Wrightslaw Way

MI via ZOOM
2025-10-09 09:00 - 16:30 (America/Halifax) | MD
October 9 and October 29, 2025 – Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Series with Pete Wright, Esq., and Pat Howey via ZOOM.
Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference, a Wrightslaw training program is being sponsored by Michigan Parent, Advocate and Attorney Coalition (MiPAAC). One registration fee. Two full-day training sessions.
Wrightslaw programs are designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providers, advocates and attorneys who represent children with disabilities regarding special education. The program is not disability specific.
Registration includes access to both Workshop 1 and Workshop 2. Individual workshop registration is not available.
Workshop 1 – Thursday, October 9, 2025 – Special Education Law and Advocacy Training
9:00-10:30 – IDEA History, Book Overview, US Supreme Ct Cases
Section 1400 Findings, Purpose
Section 1401 Definitions: Disability, Special Education, Related Services, LD, etc.
10:30-10:45 – Break
10:45-12:00 – Section 1412 Extended School Year, Child Find, Least Restrictive, Private Placements
Understanding Tests and Measurements, and the Bell Curve, Standard Scores, Scale Scores, % ranks, Grade Equivalent, Age Equivalent, Determining progress v. regression using Bar Graphs
12:00-1:00 – Lunch
1:00-2:30 – Section 1414 Evaluations and IEPs
Section 1415 Due Process, Rules of Procedure, Discipline
Section 504, ADA, FERPA, ESSA
Episodic Conditions, Allergies, Epilepsy, etc.
Recent Cases + OCR, USDOJ
The Parent as the Special Ed Manager and Expert
Developing the Master Plan
Knowing the Rules of the Game
Recognizing and Avoiding the Fatal Obstacles
How to Deal with Conflict, a Healthy and Normal event
2:30-2:45 – Break
2:45-4:00 – Crisis, Emergency, Help
Organization of the Child’s File
SMART IEPs
Tactics and Strategies
Rule of Adverse Assumptions
Private Evaluations
Paper Trails
The Letter to the Stranger
5 Ws + H + E
Preparation for Meetings
Meeting Strategies
4:00-4:30 – Questions and Answers
Workshop 2 – Wednesday, October 29, 2025 – From Emotions to Advocacy Training
9:00 – 10:30 – Section 1: Getting Started
Creating the Advocate’s IEP, the Master Plan
Taming the Paper Trail
Goals and Strategies for the Advocate
The Parent as Project Manager
Advocacy 101: Learning the Rules of the Game
10:30 – 10:45 – Break
10:45 – 12:00 – Obstacles to Success, Resolving Parent/School
Conflicts, Emergency, Crisis, Help
Evaluations and Your Child’s Disability
Tests and Measurements 101
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 2:30 – The Bell Curve
Charting Test Scores
Smart IEPs
Overview of IDEA – Findings, Purposes and Definitions
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
ESSA
2:30 – 2:45 – Break
2:45 – 4:00 – Rule of Adverse Assumptions
Taming the Paper Trail – Documenting and Writing Letters and using the “Letter to a Stranger” Strategy
IEP Meeting Strategies and Common Problems
Putting it all together
4:00 – 4:30 – Questions and Answers
Registration Fees –
* Early Bird Individual Registration Fee $135 – Early Bird Ends August 15, 2025
Regular Individual Registration Fee $165
* Early Bird registrants will receive FREE adobe.pdf download of Wrightslaw: Special Education Legal Developments and Cases 2017, which includes all of the 2017 U. S. Court of Appeals special education cases and the two 2017 U. S. Supreme Court cases, Fry and Endrew F.
Conference fee includes a Wrightslaw highlighter pen, three Wrightslaw books – Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 3rd Edition, Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition, and Wrightslaw: All About IEPs provided the morning of the conference. Wrightslaw will provide the three books to each attendee in the adobe.pdf format as well. The three print and pdf books retail for $113.60.
Register Online: Click here to register online.
Flyer: Download and share the training flyer.
For all other details, please click here.

MI via ZOOM
2025-10-29 09:00 - 16:30 | MD
SOLD OUT!
October 9 and October 29, 2025 – Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Series with Pete Wright, Esq., and Pat Howey via ZOOM.
Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference, a Wrightslaw training program is being sponsored by Michigan Parent, Advocate and Attorney Coalition (MiPAAC). One registration fee. Two full-day training sessions.
Wrightslaw programs are designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providers, advocates and attorneys who represent children with disabilities regarding special education. The program is not disability specific.
Registration includes access to both Workshop 1 and Workshop 2. Individual workshop registration is not available.
Workshop 1 – Thursday, October 9, 2025 – Special Education Law and Advocacy Training
9:00-10:30 – IDEA History, Book Overview, US Supreme Ct Cases
Section 1400 Findings, Purpose
Section 1401 Definitions: Disability, Special Education, Related Services, LD, etc.
10:30-10:45 – Break
10:45-12:00 – Section 1412 Extended School Year, Child Find, Least Restrictive, Private Placements
Understanding Tests and Measurements, and the Bell Curve, Standard Scores, Scale Scores, % ranks, Grade Equivalent, Age Equivalent, Determining progress v. regression using Bar Graphs
12:00-1:00 – Lunch
1:00-2:30 – Section 1414 Evaluations and IEPs
Section 1415 Due Process, Rules of Procedure, Discipline
Section 504, ADA, FERPA, ESSA
Episodic Conditions, Allergies, Epilepsy, etc.
Recent Cases + OCR, USDOJ
The Parent as the Special Ed Manager and Expert
Developing the Master Plan
Knowing the Rules of the Game
Recognizing and Avoiding the Fatal Obstacles
How to Deal with Conflict, a Healthy and Normal event
2:30-2:45 – Break
2:45-4:00 – Crisis, Emergency, Help
Organization of the Child’s File
SMART IEPs
Tactics and Strategies
Rule of Adverse Assumptions
Private Evaluations
Paper Trails
The Letter to the Stranger
5 Ws + H + E
Preparation for Meetings
Meeting Strategies
4:00-4:30 – Questions and Answers
Workshop 2 – Wednesday, October 29, 2025 – From Emotions to Advocacy Training
9:00 – 10:30 – Section 1: Getting Started
Creating the Advocate’s IEP, the Master Plan
Taming the Paper Trail
Goals and Strategies for the Advocate
The Parent as Project Manager
Advocacy 101: Learning the Rules of the Game
10:30 – 10:45 – Break
10:45 – 12:00 – Obstacles to Success, Resolving Parent/School
Conflicts, Emergency, Crisis, Help
Evaluations and Your Child’s Disability
Tests and Measurements 101
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 2:30 – The Bell Curve
Charting Test Scores
Smart IEPs
Overview of IDEA – Findings, Purposes and Definitions
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
ESSA
2:30 – 2:45 – Break
2:45 – 4:00 – Rule of Adverse Assumptions
Taming the Paper Trail – Documenting and Writing Letters and using the “Letter to a Stranger” Strategy
IEP Meeting Strategies and Common Problems
Putting it all together
4:00 – 4:30 – Questions and Answers
Registration Fees –
* Early Bird Individual Registration Fee $135 – Early Bird Ends August 29, 2025
Regular Individual Registration Fee $165
* Early Bird registrants will receive FREE adobe.pdf download of Wrightslaw: Special Education Legal Developments and Cases 2017, which includes all of the 2017 U. S. Court of Appeals special education cases and the two 2017 U. S. Supreme Court cases, Fry and Endrew F.
Conference fee includes a Wrightslaw highlighter pen, three Wrightslaw books – Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 3rd Edition, Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition, and Wrightslaw: All About IEPs provided the morning of the conference. Wrightslaw will provide the three books to each attendee in the adobe.pdf format as well. The three print and pdf books retail for $113.60.
Register Online: Click here to register online.
Flyer: Download and share the training flyer.
For all other details, please click here.

Colorado Springs, CO
2025-11-12 09:00 - 16:30 | Double Tree by Hilton, 1775 Cheyenne Mtn. Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO, 80906, United States
Wrightslaw From Emotions to Advocacy Training with Pat Howey.
Join sponsor, PEAK Parent Center, Inc., for a one-day training where you’ll discover how to be an active partner in your child’s special education.
Registration is OPEN now!

On Long Island, NY
2026-03-12 09:00 - 16:30 | Marrott Melville Long Island, 1350 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, NY, 11747, United States
Registration is now OPEN!
Click here for registration details.
For ALL training details, please click here.
See you on Long Island!

San Antonio, TX
2026-03-26 09:00 - 16:30 | Morgan’s Multi-Assistance Center, 5210 Thousand Oaks Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78233, United States
SOLD OUT!
Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference, a Wrightslaw training program featuring Pete Wright, is being sponsored by Partners Resource Network, Inc.
The program will be held at the Morgan’s Multi-Assistance Center, located at 5210 Thousand Oaks Drive in San Antonio, TX.
This one-day special education law and advocacy programs focus on four areas:

special education law, rights and responsibilities
tests and measurements to measure progress & regression
SMART IEPs
introduction to tactics & strategies for effective advocacy

Wrightslaw programs are designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providers, advocates and attorneys who represent children with disabilities regarding special education. The program is not disability specific.
For ALL training details, to include timed agenda and registration information, please click here.

WV via ZOOM
2026-05-09 09:00 - 16:30 | MD
This ZOOM Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference, a Wrightslaw training program featuring Pete Wright, is being sponsored by WV Parent Training and Information, Inc.
One-day special education law and advocacy programs focus on four areas:

special education law, rights and responsibilities
tests and measurements to measure progress & regression
SMART IEPs
introduction to tactics & strategies for effective advocacy

Wrightslaw programs are designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providers, advocates and attorneys who represent children with disabilities regarding special education. The program is not disability specific.
Registration fee includes a Wrightslaw highlighter pen, and three Wrightslaw books: Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 3rd Edition, Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition and Wrightslaw: All About IEPs. Wrightslaw will provide the three books to the attendee in the adobe.pdf format as well. The three print and PDF books retail for $113.60.
Online registration: Click here to register online.
Brochure/Flyer: Click here to download and share the conference flyer.
Questions? For all conference related questions, please contact the sponsor by telephone 1-800-281-1436.
For ALL training details, please click here.

Greater Cincinnati
2026-06-25 09:00 - 16:30 | MD
Details Coming Soon!

Buffalo, NY
2026-07-07 09:00 - 16:30 | MD
Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference, a Wrightslaw training program featuring Pete Wright, Esq., is being sponsored by Williams Syndrome Association. The Wrightslaw training program is part of the WSA Convention of 2026. The program will be held at the Buffalo Convention Center, 153 Franklin Street in Buffalo, NY from July 7 to July 11, 2026.
The WSA Convention is the largest Williams syndrome event in the country bringing together the foremost experts on Williams syndrome and related characteristics to discuss the latest research findings, medical treatments, and educational strategies.
One-day special education law and advocacy programs focus on four areas:

special education law, rights and responsibilities
tests and measurements to measure progress & regression
SMART IEPs
introduction to tactics & strategies for effective advocacy

Wrightslaw programs are designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providers, advocates and attorneys who represent children with disabilities regarding special education. The program is not disability specific.
For registration details, please visit click here.
See you in Buffalo!

Special Education Advocacy Summit (SEAS) 2026
2026-07-22 09:00 - 2026-07-25 17:00 | St. Mary’s University School of Law, One Camino Santa Maria, San Antonio, TX, 78228, United States
This two-and-a-half-day special education advocacy training program held at the St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas, will begin with a reception on Wednesday evening, July 22, 2026, and conclude on Saturday afternoon, July 25, 2026. Hotel accommodations are downtown on San Antonio’s historic River Walk. The Special Education Advocacy Summit (SEAS) is sponsored by Connell Michael, LLP and Wrightslaw.
The program will include approximately 13 sessions on applicable laws, ethics, best practices in advocacy, case strategies and dispute resolution procedures, taught by national leaders in the field.
The purpose of the SEAS program is to provide training in special education advocacy for advocates, law students, new attorneys and attorneys who are new to special education law.
Proceeds from the summit will support the Center for Legal and Social Justice, which provides free legal services from attorneys and second- and third-year law students to income-qualified clients in San Antonio and South Texas. Students enjoy hands-on experience in all aspects of case handling under the direct supervision of a faculty member of St. Mary’s University School of Law.
Attendees will be selected via an application process. Applications will be reviewed on a bi-weekly rolling basis until the class is full. Early applications are recommended as the class size is limited.
Attorneys: $990 (CLE credit is offered)
Advocates, Educator/Advocates, non-attorneys and non-credit-seeking law students: $825
Two or more advocates or attorneys from the same organization/office will receive a 10% discount on each registration. The registration fee includes an opening reception, all lunches and scheduled breaks and over $250 of materials, including books and multimedia training from Wrightslaw, books by author Patricia L. Johnson Howey (M.Jur. ’24), as well as other valuable resources. In general, educational and training expenses are tax deductible. Check with your accountant about deductible educational expenses that may include books, continuing legal education fees and travel costs.
Download and share the training flyer.
For ALL SEAS details, please click here.
See you in San Antonio!

MD via ZOOM
2026-09-17 09:00 - 16:30 | MD
This Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference via ZOOM, a Wrightslaw training program featuring Pete Wright, Esq., is being co-sponsored by The Parents’ Place of Maryland and the PEAL Center.
This one-day special education law and advocacy program will focus on four areas:

special education law, rights and responsibilities
tests and measurements to measure progress & regression
SMART IEPs
introduction to tactics & strategies for effective advocacy

Wrightslaw programs are designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providers, advocates and attorneys who represent children with disabilities regarding special education. The program is not disability specific.
Conference fee includes a Wrightslaw highlighter pen, three Wrightslaw books – Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 3rd Edition, Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition, and Wrightslaw: All About IEPs. Wrightslaw will provide the three books to each attendee in the adobe.pdf format as well. The three print and pdf books retail for $113.60.
For ALL training details to include Early Bird rates, timed agenda and training flyer, please click here.
