Special Ed Advocate Newsletter, June 3, 2004 (Issue 262)

At Wrightslaw, our goals are to help you gain the information and skills you need navigate the confusing world of special education.

Highlights: Summer school for parents; take care of yourself & your family; write a thank-you note; develop your master plan; Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy; Scratch n' Dent Sale; learn to negotiate; learn about child's disability and effective education; Wrightslaw Boot Camp in Sacramento; help from Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities.

Quote of the Week: "A good education is the next best thing to a pushy mother." - Charles Schulz, cartoonist

As life slows down, use your time to plan for next year. Summer School for Parents includes recommended activities that will help you prepare for next year. (Note: Summer School for Parents will continue in the next issue of The Special Ed Advocate)

Write a "thank-you" note to a teacher or educational provider who helped your child. As advocate and educational consultant Meredith Warshaw says,

"I worry that the people in the system who are helping me and our kids will get burned out and quit - which is the last thing we want to see! So, having discovered how much it cheers and reinvigorates me when I get thank you notes from clients or others I've helped, I've started a campaign to spread the cheer. It takes just a few minutes of time and ..."

Your child's special education is a long-term project. You need a master plan. As a parent, your role is similar to a project manager - you organize, plan, monitor progress, anticipate problems, and keep the team focused.

You are the constant factor in your child's life. You represent your child's interests. If your child does not receive an appropriate education and master the skills necessary to be an independent, self-sufficient member of the community, you will deal with the outcome.

To learn about your role and long-term planning, read Planning and Preparation are Keys to Success.

Advocacy - Getting Started.

Advocacy Strategies from Wrightslaw

"A superb reference, From Emotions To Advocacy is very highly recommended reading for all parents of children in need of adapted or special education services ... " Midwest Book Review

"If I were asked to choose just one book to help me learn advocacy skills, this is it!" - Support for Families of Children with Disabilities

Scratch-n-Dent Sale: Special Ed Law, From Emotions to Advocacy and No Child Left Behind - $9.95 each - Limited quantities available. Order Now

50% Discount on Bulk Purchases of Wrightslaw Books -The Advocacy Challenge Discount is a 50% discount on bulk purchases of Wrightslaw books.

If you are like most parents, you did not realize that you negotiate with the school for special education services and supports. When you understand that you are negotiating, the process begins to make sense.

You learn to negotiate as you learn any new skill. First, you learn the steps. Then you practice, practice, practice!

Negotiation is a great skill to learn. Why? Because you negotiate with someone about something every day!

Before you can negotiate for a good special education program, you need to be knowledgeable about your child's disability, educational needs, and effective educational practices.

Join a disability or special education organization to learn more about your child's disability and effective educational remediation methods.

You will find a comprehensive list of organizations and associations on the Yellow Pages Directory of National Disabilities Organizations & Information Groups.

8. Join Pete & Pam Wright in Sacramento for a Wrightslaw Boot Camp (July 17-18, 2004)

In Wrightslaw Boot Camp, you learn how to find answers to your questions in special education laws and regulations; how to use tests and measurements to measure educational progress and graph test scores; how to write SMART IEP goals and objectives; and how to use tactics and strategies to get quality special education services.

Learn about the Sacramento Boot Camp - 1st Boot Camp on West Coast!

Download informational flyer and registration form.

The Wrightslaw Boot Camp in Sacramento is sponsored by Families for Early Autism Treatment (FEAT). If you are interested in bringing Pete and Pam Wright to your community, please read our FAQs about Seminars. (We are scheduling programs for 2005-2006.)

9. Visit the Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities

If you are looking for help - or a helper - visit the Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities. Your state Yellow Pages has many resources - evaluators, speech language therapists, tutors, special ed schools, advocates, attorneys, organizations, and support groups.

These articles will help you find help:

What to Expect from an Evaluation of Your Child

Working with Independent Evaluators and Educational Consultants

Strategies to Find a Support or Study Group

Free Listings in the Yellow Pages: If you help parents get services for children (i.e., an evaluator, educational consultant, academic tutor, advocate, attorney, special ed school, etc.) or you facilitate a support or study group for parents, submit an application be listed in the Yellow Pages for Kids. Send an email to app@yellowpagesforkids.com for an application. Listings in the Yellow Pages are free.

Help Others: Please print and distribute Flyers for Your State Yellow Pages for Kids.

The Special Ed Advocate is a free online newsletter about special education legal and advocacy issues, cases, and tactics and strategies. Subscribers receive "alerts" about new cases, events, and special offers on Wrightslaw books.