NSEAT - NATIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVOCACY TRAINING
NSEAI’s mission is to improve the quality and professionalism in the field of education advocacy, by
encouraging the development of highly educated and knowledgeable advocates through the NSEAI, Board
Certified Education Advocate™, program.
Please join us as we give
increased professionalism to the field of special education advocacy.
WE HAVE A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE!
THE NATIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVOCACY INSTITUTE Dedicated to improving the quality of life TODAY for individuals and families affected by disabilities.
WE WERE THE FIRST NATIONALLY
We were the first organization nationally, to take seriously the profession of education advocacy, and offer a board certification program in Education Advocacy, with a BCEA designation.
We were the first, in 2008, to develop, adopt, and publish an Education Advocacy Practice Act, guidelines and standards, that addresses the ethics in Education Advocacy private practice.
We were the first to provide training, of this caliber, that is open to parents, community agencies, clinicians, educational advocates, lawyers and school personnel. Each group learning, cooperatively, to appreciate each other’s role in providing FAPE.
We were the first nationally to require extensive continuing education for advocates, promoting quality improvement within the required core base of advocacy knowledge.
We were the first to provide an extensive cross training in special education, including the best practices in education, behavior management, legal and clinical aspects of this broad field. This training was designed, not only to address the legal aspects of special education law and its application, but also to develop professional advocacy skills and a broad multidisciplinary knowledge base necessary to effectively and collaboratively advocate to:
• Develop IEPs that are effective in getting adequate progress in students skills • Develop IEPs that are educationally beneficial AND legally sufficient • Promote least restrictive environment placement • Promote the use of appropriate evaluation tools to identify educational needs • Develop truly individualized educational plans and programming • Facilitate inclusion of students with special education needs with their peers • Reduce individual and system barriers to a FAPE for students • Promote effective communication and IEP facilitation skills • Promote the use of early transition goal development and post secondary goals • Promote ethical and responsible education advocacy practices • Understand the social, emotional, legal and financial impact of special education on families and students and the appropriate use of community based services • Improve networking and marketability of the professional advocate
52 ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN OUR LAST MEETING. THEY ARRIVED FROM COAST TO COAST TO PARTICIPATE. They included community agency executives, clinicians, educators, lawyers, professional advocates, parents, college instructors and self advocates.
NSEAI PROVIDES A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED 12 COURSE PROGRAM:
National Special Education Advocacy Training Program (NSEAT).
Courses may be taken individually or as a series, with examinations, leading
to National Board Certification designation as an Education Advocate, BCEA™
72 Continuing Legal Educatation Units (PA CLE Credit Hours) are offered (68.5S and 3.5E)
The curriculum has addressed the broad needs of attendees that have included: • Parents • Professional advocates • Educational consultants • Grandparents • Caretakers of those with special needs • Lawyers • Behavior Specialists (including many BCBAs) • Psychologists • Occupational Therapists • Speech and Language Therapists / Pathologists • School Nurses • School Board Members • Teachers (special education, for the visually impaired, for the deaf) • Physical Therapists • School Principals • Social Workers • State, Local and National Advocacy Agency Representatives • College Professors in the fields of Special Education • Graduate and Undergraduate Students in the fields of Special Education • Community Based Service Providers
OUR GOAL IS TO PROMOTE AND IMPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES ACROSS ALL DOMAINS AND SETTINGS, THROUGH PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION ADVOCACY.
