What is Collaborative Advocacy™ ?

        A thoughtful, common sense approach to special education advocacy recognizes that you and your
child’s school team must work together to have the school, or if necessary another entity, provide an
appropriate and effective education program for your child.

       Our approach is based on the philosophy that believes that for the sake of the child who must
typically operate day-to-day in the school environment, professionalism, collaboration, negotiation and
mediation are the best route to travel; an overly combative or protracted litigious approach may only
serve to complicate matters.

       To produce this professional collaboration, we help parents understand and negotiate the special
education system from a position of informed strength created by four key factors:

Collaborative Advocacy™ Associates
Effective Advocacy for Children with Special Learning Needs™

© Collaborative Advocacy
Associates 2004

    1)   an in-depth understanding of IDEA and Section 504 Plan requirements;

      2)   a broad knowledge of special learning needs, their impact on education, and effective interventions;

      3)   direct experience in school district administration and special education services;

      4)   demonstrated ability, through the respect-based relationships we have built with school personnel, to work  
             collaboratively to ensure the needs of your child are being met.

       In cases where clients and school districts have been unable to resolve contentious issues within the PPT, CAA has been successful in
negotiating resolutions on behalf of clients through the mediation process, saving all parties the time and expense of having to pursue
litigation.
      Based on our experience, we also recognize that some cases require a legal solution, and we are advocates, not attorneys. If necessary, we
will provide you with a list of attorneys for you to interview whose primary focus is special education and disabilities law.