The Wrightslaw Way

Mark your calendar. Join the Wright’s and sponsor H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection for this special event.

A Wrightslaw Two-Day Boot Camp is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, March 6-7, 2015 in Bakersfield, CA. The training will take place at the Doubletree Hotel, 3100 Camino Del Rio Court in Bakersfield.

Registration fee includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, a deluxe Wrightslaw highlighter pen and three Wrightslaw books, which retails for $62.85.

Night of Inspiration – 2015 marks H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection’s 25th anniversary. On Thursday, March 5, 2015, celebrate with a wonderful evening of dinner and special guests to include Pete and Pam Wright of Wrightslaw. Click here for details.

Register Online Today!

Download and share the brochure and registration form.

See you in California!

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced the release of Down Syndrome Directions: The National Institutes of Health Research Plan on Down Syndrome. (December 2014)

You will find the full plan at Down Syndrome Directions (PDF, 71 pages)

The revised plan is an updated strategy to advance research related to Down Syndrome and to meet new research goals and objectives. (The first research plan was released by NIH in 2007.) [Read more →]

The ARC of Tennessee is sponsoring two Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Trainings!

Early Bird Registration Ends January 31, 2015. Register Today!

Location: Knoxville Marriott in Knoxville, TN.
Date: February 24, 2015
Click here for all conference details!

Location: Holiday Inn University Memphis in Memphis, TN.
Date: February 26, 2015
Click here for all conference details!

See you in Tennessee!

in  F.H. et. al. v. Memphis City Schools (2014), the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued a precedential opinion that favors parental rights to seek relief for non-educational injuries and to enforce settlement agreements. 

– Hat tip to the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)

F.H., endured physical and emotional abuse from aides who were not properly trained or supervised by the school district for ten years. In 2011, despite a Settlement Agreement, the abuse by F.H.’s aides continued.

When F.H.’s parents filed suit in federal court, the district court held that the parents were required to exhaust their administrative remedies before bringing suit – and dismissed their claims. The parents appealed.

[Read more →]

The Champaign County Down Syndrome Network and the ASI C-U Autism Network welcomes Pat Howey to Champaign, IL for this one-day Wrightslaw From Emotions to Advocacy Training. The training will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn, located at 1501 South Neil Street in Champaign, IL.

Register Online Today!

Download and share the flyer and registration form!

Registration fee includes lunch, and a copy of Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition and Wrightslaw: All About IEPs.

See you in Champaign, IL on January 31, 2015!

From exceptional employee, excellent evaluations – to suddenly unsatisfactory performance.  What happened?

What caused this exceptional school nurse’s fall from grace?

Linda McGreevy advocated for kids with disabilities. She did the right thing!

On June 28, 2005, the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit held that school administrators and the school district may be officially and individually liable for retaliating against a school nurse who advocated for kids with disabilities. [Read more →]

Resources 4 Children, LLC., welcomes you to New Jersey!

On February 19, 2015, Pete Wright, Esq., will present a one-day Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training in Lincroft, NJ. The conference will take place in the Warner Student Life Center at Brookdale Community College.

Registration includes Continental Breakfast, lunch and four Wrightslaw books. Early Bird Registration ends January 8, 2015!

Click here to register online. Download and share the conference flyer.

For all conference details, please click here.

See you in New Jersey!

Wrightslaw From Emotions to Advocacy Conference, a Wrightslaw training program with Pat Howey, is being sponsored by Autism Spectrum Resource Center.

This  January 24, 2015 training will take place at the Bayview Behavioral Hospital, located at 6629 Woolridge Road, in Corpus Christi, TX.

You will learn:

• how to assess your child’s strengths and needs
• how to prepare a Parent Report for the IEP team
• how to build healthy working relationships with school personnel
• how to document information that may prevent or resolve disputes
• how to participate as an equal member of your child’s IEP teamClick here to register online today! Registration fee includes Continental Breakfast, afternoon snack and Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition. See you in Corpus Christi!

My 10-year-old has just been diagnosed as ADHD, OCD, anxiety, and Tourette’s Disorder. His doctor has recommended a parapro. Should we get an IEP or 504? I need to know how to proceed if I need to “fight” for this for my son.

Advocacy Advice from the Community Helpline -

From David…

If you haven’t already read Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, I highly recommend it.

I would never agree to a parent fighting the public school for their child’s education. You never hear of a fight where both participants win and a child’s education is a risky thing to put on the line.

My wife and I purchased the book mentioned above as well as The Special Education Law book.

We began learning how to advocate for our son when he was in middle school. He currently has a 3.87 GPA in college and is his own advocate these days. It is worthwhile to understand the difference between a 504 and an IEP and the book talks about the importance of SMART goals in an IEP.

From Sharon…

An evaluation should be done but I would not pay for an outside evaluation to start.

You should request an evaluation from the school & then sign the school’s consent form immediately. [Read more →]