Top 10 Advocacy Strategies for the Gifted
1. Be aware of your child’s strengths and learning needs - gather and review assessments, tests, evaluations, and other relevant information. Obtain an evaluation for your child if needed.
2. Compile a concise, organized portfolio to assist you in sharing information about your child - include information about your child’s...
• Learning strengths and preferences
• Cognitive skills
• Personality traits
• Interests
3. Collaborate with school staff
• Participate actively in the development of your child’s instructional plan
• Exchange information with school staff openly - remain flexible and respectful
• Communicate fully and honestly your child’s learning strengths and weaknesses
• Be willing to compromise
4. Prepare for school meetings
• Concerns or questions you have about your child’s current situation
• Your list of tentative programming options or provisions for your child
• Other pertinent information about your child
• Keep notes on the decisions reached during meetings
5. Read to gain pertinent information including school, district, and state policies, gifted identification procedures, grouping options available, and more
• Your school’s AIG handbook, website, or brochure
• your school district’s AIG plan
• AIG plans of nearby school districts
• Research articles, books, and newsletters
6. Join your local support group - develop a support/advocacy network
7. Join the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) to support advocacy at the federal level. Visit this link for more information http://www.nagc.org/about-nagc
8. Think “effectiveness” rather than “correctness” when considering programming options for your child’s education plan. It may not be ideal, but will the option being offered be effective for your child’s unique situation?
9. Seek out additional enrichment programs and camps for your child. RCS offers the ASPIRE summer camp for gr. 4 and up. NAGC maintains a list on the webpage linked here NAGC Gifted and Talented Resources Directory . The Duke TIP is one example of a quality program in NC.
10. Maintain ongoing advocacy efforts. Remain involved as your child’s education plan is updated and continue to collect updated information about your child’s progress. Resources to Assist in Advocacy EffortsOrganizations: • Council for Exceptional Children - Association for the Gifted http://cectag.com/
• National Association for Gifted Children: Advocate for High-Ability Learners. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2017, from http://www.nagc.org/get-involved/advocate-high-ability-learners
• North Carolina Association for the Gifted and Talented: http://www.ncagt.org/
• Supporting Emotional Needs of Gifted Children: http://sengifted.org/Advocacy Information sources: • (2011) Advocating for exceptionally gifted young people: A guidebook. [pdf document] Reno, NV: Davidson Institute for Talent Development. Available at: http://print.ditd.org/young_scholars/Guidebooks/Davidson_Guidebook_Advocating.pdf [Accessed 22 Jul. 2017].
• North Carolina AIG Program Standards: NC Department of Public Instruction. (2015). North Carolina academically or intellectually gifted program standards [PDF file]. Retrieved from http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/aig/ncaig-program-standards.pdf [Accessed 22 Jul. 2017]
• North Carolina Local AIG Plans: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/aig/aigplans/
• Duke TIP (Talent Identification Program/Summer Camp) https://tip.duke.edu/