Diversity Fellow Project, Melina Melgoza
Disability Rights: How can I ensure my child is getting quality Special Education Services at school?
Disability Rights: How can I ensure my child is getting quality Special Education Services at school? (English) [download]
Project Narrative
1. Please describe your activities during your Fellowship experience. Describe your final capstone project(s).
I was granted the Tarjan and UCLA CARES Diversity Fellowship late December of 2016; however, I began the Fellowship in January of 2017. During my time as a Fellow, I was given exposure to policy, education, and disability rights advocacy. I interned weekly at the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools (PLAS), a non-profit organization that was created in 2007 to support and transform historically marginalized schools. The purpose of the organization is to work with some of the highest-need schools in the city. These schools are composed of predominantly Latina/o and African-American youth. The Partnership focused on three main locations in the Los Angeles region, Boyle Heights, South Los Angeles, and Watts. Historically, these neighborhoods have experienced some of the highest crime and unemployment rates, low graduation rates, and low higher education achievement. Although as a Fellow we were encouraged to understand and focus on the experiences of individuals with disabilities, working with the Partnership allowed us to understand the discrepancies that exist within the education system, and how these discrepancies widely impact the well-being and achievement of students with and without disabilities. My experience as a Diversity Fellow broadened my perspective in education and gave me a new vision as a future educator.
2. Who did your project inform, help, influence or impact? (UCEDD, individual, community, state) How?
I focused my capstone project on educating economically disadvantaged and underserved parents about the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process. My goal was to simplify the IEP process and provide a better understanding to parents. My capstone project is titled, “Disability Rights: How can I ensure that my child is getting quality Special Education Services at school?” I created an English version and a Spanish version, in an attempt to address the large population of Spanish-speaking individuals who may potentially come across my Capstone project. My objectives were to help parents learn how to prepare for an IEP meeting, break down the IEP process into three stages, and simplify these stages so parents could ensure that their child is getting quality special education services. Often parents do not understand the basics of the IEP process and as a result I decided to simplify the definition of theIEP). I also provided various lists that parents may find useful, such as the people that should be involved in the IEP process, an IEP Binder Checklist, a list of what a child’s IEP folder should include, various questions parents can and should ask, and various other tips and terms that are simplified to be better understood by certain parent populations. One of my biggest goals for the capstone Project was also to empower parents. I emphasized to parents how imperative it is for parents and/or guardians to ask questions until they are fully satisfied with the outcome of the IEP. I also emphasized that as a parent or guardian of their child, they are the experts on their child, not the teacher or principal, but them as parents. Often parents can feel intimidated by figures of authority; however, all parties should be working together to ensure the best possible outcome
3. Why did you choose to work on that project(s)?
Born and raised in Mid-City, Los Angeles has influenced my commitment to urban education. My community is low-income, mostly Latino and African American, with only a small percent of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher. While acquiring my education at Alexander Hamilton High School, I became aware of the injustices that affect underrepresented and marginalized Latino students like myself. A lack of resources led to overworked teachers who often became unmotivated. This further contributed to the low number of urban students who graduated high school and pursued higher education. As a result, I want to pursue teaching as a career and address the disparities that exist in education for people of color, people with disabilities, and other underserved communities. As an educator, I hope to teach social studies through a holistic approach; implementing curricula that addresses my student’s academic, personal, and overall development as a scholar. One of my biggest goals for the capstone Project was to empower parents. I emphasized to parents how imperative it is for parents and/or guardians to ask questions until they are fully satisfied with the outcome of the IEP. I also emphasized that as a parent or guardian of their child, they are the experts on their child, not the teacher or principal, but them as parents. Often parents can feel intimidated by figures of authority; however, all parties should be working together to ensure the best possible outcome
4. What did you gain from being a Diversity Fellow?
As a Fellow, I was encouraged to understand and focus on the experiences of individuals with disabilities and working with the Partnership allowed us to understand the discrepancies that exist within the education system and how these discrepancies widely impact the well-being and achievement of students with and without disabilities. My experience as a Diversity Fellow broadened my perspective in education and gave me a new vision as a future educator.
5. How will this experience impact your education or career decisions?
This experience has allowed me to learn the importance of education, equality and policy. After traveling to Washington D.C. to educate, advise, and inform policy makers regarding the improvement of services and opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, I realized the importance of laws and how they affect all types of individuals. I would like to continue in the course of education and perhaps look into policy one day.
6. What are your future goals? Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
I recently began graduate school at UCLA’s Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, and will continue to contribute to UCLA and the Los Angeles community at large. As a graduate student in the field of education I plan to focus my research on holistic development and urban youth. As an educator, it will be important to approach teaching from a community-driven and social justice framework. My life’s purpose is to use education as a means for change and success, bridging gaps and fostering change in communities like my own.
7. What recommendations do you have for other fellows?
I hope other Fellows are open-minded about the topic they choose for the capstone. This capstone allowed me to understand the various processes of the IEP, which is only a small fraction of all there is to understand.