Special Education Advocacy and Latino Clients

Abstract

The special education process at times presents barriers that inhibit authentic parental participation. Given the complexities related to language, culture, and limited school resources, Latino parents in particular are prone to being excluded from active, policy making roles within this complex process. This paper reviews some of the barriers that prevent Latinos from becoming good consumers. The integration of important systems and cultural variables in working with Latino clients is stressed as well as the need for a paradigm shift in the thinking of professionals. The need for an integrated model that provides advocacy training to Latinos within a culturally sensitive format along with changes in conceptualizations about client-professional relationships is also developed.