What is a Parent Advocate and how are they different from attorneys?
Parent advocates are trained professional without law degrees who can advocate on behalf of parents in attending IEP meetings and various other educational meetings. Advocates are usually hired to fine-tune IEPs (help draft appropriate goals, accommodations, etc.) and to help parents learn the special education process. In many cases, advocates are former social workers, teachers, parents of children with disabilities or disabled individuals themselves who are educated on the world of education and can help parents find appropriate educational and community resources to help their children toward independence. Advocates usually charge less hourly rates than attorneys, and so they can be a less expensive alternative to hiring an attorney if your conflict with the school district is relatively minor and can be solved in a reasonable amount of time. However, if you are in a situation where you have to file for due process against your school district, then advocates may not be the right a
