Advocacy Support & Training (ASTra)

Talk with a Trained Educational Parent Advocate

The Hands & Voices ASTra Program—which stands for Advocacy, Support, and Training—was created to:

• Empower parents
• Promote student self-advocacy
• Strengthen collaboration between families and schools

While our ASTra advocates are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice, they are experienced parents with specialized training—and we firmly believe that parents who have walked a similar path can be powerful allies for families navigating educational advocacy.

California Hands & Voices officially launched ASTra in February 2019, expanding access to quality advocacy support throughout the state. We understand how overwhelming it can be to navigate IEPs, evaluations, and school meetings—especially when support systems aren’t familiar with the unique needs of DHH children. That’s where ASTra comes in. We offer personalized support and resources to help families understand how special education law applies to students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

🔗 Visit the Hands & Voices National ASTra page for more tools and resources.
📬 Or contact us today—we’re here to help your child reach their highest potential.

CA H&V ASTra Co-Coordinators
Kat Lowrance
Cora Shahid

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Step 1: Become a Member of California Hands & Voices here

ASTra Support is included in the annual membership to CA H&V for Parents for just $25 annually.
Support from ASTra is available to all families—membership is not required if cost is a barrier.

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*To Request Support fill out the Educational Advocacy Support – Request Form

After you submit the form, a trained Educational Parent Advocate will reach out within 48–72 hours. 
If you do not hear from us within 48-72 hours, please contact the Co-Coordinators (above)
You will need to sign and return the ASTra Release of Liability document before services can be initiated.

Have these documents on hand to upload

• Audiogram
• Communication Plan
• Written correspondence with school
• ASTra Release of Liability

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How can our ASTra team help?

Our trained ASTra Advocates work alongside families to support, empower, and share information across educational placement options.

We SUPPORT families by:

• Meeting one-on-one to address your family’s individualized needs
• Assisting to write statements of parent concern

We EMPOWER families by:

• Preparing together before/after meetings to equips parents with knowledge and resources to understand their child’s educational rights and advocate for appropriate services. 
• Discussing resources and tools to encourage strong team building among families and the professionals that serve their child

We SHARE INFORMATION with families relating to:

• Special Education Laws
• Special considerations for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students
• Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)
• 504 Plans
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Languages

• English
• Spanish
• American Sign Language

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You Learn More About Educational Advocacy

Publications:

Hands & Voices Guidebook

H&V IEP Meeting Planner

Optimizing Outcomes for Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (Free to download)

CA Communication Plan Worksheet

CA H&V ASTra – All About Me, great for teachers, coaches etc.

Parent Safety Toolkit

Hands & Voices Family Support Activities Guide

IEP/504 Checklist

Videos
Advocacy 101 

Hands & Voices ASTra Advocacy Webinar Series

Websites:

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Upcoming Level 1 ASTra ASTra Training

This is a One Day/ 8 hour class for parents, professionals and community members to increase knowledge and skills to advocate for their own child, and/or students they work with.

Future Dates: visit our Facebook Page to see all of our events, including if ASTra is coming soon.
Interested in bringing ASTra to your community? Scroll down for more info on what’s needed.

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Here’s what people are saying about ASTra

ASTra Testimonials