Free Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training Seminar
by Heidi Colston
June 23, 2009
Plantation Family and Parenting Examiner
One of the most difficult tasks that the parents of special needs children have after their child’s diagnosis is learning how to effectively advocate for their child. Pete Wright, founder of Wrightslaw and the first attorney to argue and win a special needs advocacy case in front of the Supreme Court, is coming to South Florida.
The seminar is scheduled for August 5, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference Center in Weston. Included with the training program are copies of Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd Edition and Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy. As an advocacy seminar, it is not specific to any particular disability, but applies generally to all disabilities and pertains to advocating for children who attend public schools. Priority will be given to parents and guardians, but professionals are welcome and may be eligible to receive seven continuing legal education (CLE) credits.
Co-sponsored by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC) and the US Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Developmental Disabilities, the seminar is free to attend. However, since these seminars fill up very quickly, so early registration is imperative.
The training is roughly broken into two halves. In the first part, Wright discusses the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA), what it means, and how it applies in layman’s terms. He also discusses Section 504 and No Child Left Behind (NCLB).
Besides legal issues, the seminar explains testing and measurements, writing IEP goals, crisis intervention, and conflict resolution. Additionally, parents/caregivers learn how to keep accurate records, prepare for IEP meetings, and how to effectively participate in meetings. In the words of one parent, “attending this seminar was probably the single most valuable thing I did to help my child”.
Interested parties can call Sharon Gray at 850-224-6222 for additional information or to register. Registration can also be done online or by completing the registration form and either faxing it to 850-877-7022, or mailing it to SE&A Registration, P.O. Box 6838, Tallahassee, FL 32314. Registrations are also accepted via email to aplantomeet@earthlink.net.
For more info: Visit www.wrightslaw.com.
Originally published June 23, 2009, Plantation Family and Parenting Examiner
Author: Heidi Colston
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