Tuesday, May 12, 2015

No better time to start learning about advocacy

We had an IEP meeting last week and while we were waiting to get started the PT who works with Addy at school told us a story about a recent PT activity they had done.  Addy had gone to the front door of the school to practice opening the door and going through.  One of the doors is supposed to be motorized and open when you push a button, but it has never worked in the almost 2 years that Addy has attended school there.  

When they went back inside, Addy mentioned to the ladies in the office that the accessible door wasn't working and that it would be so much better if it could get fixed.  They said that fixing doors is Mr. Jeff's job and suggested that Addy and her PT stop by his office on their way back to class and let him know that the door isn't working, because, if anyone was going to convince Mr. Jeff of the importance of fixing that door, it would be Addy.  [I have the impression that the door issue is an on-going thing at school.]

So they did.  Addy knocked on Mr. Jeff's door and explained to him that the door isn't working and asked him to please get it fixed so she can use it.  No word on whether he's had a chance to work on it yet, but I'm super proud of Addy for advocating for it!