Module 4 Blog Post

A question I have for my colleagues about my advocacy action plan is, how does one know what the limit to technology use is? How can a Twitter, a Facebook, and a blog all be consistently updated? I know that time is a limitation for me at the moment, being a working mother and enrolled in school, and so my worry is that I’ll take on too much that I know little of administrating.

I am searching for resources that target presentation ideas as well as resources in favor of speech delays that advocate for the need of awareness. These resources will help the information I am to distribute through social networks and my presentation.  I want to focus more on finding why it is detrimental that parents are aware of speech delays when their children are still young, even if their children have one or not, because it causes the parent to be more aware of any abnormalities in speech.

I found one article to be particularly inspirational and insightful about speech delays. The article was a shared personal experience that a mother had. She noticed her daughter had a speech problem, and consulted her pediatrician. The pediatrician assured her it was nothing to worry about, however, the mother remained unconvinced. She then decided to call an organization called “Early Start,” which focuses on early intervention, thus showing that initiative, being informed about resources and early intervention are beneficial.

http://www.apraxiaadventures.com/2011/07/12/dont-wait/

Personal Advocacy Journey

“A person's a person, no matter how small" – Dr. Seuss

           I am very eager to research more about speech and language development in children in the early childhood stage. I am very interested about being an advocate to raise awareness about speech and language development because in my center’s neighborhood, many parents are unaware of what it means and what they can do to help their child. My advocacy plan consists of addressing parents and other educators about what can be done if they suspect their child to have a speech delay; in how to find professional help and what can be done at home. The center I am at is in a predominantly Latino community, and I want parents to be aware that teaching children both Spanish and language isn’t the reason behind speech delays. I am excited to carry out my advocacy plan because it allows me to become involved in raising awareness for children who are having trouble communicating, thus giving them a voice and urging education centers to raise the resources they need.

            A challenge that I feel I will encounter because of my advocacy cause; speech delays, is communicating to parents about potential speech delays in their children without offending them. Many parents are under the belief that a speech disorder can be “grown out of,” however, my goal is to inform them that therapy is needed and that the child will only benefit from it.                 

            When presenting my Advocacy Action Plan, I feel that as nervous as I will be in targeting parents and educators, I shouldn’t let the nerves get the best of me. I am nervous at how parents will react. I would like them to know and understand that my purpose is to be a voice for children, and so I think that a good advocate is allowed to be nervous and not show it, which is my goal, to only show how passionate I am about raising awareness about speech delays found in the early childhood environment in my education center.

            I can encourage others, such as my fellow classmates in their advocacy efforts by giving them constructive criticism on what can be improved in their Advocacy Action Plan and what doesn’t need further elaboration, because it is important that our audience receives information that they don’t know much or anything about, over telling them what they are already aware of. I feel that the same can be done to me, for it will encourage me to continue searching for resources, information, and further information about speech delays that the parents and educators might ask me questions on.