Does a student on your OT caseload have an advocate or attorney? Don’t fret. Check out these tips on how school OTs can best work with IEP advocates and special education attorneys. 

<h2>How School OTs Can Collaborate with IEP Advocates and Special Education Lawyers</h2>

<p><strong> Working with advocates and attorneys?</strong> Now that sounds like an intimidating part of the 
  job. No sweat! We’ve got you covered with background on what these professionals do for 
  families and how you can best collaborate with them. </p>

<p><strong>You got into occupational therapy because you want to work with kids and help them thrive, 
  right?</strong> (We’re just assuming here that your motivation wasn’t because you’re eager to 
  be embroiled in litigious situations with adults). While it’s not the norm for 
  families to have advocates and attorneys on board, it is something you will 
  come across in your career as a school-based occupational therapist. Why not do a little 
    preparation so you can calmly and confidently handle the situation when it arises?</p>

<p><strong> Many school OTs and IEP team members welcome the opportunity to work with an 
  advocate.</strong> This is primarily because, for family members who feel 
  overwhelmed, a skilled advocate can help remove the emotion from a scenario 
  and focus on finding logical solutions. And attorneys 
  <strong> can help ensure laws are correctly 
  interpreted, clearly understood and followed 
  so students get the proper services.</strong> </p>

<p>It’s normal to feel intimated by the idea of an advocate or attorney, 
  especially if you’re a new school OT or it’s your first encounter. But remember, 
  <strong>you bring valuable, specialized expertise to the table</strong> just as these 
  individuals do, and <strong>you all have one common goal in mind: supporting the child.</strong> </p>

<h2>Why do families use IEP advocates and special education attorneys?</h2>
<p>Navigating the complex laws, documentation, terminology, meetings, and other components 
  of the special education system can be overwhelming for many guardians and families of 
  students. That’s why some families turn to the help of advocates and attorneys. 
  These professionals can help families ensure the district, school and 
  employees provide the student with 
  the rights and services outlined in the <a href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/blogs/what-school-ots-need-to-know" target="_blank">Individuals with Disabilities Act</a> 
  (IDEA).</p>

<h2>What is an IEP advocate?</h2>
<p>An IEP advocate, also called a special education advocate or student advocate, 
  is an individual who helps a family with the special education process. Advocates 
  do not need any special licenses, certifications or degrees. Often, they are former 
  special education teachers, instructional support teachers, case managers or 
  specialists. They may even be parents of other students with special needs, 
  family friends, or people who have disabilities themselves and grew up 
  receiving special education services in school. Generally, 
  advocates are people who are passionate about helping kids get the services they need.</p>

<h2>What can a special education advocate do for a family? </h2>
<p>A special education advocate may (<a href="https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/special-education-advocate/" target="_blank">American University</a>):
 <ul> 
   <li> Advise parents on programs and services that can help meet their children’s needs </li>
   <li>	Help parents interpret evaluations and reports along with their implications </li>
   <li>	Draft requests, responses, and complaints to schools </li>
   <li>	 Assist parents with submitting written requests </li>
   <li>	 Prepare parents for IEP and 504 meetings  </li>
   <li>	 Screen special education documents before and after IEP and 504 meetings </li>
   <li>	 Accompany parents to IEP and 504 meetings to offer advice and assistance </li>
   <li>	 Advise parents about the strength of their cases before legal review  </li>
   <li>	 Offer referrals to special education attorneys when appropriate
   </li>
 </ul>
</p>

<h2>What is a special education attorney?</h2>
<p>A special education attorney is a licensed lawyer who can give legal advice, 
  prepare legal documents and complaints, and represent families in hearings and lawsuits 
  related to IDEA and special education services. Typically, a special education 
  attorney will enter the picture when a family has a dispute with a school or 
  district. When a family brings an attorney to a 
  meeting, a school or district will nearly always bring their attorney as well.</p>

<h2>What can a special education lawyer do for a family? </h2>
<p>A special education lawyer can advise, assist or represent a 
  family throughout the IEP process and can help 
  (<a href="https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/special-education-lawyers-29511.html" target="_blank">NOLO</a>):</p>

  <ul>
    <li>	Secure the child's school files </li>
    <li>	Request an evaluation or IEP meeting </li>
    <li>	Prepare for IEP eligibility and IEP program meetings </li>
    <li>	Draft parts of the IEP and suggest what will be most effective </li>
    <li>	Attend IEP meetings </li>
    <li>	Review evaluations and IEP forms </li>
    <li>	Research specific legal issues  </li>
    <li>	Help resolve disputes with the school district </li>
    <li>	Assess the strength of the case if a family is considering filing a complaint </li>
    <li>	Attend hearings and represent families in court </li>
  </ul>

  <h2>How can school OTs best collaborate with IEP advocates and special education attorneys?</h2>
  <p>First, as a school-based OT, you must consult with your employers, the school, 
    and district regarding your responsibilities and rights when communicating with 
    advocates and attorneys. Your school should work as a team throughout this process. 
    You should never have to deal with a situation alone, so reach out if you need help. 
  </p>
  <p>In the meantime, here are some general pointers for how to best work with advocates 
    and attorneys. Keep in mind working with an attorney is more serious, and your school 
    will likely have their legal counsel present if a family has a lawyer involved. 
  </p>
  <p>
  <ol style="padding-left: 1rem;">
      <li><strong>Communicate openly and effectively.</strong> Before the meeting, connect with parents and advocates to ensure you understand their concerns and goals. </li>
      <li><strong>Plan a pre-meeting huddle.</strong> Conduct a team meeting before the IEP meeting to ensure all school-based team members are on the same page and prevent surprises. </li>
      <li><strong>Keep meticulous documentation.</strong> Maintain detailed records, including data, progress, and timelines. </li>
      <li><strong>Organize and prepare your data.</strong> Have all relevant data on hand at the meeting to support your recommendations and interventions. </li>
      <li><strong>Support collaboration.</strong> Do your part in acting together as one larger team as much as possible. </li>
      <li><strong>Listen actively.</strong> To support a respectful, solution-oriented atmosphere, listen actively during meetings, take notes, summarize thoughts, and avoid interruptions. </li>
      <li><strong>Show compassion.</strong> Foster empathy for the family and student, maintain professional boundaries and control your emotions. </li>
      <li><strong>Clarify details.</strong> If you don't have answers or are unsure, direct the question to the appropriate person or express that you will follow up. </li>
      <li><strong>Share relevant information.</strong> Share all assessment results, interventions, documentation, and goals openly within the laws, guidelines, and policy framework. </li>
      <li><strong>Provide additional details.</strong> Offer resources and explanations as needed to support understanding and collaboration. </li>
      <li><strong>Be confident.</strong> Explain your rationale, interventions, and strategies clearly and articulately, demonstrating confidence in your training and expertise. </li>
      <li><strong>Respond on time.</strong> Promptly return calls and emails from parents, advocates and attorneys. </li>
      <li><strong> Participate in dispute resolution.</strong> Work collaboratively to resolve disputes and comply with legal requirements to achieve positive outcomes, according to guidance from your school and school’s attorney. </li>
      <li><strong> Get educated.</strong> Stay updated and informed on the legal framework, including IDEA, accommodations and research-based OT interventions. </li>
  </ol>
</p>
<h2>Resources on IEP Advocates and Special Education Lawyers</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-difference-between-special-education-advocates-and-attorneys" target="_blank">
Understood.org – The Difference Between Special Education Advocates and Attorney</a> </p>
<p><a href="https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/5-tips-for-communicating-with-educational-advocates-before-and-during-iep-meetings/full/" target="_blank">ASHA.org – 5 Tips for 
Communicating with Educational Advocates Before and During IEP Meetings</a>
</p>

<h2>Other Helpful Resources for School-Based OTs</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/time-management-tips-for-busy-school-based-occupational-therapists?" target="_blank">Time Management Tips for Busy School-Based Occupational Therapists</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/time-management-tips-for-school-ots?" target="_blank">More Time Management Tips for School OTs</a> </p>
<p><a href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/blogs/self-care-strategies-for-school-ots" target="_blank">Self-Care Strategies for School OTs</a> </p>

<p>Find your next career adventure as <a href="https://www.crosscountry.com/education" target="_blank">a school-based OT</a>. </p>



Advocates and Attorneys: Guidance for School OTs