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The Special Ed Advocate newsletter It's Unique ... and Free! Enter your email address below: 2026 Training Programs March 26, 2026 - San Antonio, TX May 9, 2026 - WV via ZOOM July 7, 2026 - Buffalo, NY Sept. 17, 2026 MD via ZOOM Full Schedule Wrightslaw Home About Pete About Pam Topics from A-Z Free Newsletter Seminars & Training Yellow Pages for Kids Press Room FAQs Sitemap Books & Training Wrightslaw Store   Advocate's Store   Student Bookstore   Exam Copies Training Center Mail & Fax Orders Advocacy Library Articles Cool Tools Doing Your Homework Ask the Advocate FAQs Newsletter Archives Short Course Series Success Stories Tips Law Library Articles Caselaw Fed Court Complaints IDEA 2004 McKinney-Vento Homeless FERPA Section 504 Topics Advocacy ADD/ADHD Allergy/Anaphylaxis American Indian Assistive Technology Autism Spectrum Behavior & Discipline Bullying College/Continuing Ed Damages Discrimination Due Process Early Intervention   (Part C) Eligibility Episodic, such as    Allergies, Asthma,    Diabetes, Epilepsy, etc ESSA ESY Evaluations FAPE Flyers Future Planning Harassment High-Stakes Tests Homeless Children IDEA 2004 Identification & Child Find IEPs Juvenile Justice Law School & Clinics Letters & Paper Trails LRE / Inclusion Mediation Military / DOD Parental Protections PE and Adapted PE Privacy & Records Procedural Safeguards Progress Monitoring Reading Related Services Research Based   Instruction Response to Intervention   (RTI) Restraints / Seclusion    and Abuse Retention Retaliation School Report Cards Section 504 Self-Advocacy Teachers & Principals Transition Twice Exceptional (2e) VA Special Education Resources & Directories Advocate's Bookstore Advocacy Resources Directories   Disability Groups   International   State DOEs   State PTIs Free Flyers Free Pubs Free Newsletters Legal & Advocacy Glossaries    Legal Terms    Assessment Terms Best School Websites

The Special Ed Advocate How to Write SMART IEPs: Specific, Measureable, Active, Realistic, Time-limited by Pam & Pete Wright Wrightslaw.com Print this page This newsletter is a 2 minute read (476 words). On August 28, 1963, over 250,000 people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial to hear Martin Luther King Jr. call for civil and economic rights and an end to racism in the United States. Who imagined this journey would take so long? If you have a child with a disability, the last few months may have tested and tried you in ways you could not have imagined six months ago. As schools open and close, you need a clear sense of the issues that are important and those that will resolve in time. The laws and regulations about special education, including IEPs, have not changed. In this issue of the Special Ed Advocate, you will learn to ... write SMART goals for your child's IEPs; identify appropriate accommodations and modifications; work with educational evaluators, tutors and advocates; and manage disputes with the school. As schools try to reopen - for in-person classes or for another round of remote learning - this may be a good time to update your knowledge and skills. We can help. Because special ed can consume your life, we have tips for taking care of yourself and your family. 1. SMART IEPs: A Tactics and Strategy Session "As an LDA President, I coach parents about how to use present levels of academic and functional performance to write goals for their child's IEPs. "Some schools resist. They want to use subjective teacher observations' instead of objective information from tests. Does it matter if the IEP is based on objective measurable data? SMART IEPs: A Tactics and Strategy Session will teach you to ... clarify present levels of academic achievement and functional performance; write IEP goals that are SMART -- specific, measurable, active, realistic, and time-limited; identify appropriate accommodations and modifications; work with educational evaluators, consultants, advocates, and tutors; and resolve disputes with the school without starting WW III. 2. Wrightslaw Multimedia Training Center As your child's school reopens, it's a good time to update your knowledge and skills. Wrightslaw Training Program Downloads are available 24/7 - wherever you live, whenever you want. Work at your own pace. Eliminate distractions and schedule your study periods at times that meet your needs. All you need is a digital device. Special Education Law and Advocacy Training Programs are available as immediate downloads when purchased from the Wrightslaw Store. Discounts Available: Perfect for parent and staff training, support or study groups. Save 20%-50% on purchases for group training. Tips for Taking Care of Yourself and Your Family Raising a child with special needs can be overwhelming. If you aren't careful, special ed can consume your life. Many parents drive themselves until they are exhausted and burned out. Pace yourself. Listen to tapes about time management. Use a schedule to gain control of your life. Spend time with friends or family to re-charge your batteries and regain a healthy perspective. More tips for taking care of yourself and your family. Revised: 08/28/20 The Special Ed Advocate: It's Free! About the Book To Order About the Book To Order About the Book To Order About the Book To Order About the DVD Video To Order   Copyright © 1998-2026, Peter W. D. Wright and Pamela Darr Wright. All rights reserved. Contact Us | Press l Mission l Our Awards l Privacy Policy l Disclaimer l Site Map

Wrightslaw Books, Downloads, and Advocacy Supplies Gift Certificates Available! Check Out The Advocate's Store! Update Your Listing!   Wrightslaw Books About the Book About the Book About the Book About the Book About the Book About the DVD Video Understanding Your Child's Test Scores (1.5 hrs) Student Discounts The Advocate's Store