1. Parents as Leaders PCL Module 1 Parents As Leaders
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center
PCL Module 1
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center

2. Parents as Leaders: Module Objectives
A critical part of becoming a parent leader relates to the development of a personal definition of leadership, and an assessment of one’s personal strengths and challenges as a developing leader. While many people define leadership in the context of position and authority, an underlying principle of our project is that leadership may be broadly defined. Leadership exists in many of us and can be expressed in a variety of ways outside of positional authority. Some parents will more readily see themselves as leaders than others, but the purpose of the module is to develop a sense of leadership among all participants. The activities contained in this module are designed to help parent leaders articulate their views about leadership, consider their personal stories in relation to leadership, and use this information to think about ways to extend their experiences as leaders. The module also contains a leadership self-assessment that may be completed by participants.
Define leadership as it relates to participants and their current and future roles as parent leaders
Describe the critical roles that parents of individuals with disabilities have played in the history of education of children with disabilities
State personal concerns regarding parents’ roles as leaders and advocates
Parents As Leaders
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center
PCL Module 1
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center

3. Essential Questions How do you define leadership?
In what ways do you see yourself as a leader?
In what ways have the work of parent advocates contributed to the development of educational policies and practices related to children with disabilities?
Parents As Leaders
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center
PCL Module 1
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center

4. Agenda: Parents as Leaders
Defining leadership (20 minutes)
Why parent leadership?: Historical and contemporary importance of parents as advocates and leaders (20 minutes)
Concerns and issues of parent leaders (10 minutes)
Leadership self-assessment (10 minutes)
Parents As Leaders
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center
PCL Module 1
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center

5. Defining Leadership: A Think, Pair Share Activity
To start, parent leaders are asked to take 2 – 3 minutes thinking about and/or writing down a definition of leadership. Encourage parents to draw on their own experiences as leaders as they do this. Next, ask participants to join 1 – 2 others to share their ideas and to come up with a definition of leadership to share with the group as a whole (5 minutes). Each pair then shares their definition with the entire group, with responses recorded publicly. The instructor moderates this discussion (about 10 minutes), adding points about leadership as necessary to help the group arrive at a definition that frames leadership as inclusive, participatory, collaborative, respectful of diverse viewpoints, etc. It may be that participants will focus more on the attributes of leaders who lead in more traditional ways and may not recognize leadership within themselves. For example, they may identify character traits such as being strong, decisive, and able to speak up in front of groups. These should be acknowledged as valid points in the definition of leadership, but more contemporary and inclusive definitions should be added.
Take 2 – 3 minutes thinking about and writing down your definition of parent leadership, including your personal experiences as a leader.
Find 2 – 3 people to talk with about your definitions. Come up with a single definition to share with the whole group.
Share your definition with the group. All responses will be recorded.
Parents As Leaders
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center
PCL Module 1
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center

6. Why Parent Leadership: Historical and Contemporary Influences
Before showing the power point presentation, ask participants to think about ways in which they have acted in the past as leaders and policy makers around issues for children with disabilities. This can be done as a whole group discussion, with answers recorded on flip chart paper. Following the discussion, the instructor may show the Parents as Leaders power point presentation, which highlights some of the historical achievements of parent leaders and lists roles parents play today. These slides may be printed as a handout so that participants can take notes. Finally, a group discussion is held to surface barriers to parent leadership. These may be presented as barriers that exist from external sources (e.g., professional attitudes, logistics, systemic barriers, etc.), or they may be identified as the personal concerns and issues experienced by parents. Some of these are shown in the power point presentation, so the instructor may want to refrain from showing the last few slides until parents have had a chance to offer their own responses. In general, the power point presentation on parent as leaders is meant to supplement group discussions rather than to serve as the Final word on the subject of parent leadership. It is important for parents’ voices to prevail in this activity.
You will be viewing a power point slide show that outlines some ways in which parents have advocated on behalf of children with disabilities in their schools and communities. It is clear that these parent leaders have helped to shape the history and services for children with disabilities and their families.
As you view the presentation, think about your own stories and experiences with leadership and advocacy.
Parents As Leaders
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center
PCL Module 1
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center

7. Parent Leaders: Contributions to Disability Policies and Practices
The next eight slides comprise the power point presentation referenced above. Following the presentation, you will see a discussion question to be posed to the group.
Parent Leaders: Contributions to Disability Policies and Practices
Parents As Leaders
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center
PCL Module 1
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center

8. Parents as Leaders: Pre-IDEA
1933: Five mothers of children with mental retardation in Cuyahoga County, OH organize to protest schools’ exclusion of their children. Result: A special class in the public school
1950: 42 parents and others meet in Minneapolis on behalf of children with mental retardation. Result: Establishment of the ARC
Parents As Leaders
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center
PCL Module 1
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center

9. Parents as Leaders: Pre IDEA
1949: Parent of a child with cerebral palsy founds the United Cerebral Palsy Association
1960s: Parents of children with mild to severe retardation sue the state of Pennsylvania to obtain a “free and appropriate education” for all students with disabilities.
Parents As Leaders
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center
PCL Module 1
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center

10. Parents as Leaders: Moving to the IDEA
ARC members, professionals, and other parents continue to lobby hard for federal legislation for children with disabilities. Result: The Education for All Handicapped Children Act, now known as the IDEA. The IDEA contains provisions requiring parents to be members of IEP teams, to participate as educational decision-makers, and to have the right to due process.
Parents As Leaders
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center
PCL Module 1
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center

11. Current Roles for Parent Leaders
Policy makers/advisors/consultants
Program evaluators
Members of task forces
Advisory board members
Leaders of parent advocacy groups
Grant reviewers
Members of boards of trustees
Group facilitators
Parents As Leaders
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center
PCL Module 1
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center

12. Benefits of Parents as Leaders
Benefits to programs and services:
Providing parent perspectives
Bringing a sense of reality to ideas and tasks
Improving the quality of services and supports
Ensuring that programs and policies meet the needs of families
Parents As Leaders
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center
PCL Module 1
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center

13. Benefits of Parents as Leaders
Benefits to parents and professionals
Enhancing skills
Working from a strengths perspective
Seeing others’ points of view
Appreciating the expertise of the other
Acting on a vision
Parents As Leaders
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center
PCL Module 1
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center

14. Challenges to Parents
Professional reluctance and resistance to viewing parents as partners and leaders
Professional reluctance to “overburden” families
Fear of the things parents might ask for
Parents’ reluctance or fear of assuming new roles
Administrative and organizational barriers
Parents As Leaders
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center
PCL Module 1
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center

15. Parents as Leaders: What’s the Vision?
Leadership is an attitude and a behavior, not a position
Leadership needs to be based in reality, not on political views
Leadership can be shared
Leadership can be collaborative
Leadership can be learned
Parents As Leaders
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center
PCL Module 1
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center

16. Discussion Questions What are your dreams for parent leadership?
If there is time, the instructor may wish to have participants complete the “Leadership Self-Assessment” that is part of this module. Following completion of the self-assessment, participants may wish to share more specific ideas about their current skills and experiences, as well as leadership opportunities for the future.
What are your dreams for parent leadership?
What barriers stand in the way of you and other parents?
What steps might you and others take to expand your leadership experiences and opportunities?
Parents As Leaders
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center
PCL Module 1
©2008, University of Vermont and PACER Center