“Good habits are worth being fanatical about.” - John Irving, American-Canadian author After what seems like an eternity of remote and hybrid learning, most children and teachers are back in school. As families look ahead, many are uneasy about the future. Will the school remain open? Will the school team develop and implement an appropriate IEP for my child, given her challenges? Will the school provide her with compensatory education so she can recover all the lost educational time? As the school year begins, it may be time for you to develop a new habit -- writing things down as they happen. In this issue of The Special Ed Advocate, you’ll learn about strategies parents can use to advocate for their child. ********* 1. Parent-Tested Strategies: When You Disagree with the IEP Team "Our daughter made little progress after years of special education. Her IEPs contain vague, subjective goals. How can we get the IEP team to address our concerns and provide her with a free appropriate public education that meets her needs?" In Strategies When You Disagree with the IEP team, you learn how to ... * document your concerns about inappropriate IEPs * record school meetings and * use letters and email to clarify events and positions As always, when discussing a disagreement, have respect for your child's teachers and a sense of proportion. https://www.wrightslaw.com/info/advo.disagree.team.htm ********* 2. The Wrightslaw Bundle 3. The Key to Successful Advocacy: Write Things Down When They Happen (and How to Get Started) “Good habits are worth being fanatical about.” - John Irving, American-Canadian author Why write things down? A successful outcome at the next meeting is likely to depend on the documentation you can make available to the IEP team. As the new school year begins, it may be time for you to develop a new habit -- writing things down as they happen. Start with a fresh new notebook or a create a new document on your device. Begin to document by logging in things that happened today. Did your child receive special education or related services today? If yes, describe those services. Did anyone on his special ed team contact you or your child today? What was the nature of the contact? You can’t wait document things that happened or didn’t happen. Documenting events and conversations later is never as effective or as accurate as writing things down, in detail, at the time they occur. If your child needs more or different services, good documentation is your proof. Read about the benefits of good documentation and how to get started. https://www.wrightslaw.com/info/virus.advo.document.sharon.htm “Expect the best, plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprised.” -- Denis Waitley, American author and speaker