Wrightslaw

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1. What is Your IEP IQ?

To be an effective advocate for a child with special educational needs, you need to know the law. You also need to know how to use the law without starting battles that no one wins.

Most parents and teachers get information about the law from training sessions, articles, advice on listservs, and informal discussions with others. Your knowledge can rise no higher than your source!

As a parent or teacher, you must learn to find answers to your questions by reading the law. Test your knowledge - take our IEP Quiz.

https://www.wrightslaw.com/info/iep.iq.quiz.htm

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2. IEP FAQs

If you are new to the world of special ed parent, this article will answer many of your questions. If you are a seasoned veteran, we think you will learn something new in Frequently Asked Questions About IEPs at https://www.wrightslaw.com/info/iep.faqs.htm

The article includes 14 Qs & As:

* My child is eligible - what happens next?
* What is an IEP?
* Who develops my child's IEP?
* What can I do to prepare for the IEP meeting?
* What are related services? What is assistive technology?
* How is placement decided? What options do I have?
* Can my child's IEP be changed?

FAQs About IEPs: https://www.wrightslaw.com/info/iep.faqs.htm

To learn more about IEPs and IEP meetings, please visit our IEP Resources Page: https://www.wrightslaw.com/info/iep.index.htm

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3. Your Child's IEP: Practical & Legal Guidance for Parents

Your Child's IEP is one of the top articles on Wrightslaw. This comprehensive article describes IEPs and the IEP process, including:
 

https://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/articles/iep_guidance.html

and the companion article to Understanding Tests and Measurements for the Parent, Advocate and Attorney (#1):

https://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/articles/tests_meassurements.html

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4. Support for School Personnel & Parent Training in the IEP by Susan Bardet, Esq.

"It's time for your son's annual IEP review, and you can't understand why Ryan is still receiving failing grades . . . You start to panic. What can you do?"

The IDEA provides tools that IEP teams can use to help all children learn and succeed in school. In many cases, the IEP can (and should) include support for school personnel and training for parents.

To learn how you can access these tools, read Support for School Personnel and Parent Training: Often Overlooked Keys to Success by parent attorney Susan Bardet.

https://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/articles/support.bardet.htm

To learn more about IEPs and IEP meetings, go to our IEP Resources Page: https://www.wrightslaw.com/info/iep.index.htm

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5. IEP Caselaw

T. H. v. Bd. Ed. Palatine IL (N. D. IL 1999)

This powerful, well-written decision discusses methodology; IEP goals and objectives; individualization; educational benefit; unilateral placement by parents; reimbursement. (pdf)

https://www.wrightslaw.com/law/caselaw/case_ABA_IL_TH_9905.pdf

Michael v. Kanawaha (S.D. WVA 2000)

In Kanawha v. Michael M., the Court analyzes "appropriate" in the context of Rowley, discusses educational benefit, and provides guidelines about whether an IEP is appropriate.

Kanawha v. Michael M is one of Pete's favorite cases "not because it has great precedence, but because it does an excellent job of describing difficulties in the legal definition of 'appropriate' and how to use ''appropriate' in developing an IEP." (22 pages in pdf)

For more cases about IEPs, go to the IEP Page and scroll down to the Caselaw section:

https://www.wrightslaw.com/info/iep.index.htm

For special education caselaw, about please visit our Caselaw Library -

https://www.wrightslaw.com/caselaw.htm

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6. The Lighter Side of Special Ed: My Law Practice by Aimee Gilman, Esq.

Aimee Gilman is an Ohio attorney who represents kids with disabilities and the parent of a child with a disability. She is also very funny.

Aimee shares her views about IEPs and IEP meetings in The Lighter Side of Special Education: The IEP.

"Your school district, in an ongoing effort to remind you of the incredibly small role moms and dads play in this process, will start by sending you an "Invitation" to attend your child's IEP meeting."

http://www.fetaweb.com/humor/gilman.iep.htm

If you chuckled when you read The IEP, you will enjoy Aimee's description of My Law Practice http://www.fetaweb.com/humor/gilman.my.practice.htm

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7. Wrightslaw: Advocacy Training: May 2003

"Before Boot Camp, special ed was occupying every worry cell in my brain. Now that I have a road map, I worry less and accomplish more." - Carolyn from Oklahoma

Knowledge is power. When you have information and skills, you will be a more effective advocate for your child. Our role is to help you gain knowledge so you can negotiate with the school on your child's behalf.

"I have never learned so much useful information at a workshop - thank you for having a heart for kids and the head for the Law." - Susan from Texas

In May, we will do Boot Camps in Springfield, Massachusetts and Jacksonville, Florida.

May 2 & 3, 2003 - Springfield, MA (Boot Camp)
https://www.wrightslaw.com/speak/03.05.ma.htm

May 16-17 2003 - Jacksonville, FL (Boot Camp)
https://www.wrightslaw.com/speak/03.05.fl.htm

and a one-day advocacy training program in Roanoke, Virginia.

May 21, 2003 - Roanoke, VA
https://www.wrightslaw.com/speak/03.05.va.htm

Wrightslaw seminars and training programs focus on four areas: special education laws, rights & responsibilities; how to use the bell curve to measure progress & regression; SMART IEPs; and how to use tactics & strategies for effective advocacy.

"I attended your OKC Boot Camp with two coworkers. We learned SO MUCH in those two days! Your books could not be more helpful to anyone who works with special education students." - Christie from Kansas

For more information about these events and programs that will be held over the next few months, please check our Seminars & Training page.

https://www.wrightslaw.com/speak/index.htm

We are now booking programs for 2004. To learn how you can bring Pete & Pam Wright to your community, please read our FAQs about Seminars.

https://www.wrightslaw.com/speak/faqs.htm

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8. 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.

Law Library - https://www.wrightslaw.com/law.htm

Advocacy Library - https://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc.htm

Free Newsletter - https://www.wrightslaw.com/subscribe.htm

Newsletter Archives - https://www.wrightslaw.com/archives.htm

Seminars & Training - https://www.wrightslaw.com/speak/index.htm

Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities - http://www.fetaweb.com/help/states.htm

Contact Info

Pete and Pam Wright
Wrightslaw & The Special Ed Advocate
P. O. Box 1008
Deltaville, VA 23043
Website: https://www.wrightslaw.com
Email: webmaster@wrightslaw.com