Wrightslaw

The Special Ed Advocate Newsletter
April 27, 2004


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ISSN: 1538-3202
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Transition from School to Work


Legal Requirements: Transition

IEP Meetings & Follow-Up Letters

How to Use a Parent IEP Attachment

Wrightslaw Books - Great Value, Great Prices

More Good IEP Caselaw

Free Pubs: IEPs & Transition

Wrightslaw Programs in MD, AL, FL, WA, CA

Get Help from Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities

Subscription and Contact Info 
 

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At Wrightslaw, our goals are to help you gain the information and skills you need navigate the confusing world of special education. This issue of The Special Ed Advocate is part of a series about IEPs.

Highlights: Transition from school to work; legal requirements for transition in IEPs; follow-up letters and IEP meetings; how to use a parent IEP attachment; Wrightslaw books - easy on tight budgets; good cases about IEPs; free pubs about IEP and transition; Wrightslaw programs in MD, AL, FL, WA, CA; get help from Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities.

Quote of the Week: If you’re not sure where you’re going, you’re liable to end up someplace else. If you don’t know where you’re going, the best made maps won’t help you get there.” (To learn who said this, scroll down to Free Pubs: IEPs & Transition)

Wrightslaw is ranked #1 in education law, special education law, and special education advocacy. (2003 Alexa rankings)

The Special Ed Advocate newsletter is free - please forward this issue or the subscription link to your friends and colleagues so they can learn about special education law and advocacy too. We appreciate your help! Download newsletter


1. Doing Your Homework: Making the Transition from School to Work

Joe asks, "I want my son to be prepared for the workforce when he leaves school. How can we combine vocational goals with No Child Left Behind?"

Sue says, "Parents need to start thinking about transition to adulthood when their children are toddlers. Schools do not need to address this issue until the child is 14."

In Making the Transition from School to Work, you learn about transition services, IEPs, state academic standards, specialized instruction designed to meet your child's unique needs, and assessment of children with severe cognitive impairments. Read article.

Read more Doing Your Homework columns by Sue Heath.


2. Legal Requirements for Transition Components of IEPs by Dr. Barbara Bateman

Confused about transition? Transition services? IEPs? Help is at hand!

In Legal Requirements for Transition Components of the IEP, Dr. Barbara Bateman, IEP expert and co-author of Writing Measurable IEP Goals and Objectives, will teach you about transition, IEPs, self-advocacy, confidentiality, and more.

Learn about IEPs and transition.


3. IEP Meetings & Follow-up Letters: How to Get Answers to Your Questions

In How to Use Follow-up Letters to Get Answers to Questions, parent advocate Pat Howey offers strategies you can use to get the IEP team to answer your questions. You also learn how to avoid power struggles, deal with IEP meeting frustrations, and use your power wisely. Read article.

Advocacy Information & Strategies - You will find hundreds of articles, newsletters, Qs & As, in the Advocacy Libraries. Visit the Law Library for special ed law and caselaw.


4. IEP Strategies: How to Use a Parent IEP Attachment

Overwhelmed and confused at IEP meetings? In How to Use a Parent IEP Attachment, parent advocate Judy Bonnell teaches you how to use a simple form to track your requests, the school's response, issues that were resolved, and issues that are still on the table. 

Read How to Use a Parent IEP Attachment.

Frequently Asked Questions about IEPs


5. Wrightslaw Books - Great Prices, Great Values. . . Easy on Tight Budgets

Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, Standard Edition - $29.95

Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, Deluxe Edition with Legal Companion CD-ROM - $39.95

Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy - The Special Education Survival Guide - $19.95 - $10 Off

Wrightslaw: No Child Left Behind with NCLB CD ROM - $29.95

Internet Orders l Mail, Fax, Phone Orders l Discounts l

Scratch-n-Dent Special Ed Law, From Emotions to Advocacy and No Child Left Behind - $9.95 each - Limited quantities available. Order Now

Discounts & Exam Copies

50% Discount on Bulk Purchases of Wrightslaw Books -The Advocacy Challenge Discount is a 50% discount on bulk purchases of Wrightslaw books.

Exam Copies - Teachers in colleges and universities around the country use Wrightslaw books in their education, special education and special education law courses. Learn more


6. More Good Cases About IEPs

When you do research about legal issue, you need to read the statute and regulations. You also need to read caselaw. Here are two more good cases about IEPs for your collection:

Kevin T. v. Elmhurst Comm. School District No. 205, U. S. District Court of Illinois. Court focuses on witness credibility, failure to review and revise IEP goals and objectives, regression of skills, assistive technology, state achievement tests, transition plans, unilateral graduation, and compensatory education as a remedy when a school district fails to provide a FAPE.

NOTE: The Kevin T. decision is a huge pdf file - you may want to right click the link - this will allow you to save it to your hard drive, then open and read it.

Knable v. Bexley City Sch. District, U. S. Court of Appeals for Sixth Circuit. Child with behavior disorder; discussion of IEPs, draft IEPs, IEP requirements, tuition reimbursement, placement, burden of proof, more.

For more good cases, visit our Caselaw Library.

Be sure to download and read our comprehensive article, Your Child's IEP: Practical and Legal Guidance for Parents, Teachers, Advocates, & Attorneys- this article includes several cases about IEPs.


7. Free Pubs About IEPs & Transition

If you’re not sure where you’re going, you’re liable to end up someplace else. If you don’t know where you’re going, the best made maps won’t help you get there.” - Robert Mager, psychologist, writer, educator

The heart of your child's special education program is the Individualized Education Program (IEP). These publications will teach you how to write IEP goals and objectives that target your child's problems.

SMART IEPs (Chapter 12 in Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy). The term "SMART IEPs" describes IEPs that are specific, measurable, use action words, are realistic and relevant, and time-limited.

A Guide to the Individualized Education Program from the U. S. Department of Education describes contents of the IEP; IEP team members; writing the IEP; placement decisions; implementing the IEP; revising and revising the IEP; resolving disagreements about the IEP; sample IEP form, information and resources, the federal regulations for IEPs, and guidance about IEPs.

Designing Individualized Education Program (IEP) Transition Plans. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires schools to prepare students with disabilities for employment and independent living. Transition planning that involves students and their families leads to post-school success and independence. This article describes how to design quality IEP transition plans.

Links to more Free Pub


8. Wrightslaw Legal & Advocacy Programs: MD, AL, FL, WA, CA

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.

Annapolis Maryland Boot Camp - April 30 & May 1, 2004 (last Boot Camp this Spring)

Birmingham, Alabama - May 25, 2004 - FREE to Alabama parents who sign up early!

Orlando, FL - Family Cafe - May 29-30, 2004 (sessions and Keynote speaker)

Seattle, WA - 1 day training at Autism Society of America National Conference - July 7, 2004

Sacramento CA Boot Camp - 1st Boot Camp on West Coast! - July 17-18, 2004

Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training Programs focus on four areas: special education law; using the bell curve to measure progress & regression; SMART IEPs; and tactics & strategies for effective advocacy.

We hope you will join us for a Wrightslaw Training Program! If you are interested in bringing Pete and Pam Wright to your community, please read our FAQs about Seminars. (We are scheduling programs for 2005-2006.)


9. Need Help? Visit the Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities

If you are looking for help - or a helper - visit the Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities. Your state Yellow Pages has many resources - evaluators, speech language therapists, tutors, special Ed schools, advocates, attorneys, organizations, and support groups.

What to Expect from an Evaluation of Your Child

Working with Independent Evaluators and Educational Consultants

Strategies to Find a Support or Study Group

Questions for a Lay Advocate

Questions for an Attorney


10. 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 Seminars & Training
Advocacy Yellow Pages for Kids
No Child Left Behind Free Newsletter
IDEA Reauthorization Newsletter Archives

Contact Info

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


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