2027 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 22-24, 2027 • Bellevue, WA
| IDEA & Advocacy: Protecting the Parent/School Relationship
IDEA & Advocacy: Protecting the Parent/School Relationship
What makes a parent a successful advocate for their child who is deaf/HOH? What helps a provider successfully advocate for their student? Legal protection is available for parents of children with disabilities; sadly not all parents are aware of it. This presentation offers both parents and professionals the basics to successfully work with schools for their child’s educational future. Protection of the parent/school relationship is the most important aspect of successfully advocating for a child with disabilities. Professionals can easily educate parents in this model of parent/school relationship building without jeopardizing their position. IDEA protects parents; it’s up to the parents to protect their relationship with school personnel. In this session participants will have the opportunity to rewrite sections of the IEP that have missing pieces. Firsthand examples will be provided throughout the session from an advocate who has been teaching this session and advocating for students for over 15 years, beginning with her new 21-year-old daughter.
- Participants will define three different laws that protect students with disabilities.
- Participants will use tools provided in the training for IEP development.
- Participants will rewrite sections of provided IEP's that have holes in their content.
Presentation:
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Handouts:
Handout is not Available
Transcripts:
CART transcripts are NOT YET available, but will be posted shortly after the conference
Presenters/Authors
Andrea Marwah
(Primary Presenter), IL School for the Deaf Outreach, andrea.marwah@illinois.gov;
Andrea Marwah received her B.A. in Psychology from North Central College. Since her daughter’s diagnosis of hearing loss in 2002, Andrea has devoted her career to educating parents and professionals about the ADA, IDEA, and effective advocacy for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. She is a sought-after presenter both locally and nationally, speaking on topics such as special education rights and advocacy, the impact of deafness and hearing loss (especially when combined with other disabilities), socialization and Theory of Mind, and best practices for supporting children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Andrea currently works for the Illinois Department of Human Services – Illinois School for the Deaf as an outreach trainer and consultant for families and professionals serving children who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind. She also serves as a parent advocate, helping Illinois families secure appropriate educational supports and services for their children, and collaborates closely with the Illinois Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (IL EHDI) Program. In addition, Andrea lead the Illinois chapter of Hands & Voice for 16 years. She continues her work with the organization as the IDEA Liaison for the Guide By Your Side Program, providing unbiased information, one-on-one advocacy, and IDEA support to families. She is also a national trainer for the Hands & Voices ASTra Program, a member of the Hands & Voices Speakers Bureau and a member of COPAA (Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys). Andrea serves on numerous local and national committees and previously completed six years of service on the Advisory Commission on Disabilities in her hometown of Naperville, Illinois. She lives there with her husband, Ajay, and they are the proud parents of three young adult children—Samantha, Julia, and Andrew.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with Illinois Hands & Voices.
Nature: travel expenses covered.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.