How Square Peg Advocacy Helps
People who don't fit easily into "typical" settings are often described as "square pegs in round holes." One size does not fit all for helping square pegs to blossom. Nonetheless, schools often try to use a template for all students with a particular label, as it is simpler than trying to individualize programming.
In order to develop a successful learning experience both strengths and challenges need to be taken into account. In both school and medical settings this is often difficult as the US school system, and, increasingly, its medical care, are designed to be "standardized" and demand uniformity from professionals and consumers (students and patients) alike. The viewpoint of both systems is deficit driven, rather than based on positive capabilities. Both of these system aspects work against positive attitudes, respectful environments, and successful outcomes.
While schools and other institutions may, and should, refer parents to internal ombudspeople or a variety of organizations for advocacy, those organizations generally have heavy case loads. The case loads there may well be sufficiently large that there is not time to listen to all you have to say or to give more than token assistance. In the caseof internal staff, there can also be a question of whose interests the ombudsperson is actually representing.
In order to develop a successful learning experience both strengths and challenges need to be taken into account. In both school and medical settings this is often difficult as the US school system, and, increasingly, its medical care, are designed to be "standardized" and demand uniformity from professionals and consumers (students and patients) alike. The viewpoint of both systems is deficit driven, rather than based on positive capabilities. Both of these system aspects work against positive attitudes, respectful environments, and successful outcomes.
While schools and other institutions may, and should, refer parents to internal ombudspeople or a variety of organizations for advocacy, those organizations generally have heavy case loads. The case loads there may well be sufficiently large that there is not time to listen to all you have to say or to give more than token assistance. In the caseof internal staff, there can also be a question of whose interests the ombudsperson is actually representing.
