Three new parent advocates are now available to assist families of children with special needs.

Mary Roberts, disability policy and advocacy advisor, robertsmaryj@icloud.com, (319) 855-3287
F O R T H E R A P Y

childrenscenterfortherapy.org 1552 Mall Drive, Iowa City 319-351-5437

Kathleen Kingman, autism advocate, kathleen@childrenscenterfortherapy.org, (319) 930-9424 Dava Wajda, disability advocate, dava@childrenscenterfortherapy.org, (319) 541-0690

Whether its a recent diagnosis of a preschooler, a young adult transitioning into life after high school, or a child somewhere in between, these community advocates will strive to help families navigate through the often overwhelming amount of information geared toward raising a child with special needs. Each child with special needs is unique in the way they communicate, learn, and experience the world around them. Whether its autism, Down Syndrome, or other type of disability, the advocates will view each case with an open mind, treating it as unique as the child. The three CCT advocates can combine e orts to bring di erent perspectives and areas of experience to the table. The community advocates wish to serve as liaisons for families and schools, sharing a mutual goal of e ective communication and teamwork for the best possible outcomes for each individual student. A goal of transparent access to information, including information that pertains to accessibility of services, is something the advocates will try to facilitate. They are committed to building partnerships in the autism community as they create and maintain relationships with service providers, educators, health care professionals and others whose work is critical to the well-being of our children. As mothers of children with special needs themselves, the three have walked the walk and have a passionate desire to advocate on behalf of all children.

Examples of some of the advocates areas of experience include:

Waiver/Medicaid services Respite information Communication needs Sensory processing di erences/OT Social skills challenges/interventions Assistive technology

IEPs: educational support for goals, accommodations, and targeted programming Fostering positive relationships with school teams, community service providers, and others working with your child Referral to parent support groups in the area, as well as to training opportunities on disabilityrelated topics of interest to parents