Patti Schneider, the Director of the Schneider Centre for Learning disABILITIES, is a certified advocate with the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario. She represented the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario on the Simcoe County District School Board's Special Education Advisory Committee for four years.

An advocate is a person who speaks up for, acts on behalf of, or supports someone else. As a parent, you are the best person to advocate for your child because you know his or her strengths and needs the best. It is essential that you model effective advocacy skills so that your child will become a successful self-advocate.

Occasionally, you may require someone to assist you in how and where to get appropriate information, such as how to request help for your child in the classroom, what the results of academic and/or psychological assessments mean, or what to expect during an Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) meeting.

Once in a while, you may even feel that you would like the support of an advocate when attending school meetings, or writing a letter requesting programs or services for your child when you feel his or her needs are not being met in the classroom.

The SC4LD is happy to assist its clients in this role.

The SC4LD also works with students and their families in planning effective transitions from elementary to secondary school, and from secondary school to post-secondary placements including the workplace, college, or university.