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Voluntary Code of Ethics

For Special Education Advocates

This Voluntary Code of Ethics was composed by a group of active Special Education Advocates, all of whom are members of The Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys (COPAA), a national voice for special education rights and advocacy. COPAA’s primary goal is to secure effective and appropriate educational services for children with disabilities, and to protect their educational and civil rights.

COPAA’S membership is comprised of special education attorneys and advocates, and parents whose children receive special education services. The purpose of this Code is to provide a set of principles which Special Education Advocate members of COPAA (Advocates) can use as a guide for their work, conduct, and decision making. This Code is voluntary and is intended only as a guide. Each Advocate who chooses to use this Voluntary Code should apply and interpret these guidelines within the bounds of state law in his or her state.

 

As a member of the

Council of Parent,

Advocates and Attorneys,

I abide by the COPAA

Voluntary Code of Ethics.

Special education advocates are committed professionals who help parents secure free appropriate public education for their children

with disabilities. Advocates promote dignity and respect for every individual with disabilities by promoting vigorous enforcement of state and federal civil and human rights laws.

Special Education Advocacy is a profession comprised of a diverse group of people who work as independent private consultants or under supervision of a licensed attorney or in a law firm; in a public interest law center or other nonprofit organization; or under the auspices of a parent training and information center or advocacy center. Advocates may work in a paid or voluntary capacity. An Advocate has knowledge and expertise concerning special education and its applicable federal and state laws and works within the bounds of these laws. An Advocate protects the civil rights of children with special needs, their rights to due process, and their rights to equal access to equitable public school education. An Advocate remains current with applicable regulations and special education issues through continuing education and training.

 

PREAMBLE


a. Serve as an Advocate’s guide to   

    professional conduct.
b. Help parents make informed choices

    about engaging advocacy services.
c. Instill public confidence in the integrity of

   Advocates and the roles they fill.
 

Advocates who voluntarily subscribe to this Code are expected to follow the Code’s ethical principles as a guide for proper professional conduct. This Code does not create disciplinary rules, and is not intended to be used to sanction Advocates.

This Voluntary Code is intended to:

An Advocate:
1. Works within the limits of his or her competence.
2. Informs a client when the Advocate is not competent to handle a

    matter or any portion of a client matter.
3. Is candid concerning the Advocate’s knowledge and skills.
4. Continues his or her special education advocacy education by

     successfully completing 12 hours of continuing education courses

     annually. Continuing education courses may be obtained through

     private or non-profit vendors, bar association continuing legal

     education courses, paralegal courses, State Department of

     Education courses or seminars, civil rights or disability rights

     organizations; professional associations of attorneys or advocates;

     or other continuing education courses or programs related to

     special education practice, advocacy, negotiation, or mediation.
5. Is knowledgeable with regard to the regulations of the jurisdictions

     in which they work or in which their clients are located.
6. Provides competent assistance. Competent assistance requires the

    special education knowledge, skill, thoroughness, and preparation

    reasonably necessary for the assistance required under the circumstances.
7. Exercises reasonable care.

 

I ETHICAL PRINCIPLES  – Competence

II ETHICAL PRINCIPLES  – Responsibilities to the Client

An Advocate:
1. Helps clients make informed decisions about appropriate educational services by 

     providing clients with relevant information.
2. Helps clients articulate their concerns and desires for student's educational needs.
3. Makes full disclosure to every individual involved with a matter that he or she is

     not licensed to practice law and cannot give legal advice.
4. Handles matters in a timely manner and without undue delay.
5. Educates clients about special education law and regulations, and helps them

     become more skillful and effective advocates.
6. Maintains regular contact.
7. Treats clients and others with dignity and respect.
8. Secures a written agreement for services with clients before performing any

     professional services.
9. Obtains a client’s permission before discussing the client’s matter with anyone

     other than the client, and adheres to any Federal or applicable State

     confidentiality requirements.
10. Maintains client records, keeps client information confidential and, unless the

      client has agreed in writing otherwise, makes arrangements to return or destroy

      records belonging to the client at the conclusion of the client’s matter.
11. Discloses that an advocate-client privilege may not exist, and that the Advocate

       must comply with any court or hearing officer or administrative law judge

       orders, and may be required to comply with lawfully-issued subpoenas.
12. Maintains and shares information regarding local, state, regional, and national

       resources for parents and students, and information regarding current trends

       and practices in special education, as well as a referral list of professional contacts.
13. Provides culturally and educationally appropriate services.

III ETHICAL PRINCIPLES  – Conflicts of Interest

An Advocate will:
1. Disclose all potential conflicts of interest. An Advocate is obligated to place the

     interest of the client ahead of any personal interest or personal gain, and to disclose

     all facts in any situation where a potential conflict of interest may arise.
            a. An Advocate will at a minimum, inform potential clients of any employment

                 affiliations, financial or professional interests that may be perceived to bias

                 recommendations, and in some cases, decline to provide services where the

                 actual or apparent conflict of interest is such that it may fairly be concluded

                 that such affiliation or interest is likely to impair professional judgments,

                 result in personal gain, or impede advocacy efforts in any way.
2. Make referrals and placements to service providers based solely on the needs of

     the student.
3. Refrain from accepting or giving anything of value for the recommendation of  

     advocate services to others

IV ETHICAL PRINCIPLES  – Communication

An Advocate will:
1. Never knowingly mislead others in the pursuit of a client’s matter.
2. Pursue ethical means to solve an issue or produce a particular outcome.
3. Present claims that are truthful and can be substantiated concerning the Advocate or

     the Advocate's service or the services of another advocate.
4. Communicate with others in a fair and civil manner.
5. Maintain as confidential all information about the client which is provided to the

     Advocate by the client, will use such information solely for advocating on behalf of

     the client, and will not disclose such information to any third party except (a) with

     prior authorization from the client; or (b) as otherwise required by law.
6. Maintain and preserve client records in a manner that complies with applicable state

     law or rules of professional conduct governing client records for the Advocate's state

     in which his or her office is located.

V ETHICAL PRINCIPLES  – Professionalism

An Advocate will:
1. Adhere to all applicable laws of the jurisdiction(s) in which the Advocate works or in

    which the client is located.
2. Review relevant records and information prior to effectively offering specific assistance.
3. Attempt to resolve special education disputes utilizing IEP meetings, mediation and

    resolution meetings, as described in the I.D.E.A. and the Advocate’s state special

    education regulations.
4. Manage his or her professional office and financial affairs in a manner that conforms to

    generally accepted business and financial practices.
5. Treat all parties subject to a dispute with candor, fairness and civility.

 

© COPAA (2008)

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