What do I Do if the Service Provider Won't Listen?

Sometimes it seems that the non-profit service providers that work with our loved ones won’t listen to parents. What do we do? Listed below are a few tips that might help.

1. Ask for a meeting with the supervisor to discuss your concerns. Be clear about what you want. For more on this see, “How to Prepare for a Meeting.” Prioritize what you want and pick your battles.
2. If that does not work then ask to speak to a manager. Or you could write a letter to the manager, cc'd to the Executive Director. Sometimes people take a letter more seriously than a telephone conversation. Make sure that the letter is well-written and clear. Ask for help with this if you are unsure. Have someone else read the letter before you send it.
3. Get an advocate to help.
4. Go to the Executive Director and plead your case.
5. If the ED is not on side go speak to the the Board of Directors or write them a letter. If you have deeply-held feelings about something you could call them indivually and persuade them one-by-one.
6. Go to the Ministry that funds the non-profit and express your concern.