Commitment to Ethical practice

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To Promote Client Agency and Educational Benefit 

The purpose of special education navigation is to help families navigate the special education process and to empower parents to effectively advocate for an education for their child with a disability that is appropriate given the child's unique strengths and needs.

Thereby,

• Navigators will individualize recommendations to address the specific strengths and needs of each student.
• Navigators will respect parental and student views and input and respond without judgement. Rather navigators will provide research supported information and guidance to increase parental understanding and empower them to make meaningful choices.
• If parents seek an outcome the navigator believes is not reasonably in the best interest of the child, the navigator will immediately express their concern, including sharing research supporting that concern, and offer alternatives for parent consideration. 
• If parents seek an outcome the navigator believes is potentially detrimental to the child, the navigator will immediately express their concern, including sharing research supporting that concern, and offer alternatives for parent consideration. If parents continue to seek the potentially detrimental outcome, the navigator will terminate services and follow the guidelines in this article for termination of services.
• Navigators must disclose the complete continuum of available education services and placements regardless of personal opinion of their benefit prior to offering guidance regarding the most appropriate placement for the student.
• Navigators must consider existing resources in the local education agency to optimize the actualization of appropriate student services.
• Students, who are above or equal to age 14, will fully participate in educational decisions including services and placement. This is aligned with their right to membership in Individualized Education Plan teams per the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2007.
• Navigators will solicit student input regarding educational decisions. 

To Demonstrate Transparency and Professionalism

• Navigators will honestly represent their level of education and the limits of expertise—this includes explicitly stating that they are not attorneys.
• Navigators will explicitly state that in the case of court subpoena, there is no existing legal  navigator-client privilege.
• Navigators will immediately disclose if their own child attends the same school as a prospective or existing client or any other conflict of interest.
• If unexpected personal circumstances prevent a navigator from fulfilling their obligations to a client, the navigator must immediately inform the client and continue services as possible while facilitating transition to a new provider. The transition services shall be at no cost to the client.
• If a situation arises that requires legal expertise and that may require legal action in the near future, the navigator will immediately inform the client of the benefit of seeking legal counsel. If the client chooses to delay legal counsel and to continue employing the navigator as their special education advisor, the navigator may continue their services within the scope of their professional training.
• If a situation arises requiring legal action, the navigator will immediately inform the client and assist the client in identifying a capable attorney and transfer the client’s comprehensive record in a format that will afford maximum efficiency for the attorney’s review of client records. 
• Navigators will engage in fifteen hours of annual professional development including at least five hours of training regarding updates to new federal, state and local special education policies, court rulings, statutory guidance and laws.
• Navigators will not accept any gifts or financial benefit from non-public special education schools, attorneys or any other entity that may benefit from navigation referral.
• Navigators will disclose any personal relationship and/or affiliation with an individual or organizational referral.

To Protect Confidentiality

• Navigators will receive written parental authorization, including purpose of the communication, before exchanging student information with other parties. 
• Navigators must inform parents of the purpose of outside communication and have written parental permission before seeking collegial advice.
• Navigators must copy parents on all electronic correspondence. 
• Navigators will document the time, purpose and contents of all communications with the local education agency and/or clinicians. 

To Promote Equitable Access to Advocacy Services

• While the current practice is limited to English proficient paying clients, navigators will meaningfully promote universal access to quality advocacy.
• Navigators will regularly participate in professional organizations that work to improve equitable access to special education.
• If a prospective client is not able to enter a contract due to financial limitations, navigators will refer them to free and/or low cost services and provide them with resources related to their specific needs.
• Navigators will inform prospective clients of their rights regarding translation materials and provide written materials in their native language to the maximum extent possible. 
• If a client’s English proficiency is at a level that limits benefit from navigation services, the navigator will share those concerns and offer referrals to services in their native language. If the client chooses to continue services, the navigator will continue services to the maximum extent of benefit to the client.
• Navigators will ensure that all written materials are provided in clear language that is appropriate given the client’s level of education.