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We've been collecting stories about successful advocacy from parents and other advocates for many years.
This week we share the secrets of their success and encourage you to look forward to success in 2009.
In this issue of the Special Ed Advocate you'll find success stories about real people, real success.
You'll read about parents, teachers, and advocates just like you, who are using strategies and resources from Wrightslaw to resolve problems. We share these stories so you can see how others use facts and common sense to get better services for their children.
What's in Store at Wrightslaw for the new year? Right now, don't miss the 10% discount on Combos of Wrightslaw publications. Get everything you need for an extra 10% off.
Please don't hesitate to forward this issue to other families, friends, and colleagues.
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Embracing Success in 2009 |
"Success comes before work only in the dictionary." -anon
With work comes success. You can make yourself an expert on your child's disability and IDEA. You can learn how to focus on the issue that needs to be resolved. Read the success stories in this issue to learn how other parents resolve problems.
Do any of the stories sound familiar? Are you in the same situation? What can you do to turn things around?
When you run into an obstacle, you are not alone! By problem solving to devise win-win solutions, success can be yours in 2009.
Do you like success stories? We do! Read more Success Stories.
The Search is On! Do you have a success story and an advocacy strategy to share?
Learn more about our search for Success Stories. |
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What Keeps us Sane? Planning! |
Laura and Steve have four children. Justin, a child with autism, is their youngest. In Plans are our Safety Net, Laura and Steve explain how plans help them to stay focused, anticipate problems, and prepare for the future.
"We started out, as many parents do, with goals and aspirations for our son. With the diagnosis of autism, we had to modify what we saw as the path for his future. Developing a plan and thinking about his future helped us to heal and to adjust our perspective in a positive way."
"What keeps us sane? Planning! I cannot emphasize this enough-"
Laura and Steve describe the plans that keep them on track. Read more |
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How I Dealt with Bullying & Harassment at School |
This story is from a parent who helped another mom deal with bullying and harassment of her daughter.
"I worked with the parent of a young girl who was being harassed by a group of boys. This harassment involved comments about race and sex that became increasingly explicit and threatening over time."
"The parent talked to the teachers, principal, and the parents of the boys. The teachers ignored it. The principal acted as if the girl was causing the problems."
"Here is the strategy I used to stop the bullying and harassment -- and cause
our school district to revise their bullying policy."
Read How I Dealt with Bullying & Harassment at School. |
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Saving a Class, Saving our Children |
There are many ways to advocate. Telling stories is one of the most powerful tools we have when we deal with people, especially people in power.
Read Saving a Class, Saving our Children. You'll learn about the need, at the grass roots level, to inform and educate the decision-makers - school administrators and board members.
"I wanted you to know that the voices of parents, kids, and teachers can make a difference in handling negative decisions by school administrators."
In this story you'll see when many people tell their stories, they can often persuade decision-makers to change a position or decision. |
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Preparation is the Key to Success |
This success story, "How We Got an Appropriate Education & Avoided Due Process" is subtitled "Preparation is the Key to Success."
Meet the mother of a child with autism who used Wrightslaw resources and training to advocate effectively for her child.
"After struggling with our school district for over a year to provide services to my disabled child without success, I knew I had to . . . " Read story |
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A Cool Head and a Perceptive Ear |
We often hear success stories from parents. But here’s a story about Successful Advocacy from a Special Ed Teacher who used a cool head and a perceptive ear.
The district tells the parent not to bother coming to the IEP meeting, "your child is not going to get services anyway."
At the meeting, the district presented an IEP denying services, an IEP already completed with no parent input.
What happened next?
Using her Special Education Law* book she calls her IDEA handbook, this successful teacher helped a parent get resource room services, and occupational therapy and counseling services as well.
Read Successful Advocacy from a Special Education Teacher.
*Save 10% on Combos of Wrightslaw books.
Get everything you need for an extra 10% off! |
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