Special Ed Advocate Newsletter, June 16, 2004 (Issue 264)

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; learn about legal rights & responsibilities; find help in your community; join a parent group; take action, help others, start a FETA Study Group; what people are saying about Wrightslaw books; Scratch n' Dent Sale; Reading Recovery & IEP problems; Wrightslaw programs in Sacramento & Grand Rapids.

Cool Quote: "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." - Will Rogers

In part two of Summer School for Parents, you learned about evaluations, how to measure educational progress, how to write SMART IEP goals and objectives, and how to use your state academic standards to negotiate a better program for your child.

Read (or reread) the following sections of IDEA. Use a highlighter. Make margin notes. Use sticky tabs to mark areas that are of interest.

Now read Appendix A to the special education regulations. Appendix A includes 40 questions and answers about IEPs, progress in the general curriculum, parental rights and responsibilities, and preparation for life after school (transition). The answers to many questions parents ask Pete and Pam are in Appendix A.

Do you want to learn more about IDEA? Go to IDEA Statute and Regulations

Wrightslaw: Special Education Law includes the full text of key special ed laws and regulations:

* Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
* Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
* Family Educational Records and Privacy Act
* U. S. Supreme Court Decisions
* Analysis and Interpretation

Resolving Disputes

If you have a dispute with the school about your child's special education program, you may decide to consult with an attorney or advocate who is familiar with special education law for guidance. If you want help from a third party, these guidelines by parent attorney Jennifer Bollero will help you evaluate the people you interview.

Before You Hire a Lay Advocate

Before You Hire an Attorney

"I decided to start a FETA study group for parents of children with special education needs. Parents can come together, learn information and skills, share concerns, and support one another? Do you have advice about how to start a FETA Study Group?"

We liked Chuck's idea. After all, the purpose of our websites and books is to teach skills and empower parents - to help parents grow from emotions to advocacy.

“A must have book for anyone who works in Special Education.” Margaret J. Kay, Ed.D. Psychologist

Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy - The Special Education Survival Guide - $19.95 - $10 Off

"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

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

Wrightslaw: No Child Left Behind with NCLB CD ROM - $29.95

“Does an amazing job of making this law understandable and accessible to lay folk, like me.” — Sandra Rief, master teacher and author of How to Reach and Teach ADD/ADHD Children

Discounts & Exam Copies

Interested in Starting a FETA Group? The Advocacy Challenge Discount is a 50% discount on bulk purchases of Wrightslaw books.

Exam Copies - Teachers in colleges and universities around the country use Wrightslaw books in their education, special education and special education law courses. Learn more

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

In Reading Recovery & IEP Problems, research editor Sue Heath answers questions about Reading Recovery, research based instruction, IEPs, and offers advice about long-term planning.

Interested in reading, research based instruction, No Child Left Behind, advocacy strategies? Read more Doing Your Homework columns.

8. Join Pete & Pam Wright for an Advocacy Training Program: CA, MI

"What a marvelous conference! I often leave sped presentations angry and/or guilty because of all the things that have been done or not done. This time I left encouraged, inspired and armed!"

Join Pete and Pam Wright for a one-day Advocacy Seminar or two-day Boot Camp. These programs focus on four areas: special education law, rights and responsibilities; tests and measurements to measure progress & regression; SMART IEPs; and an introduction to tactics & strategies for effective advocacy.

July 17-18: Boot Camp, Sacramento, CA- 1st Boot Camp on West Coast!

Sponsored by Families for Early Autism Treatment (FEAT). Download information flyer & registration form.

July 21, 2004: Advocacy Training Program, Grand Rapids, MI.

Sponsored by The Williams Syndrome Association. Download Registration Form

Fall 2004: Programs are scheduled in Indianapolis, IN; Hartford, CT; Virginia Beach, VA. Full schedule

"Your Boot Camp was the most useful CLE I've ever attended. CLEs are notoriously boring and unpleasant. Your program was neither and I learned a lot, even as an experienced practitioner in the field." - Rob Mead, KU Wheat Law Library

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. Subscription & Contact Info

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.