Welcome to the Volunteer Advocacy Project (VAP) Resource site!
This site is for current and past participants to access updated resources that can help them better advocate for families of children with disabilities in special education.
The VAP is a training for individuals interested in becoming special education advocates so they can provide instrumental and effective support to families of children with disabilities in Tennessee. Since its inception in fall of 2008, the VAP has trained more than 350 advocates across the state. Participants attend a 40-hour training, which focuses on various topics related to special education advocacy: evaluations and eligibility, individualized education plans, assistive technology, discipline provisions, behavior intervention plans, non-adversarial advocacy techniques, legislative change, least restrictive environment, and extended school year services. The training also has various speakers including professors, attorneys, parents of children with disabilities, and advocates.