Your Story. Your Voice. Be Heard.
Cynthia Lockrey shares her insights and experience as a patient advocate and her patient advocacy work. Blog posts include topics such as patient storytelling, working with healthcare professionals and advocating for children.
I really wish I didn’t have to write this article. I wish that kids with disabilities and complex needs would get the support they require to not just survive but thrive. I wish they had the education, learning supports, therapy and career counselling needed to help them live their best lives.
Sadly, this isn’t the case and is the reason why advocacy is critical to supporting kids with disabilities.
Read MoreFocusing on a child’s behaviour does nothing to help the situation. Rather, it allows biases, judgement and assumptions to take root and cloud what’s really happening.
Being curious about the behaviour versus judging the behaviour is the best way to support any child.
Read MoreAs kids head back to school, many parents and caregivers will be rolling up their sleeves and advocating for the supports their child needs and deserves. While some of us are seasoned veterans when it comes to advocacy, I know it doesn’t come easy to everyone.
Advocating for your child, or any child, can be frustrating, lonely and overwhelming. It can also cause friction with family members, educators and even friends.
Here’s the thing – advocacy is not a popularity contest.
Read MoreRaising a child with a disability comes with enough pressure, without having to hold the emotional load of others. But it can take courage and persistence to set boundaries and not own others’ emotions.
Read MoreThere’s a reason why the saying it takes a village to raise a child has been around for generations. As parents, we need all the help we can get. Don’t let Instagram perfect images deter you from reaching out and asking for help.
Read MoreHaving one child in a public school and another in a private school wasn’t an easy decision. But it was a decision made based on keeping my child safe, and removing artificial barriers to their success. I will continue to advocate for the needs of my child remaining in public education, while sleeping better knowing my other child is finally in a safe and nurturing environment.
Read MoreWouldn’t it be great if you could send your child back to school in September, trusting they would get the support they need to reach their full potential? Or at least make it through the day. While many parents of diverse learners wish for this, sadly with overstretched education systems, this isn’t the reality.
Read MoreAs parents, we’re all too aware the impacts these cuts have had on our children’s mental health, personal safety and academic performance. But I doubt many of our elected official know what’s happening.
Why? Because parents and caregivers are so busy raising and fighting for our kids, that we don’t have a lot of time and energy leftover to advocate at the provincial level.
But without making some noise, and sharing our stories, our kids will continue to fall behind.
Read MoreIt’s time to celebrate the gifts diverse learners bring instead of focusing on the challenges.
Read MoreIt can be frustrating and overwhelming to have ongoing battles to get your child the support they need in school. But it’s important you keep fighting - because if you don’t fight for your child, no one else will.
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SPEAKING & WORKSHOPS
Cynthia Lockrey is a change maker + communications expert.
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