The Wrightslaw Way

MPACT is sponsoring this One-Day Special Education Law and Advocacy Training in St. Louis, MO. The May 14, 2013 conference will take place at the JCPenny Conference Center at the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus. Registration fee includes three books, Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd Edition, Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition and Wrightslaw: […]

If only the teacher really knew my child… That’s where you, as your child’s “case manager,” jump in. If the teacher does not know your child – then what?  You need to get to know your child’s teacher. Pat Howey advises parents to: Meet with your child’s teacher(s) to discuss your child’s special needs. Give […]

Special education services, especially ABA services for children with autism, are expensive. In most states, demand is increasing. At the same time, for many programs, local funding is decreasing. Is this problem causing more schools to make up their mind in advance? Are districts developing unofficial policies of pre-determining what programs they will use based […]

Space is available! Do not miss out on this FREE Wrightslaw conference! Co-Sponsors Manasota B.U.D.S and Family Network on Disabilities of Manatee/Sarasota, Inc. invite you to join them and Patricia Howey for a FREE Wrightslaw From Emotions to Advocacy Training in Sarasota, Florida. This conference will teach you how to take an active role in […]

My school told me, “You are the expert at home and the district is the expert at school.”  I did not agree to my daughter’s IEP. The district refused to allow me to tape record meetings and include my notes with the district’s notes. I filed a state complaint. The complaint: The school completely ignored […]

Law 1 – The only tape recording the school will never misplace is the one of you being sarcastic at an IEP meeting. Law 2 – If you lose your temper and are rude to school staff during a meeting, that person will be connected to your child for the next 1,000 IEP meetings. Our […]

You say parents have rights but I don’t think they do. I think parents are powerless. The only parents who have rights are financially able to afford the implementation of the IEP. Schools call those who cannot a “constant complainer.” Parent Credibility You sound a lot like I did about 6 years ago. Three of […]

You’ve just returned from your child’s IEP Meeting. You gave the team your Parent Report or Parent Agenda. You and the Team agreed on an IEP for your child. Whew! That was a lot of work and you are tired! You deserve a rest. Your work is finished, right? Unfortunately, the answer to that question […]

I know that you get a lot of heat, but I can testify that it is very hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you are walking backwards. I really needed you to turn me around and show me the way. I’ve learned so much through your website and this […]

We receive wonderful stories about parents who have become seasoned and powerful advocates for their children. Now these 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. Special education advocate Graciela Tiscareño-Sato and her husband have compiled […]