An Education Advocate is a professional who supports students and their families through knowing their rights, needs and ensuring that they are being met by the school district to ensure academic success. An Education Advocate can be crucial to assure that necessary resources and accommodations to be made for a student with a 504 plan or an IEP. An Advocate can help you to fight to get your child a diagnosis or support necessary to create a 504 or IEP as well.
Advocates education the students and families on their rights, can attend meetings, review documents, and assure you that the school is in compliance and supporting the child to greatest extent.
In Illinois, you don’t need any credentials to consider or market yourself as an Education Advocate. A good advocate with acquire knowledge on the laws, needs of child and advocacy techniques. They will have effective communication skills with the school and the parents and stay updated on changes in policies and practices to make sure strategies are accurate and effective.
Though you do not need credentials to be an advocate, there are resources to get certified in advocacy. I got certified as a Board Certified Advocate in Special Education through NASET.
National Association of Special Education Teachers: Overview of NASET - NASET