In This Issue . . .

• Become Your Child's Case Manager
• Mistakes Parents Make
• The Art of Persuasion
• What Parents Should NOT Do
• Parents Leading the Way

Circulation: 81,218
ISSN: 1538-320
August 31, 2010

As your children return to school, it's time to think about what you need to do to start this school year right. Our Back to School Series will help.

Effective advocacy comes from research, planning, and preparation. To be a successful advocate you need to:

• Know your child's disability and his rights
• Understand your rights and responsibilities
• Hone your advocacy skills and techniques
• Learn to negotiate for quality services
• Maintain a positive parent/school relationship

In this issue of the Special Ed Advocate, you will find advice and advocacy strategies to help you make educational decisions for your child. You will learn how the effective parent advocate stays focused, anticipates problems, and avoids mistakes.

Please don't hesitate to forward this issue to other friends, families, or colleagues.

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Become Your Child's Case Manager

As a parent, your role is similar to that of a project manager - you organize, plan, monitor progress, anticipate problems, and keep the team focused. Wrightslaw Research Editor Sue Whitney explains how to...

Become Your Child's Case Manager - Don't Just 'Go With the Flow'.

Mistakes Parents Make

Because the stakes are so high, it is difficult for parents of children with special educational needs to advocate calmly and objectively for the educational and related services their children need.

Some common Mistakes Parents Make that undermine their ability to obtain appropriate services, from attorney Robert Crabtree.

The Art of Persuasion - Advocacy Style!

Parents put together Public Law 94-142. Parents who vote urged Congress to pass the law that became the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Marie Sherrett says, "You can make things better for the next generation without filing for due process." Learn how...

Assertiveness and Effective Parent Advocacy

What should you do? Say? Not do? Because they are not educators, most parents don't understand that they have a unique role to play in the IEP process. Parents should...

• Prepare for meetings
• Prioritize your child's needs
• Build good relationships
• Document issues and concerns

...read more about what What Parents Should... and Should NOT Do by attorney Leslie Margolis.

Parents Leading the Way

Parents are paying it forward by providing advice and information to others, developing advocacy study groups, or training parents, service providers, and educators in special education advocacy.

Read about seasoned parent advocates who are training and enabling other parents in The Power of Parent Advocacy.

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