Allocate at least 2 hours in the field to support this field experience.
Tour a local disability advocacy organization and interview an administrator regarding:
Relationship of special education to the organization, and function of educational agencies
Continuum of placement and services available for individuals with disabilities
Publications relevant to individuals with disabilities
Information provided on disabilities
Activities relevant to individuals with disabilities
Culturally responsive factors that promote effective communication and collaboration with individuals with disabilities, families, school personnel, and community members
Roles of professional groups and referral agencies in identifying, assessing, and providing services to individuals with disabilities
Any resources to assist in programming for individuals with disabilities
In 250-500 words, summarize your interview and your experience touring the organization. In addition, reflect upon advocating ethically for individuals with disabilities, and explain how you will use your findings in your future professional practice.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit assignments that are print deliverables to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.
Document the locations and hours you spend in the field on your Clinical Field Experience Verification Form.
Submit the Clinical Field Experience Verification Form to the learning management system in the last topic. Directions for submitting can be found on the College of Education site in the Student Success Center.
Field Experience: Advocacy
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University
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Field Experience: Advocacy
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is an advocacy institution for people living with disabilities. As an advocacy, AAPD acts as a connector, convenor, and catalyst for change designed to increase the economic and political power of people with disabilities. An interview with an administrator at AAPD, Cristine Lao, yielded several insights regarding special education for the disabled. As a program director in charge of coordinating and implementing national programs, Lao acknowledges that special education plays a critical role in achieving the organization’s objective of economic and political power for the disabled. The AAPD acknowledges the need for special education and has made efforts to push for the necessary infrastructural developments needed in this regard. However, some observers note some gaps that AAPD and other groups should fill, including soliciting funds dedicated to such areas as special education programs in urban districts (Digman, 2018). AAPD supports these observations and initiatives.
The interview revealed that several educational agencies collaborate and sponsor AAPD in the efforts to help the disabled pursue higher education. They include NBC University and its Tony Coelho Media Scholarship program, allowing applicants to cover college and university costs (AAPD, n.d.). However, the focus on special education manifested when one searches AAPD’s documents and publications seems limited. Scholarships and other initiatives under Lao’s department remain the major placement services for individuals with disabilities. Other placement services include career and internship fairs and vocational rehabilitation.
Publications relevant to individuals with disabilities can be accessed through ...