Messages for Families

"Personal Advocacy Reflection"

Over the years, I have heard so many stories of how someone has been affected in positive ways by the advocacy of someone else. Their voice help make things possible for them that they thought were impossible. As I reflect on the years past and I think about my daughter who is now 27 years old and the struggles she faced being a deaf student trying to earn a regular education diploma so she could go to college. The first challenge we had to face was her being able to receive a regular ed. Diploma, and there were many more struggles along the way. In recent years in the schools she attended all deaf students were placed in special ed. and received a certificate of attendance upon graduation. She attended schools in another district from where we lived because the services she needed were not available in our county. During here elementary years we realized that she could perform as well as some of the regular students so we determined then that we would put her track to receive a regular ed. Diploma. Because the district had always awarded deaf students special ed. diploma’s they didn’t think she would be able to do it.  They even put her back a grade level because they didn’t think she would be able to keep up with the other kids. The special education director at the time, Mrs. Denning became her voice. She had been working with us through the entire experience, so she knew she was capable of earning a regular diploma. After finishing middle school and going into high school Mrs. Denning and I were just as determined as my daughter that she would receive her diploma and go on to college. They gave us every excuse why they didn’t think that was the best decision but Mrs. Denning made sure that everything we wanted we got. I am so thankful I had her during that time because I was a young mother and didn’t fully understand all that was going on.

This experience is the driving force behind why I have become passionate about advocacy work. So many parents like myself who may not fully understand needs to be informed of all the opportunities available to them. Because I had someone who was willing to help me I can now do the same for someone else. Because of this voice my daughter went on to college, graduated with a degree in dance and has now along with her other siblings formed their own dance team and working to own their own dance studio.