Health Education Safety Services
Please feel free to call our office for a consultation!
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Office: 724-203-0016
Fax: 724-203-6305
Cell: 724-350-7768
Email: healtheducationsafetyservices@gmail.com
Mary Ann Whitehill PhD
Educational/Child Advocate
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Patterson Pointe
3949 Patterson Road - Suite 130
Aliquippa, Pa. 15001
Services Available to Families
We assist families with a number of services to include but not limited to:
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Workshops for parents of Special Needs Children
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Information, guidance, and support throughout the IEP process to encourage decisions that meet the needs of the students.
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Explanation of Parent Rights
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Parent to Parent Mentoring
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IEP meeting preparation
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Sharing Resources through our free Parent Resource Center
My Educational Approach
There is no "one size fits all" approach to education. Education needs to be tailored to meet each student's needs. Special Education refers to a range of services that can be provided in different ways and in different settings.
IEP Meeting Preparation
IEP meeting preparation is probably the most important role that I, as an advocate, can fill. In order to help you prepare for an upcoming meeting, I will:
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Need to review your child's educational records
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Listen to your concerns
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Help you generate ideas and proposals to suggest to the IEP team
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Help prepare you for areas of potential conflict
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Give you strategies to help you through any difficult conversations
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When families and educators work collaboratively to resolve disagreements, the outcomes are more mutually satisfying and benefit the child long term.
What is IDEA?
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the federal law that defines and regulates special education. The law requires public schools to provide special educational services to children ages 3 to 21 who meet certain criteria. Children under 3 can get help through IDEA's early intervention services.
My Role as an Advocate
An Advocate's role is to represent the student and parents in any meeting with school administrators. In these meetings, it is important for the Advocate to identify the problems the child is having at school and home, assist in the determination of accommodations, and ensure implementation by the educational institution.
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Special Education and the child's placement needs to be tailored to meet the needs of each individual student. The services and supports one child receives may be different from what another child receives. It's all about individualization. What is important is giving kids the resources they need to make progress in school.
