An Accidental Advocate: A Mother’s Journey with Her Exceptional Child

Kathryn Burke is the former Executive Director of the Centre for Literacy, an organization that provides support to students with learning disabilities/disorders in reading, writing and mathematics. This is a personal story – one about how she became an accidental advocate.  Kathryn is the parent of a son with learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and other mental health issues.  An Accidental Advocate chronicles the journey to identify her son’s challenges and obtain the supports necessary to address his needs. Kathryn writes with candor about the steep learning curve and emotions that accompany being a parent of a child with exceptional needs, and her family’s experiences in dealing with the education and health systems.

Kathryn has succeeded in writing a book that is a must read for parents, teachers, professionals, policy makers or anyone interested in the education of children who have exceptional needs. The book is compelling and personal; parents who are undergoing a journey like Kathryn and her family will identify with the struggles and journey outlined in An Accidental Advocate. Teachers will gain insight into how to support families and children with exceptional needs. Politicians and their advisors will benefit from Kathryn’s policy expertise as she comments on the core values and mission of health and education systems.