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Out-of-the-Box Advocacy: Talk LD with Blogging Topics: Public Policy and Advocacy   In my first few posts in the Out-of-the-Box Advocacy series, I focused on how parents can use social media and write emails and letters to help spark new conversations about learning disabilities. Today, I’ll focus on one of my favorite topics – blogging – and how a great blog and a compelling post can help boost your confidence and bolster your parent advocacy efforts. Why Blogs are Great Resources for LD A Blog a Day…Got a favorite blog? I can name at least a dozen that I visit regularly for home décor ideas, recipes, and fashion tips. But, by far the most relevant help I’ve found via the blogosphere is from blogs about families facing the trials and triumphs of raising children with learning disabilities and other difficulties. The “mommy” or parenting blogging world is well worth tapping into for parents of kids with learning disabilities and special needs. Blogs feature real parents, sharing real-life events in almost real time. You just can’t get much more real than that.Right Where You AreOne of the very first places I found encouragement when I realized that I needed help supporting my kids with disabilities was blogs. I could read, reflect, and sometimes regret – all from the privacy of my own home but while still directly in tune with other parents.And these parents weren’t just blogging about LD. I spent a lot of time on all sorts of blogs written by struggling parents—blogs about kids with disabilities much more severe than my children’s, or blogs about families facing childhood illnesses like cancer. All were bravely posting their stories of triumph and survival. Inspire MeThe theme throughout these many parent blogs was that despite the difficult circumstances, kids were still just kids, families still loved unconditionally and, despite unexpected events, parents repeatedly rose to the occasion to support and advocate for their kids’ unique needs. What was uncharted territory for me were familiar paths to these bloggers.Blogs made me realize that I wasn’t alone as I faced the unexpected and feel empowered that yes, I could have an effective voice when it came to talking about my kids’ needs. Blogs gave me this support in a way that parenting magazines and books simply did not provide. As I read, I gained both true perspective and a deeply rooted desire to share my own story about what our family was facing, so I that I might encourage others, too. What a Great Blog Can Do For LD Max ImpactEllen Seidman writes regularly about her son Max, who has cerebral palsy, on both her personal blog Love That Max and on Parents.com’s To the Max.While Max’s special needs may not be exactly the same as a child with a learning disability, in sharing openly about Max’s differences and unique strengths, Seidman opens up an entirely new type of conversation about kids with all sorts of disabilities. For example, check out Seidman’s recent post on Inclusion Education.Three Ways to Get Hooked on Blogs and Blogging about LD
 Lyn Pollard is a freelance writer, parent advocate, and the mother of two kids who learn and play differently. A former journalist and change management consultant, Lyn writes, talks and tweets about advocacy, literacy and safe schools for kids with learning disabilities and special needs. Check out her piece in the New York Times.blog comments powered by Disqus
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