San Francisco Bay View Special needs students and the Black community

San Francisco Bay View  Special needs students and the Black community: Having a child with autism who receives special education in public school is a challenge. It can be more difficult for parents of low income, as is my circumstance. I’ve tried different routes to navigate a very difficult and, at times, confusing system. The myriad of acronyms and policy to be familiar with are overwhelming and it can feel as if you are alone in the process – your family against your school district.

During my journey of trying to advocate for my son, Nadir, I have had to take legal action against the school district, to file suit because of disagreement with the district about the services or placement of a student they propose. I filed suit twice against two different districts and had an attorney draft a letter because another district was out of compliance with my son’s IEP (Individual Education Plan). The latter was particularly difficult because the district was my employer; I worked in the special education department.

I feel that I have had a more informed experience because of my understanding of the law, due to my field of work. Other parents may not be as lucky.