Yes, it does. But a quick look at
any state reveals that this is not just the opinion of those posting here-- it's a legal/legislative reality most places. Parents who have a wide social justice streak themselves
will try to do something about it-- but after they have seen the inside of a local school for a few years (about 2nd to 4th grade) they realize that they
cannot change things in enough time for it to matter to their own kids.
Some fight ONLY for their own kids' needs at that point, and others separate the two strands in their approach, and cease using their own children's educations as the reason for advocacy, whilst still fighting to get their own kids' neesd met using any means possible and pragmatic.
The latter approach can be rather freeing, I must say. It allows you to widen your scope as an advocate, and also to make compromises and make decisions as a
parent that you wouldn't want to do as an advocate. To get what your own kids need often seems to require some tactics that I find distasteful as an advocate-- it often feels like throwing others under the bus when you make backroom "special" arrangements that you agree to keep to yourself (or everyone will know and ask for the same)...
But yes-- speaks volumes. Absolutely.
