Advocating for deaf or hard of hearing child can be a daunting task … and intimidating. So many professionals around a table and the parent. What can parents do to advocate for deaf or hard of hearing children? Why is advocating for these child at school meetings important? As Apple says (2009), "There's an app for that!" The Laurent…

The purpose of educational assessments is to provide an academic check-up and to give educators, parents, students, and policymakers valuable feedback about students' academic strengths, areas that need improvement, how well they are progressing toward college and career readiness, and the effectiveness of the state's educational system. This…

For students with disabilities, including those with complex support needs, inclusion means more than just physical presence in a classroom--it means valued membership and full participation in a general education classroom and the school community. This book is your school team's practical blueprint for making authentic inclusion happen in K-12…

The purpose of this brief is to help families and educators understand the right of students with disabilities who need accessible educational materials to receive these materials in a timely manner. This right is based on provisions in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as well as in the disability civil rights statutes…

This guide was developed by the Louisiana Department of Education to help parents navigate the complex system that oversees special education in Louisiana's public schools. Each school year, local education agencies (LEAs) are required to provide parents a copy of the procedural safeguards. These safeguards are used to inform parents of the…

The fundamental intent of special education is to provide instruction to meet each child's unique needs. "Life Journey through Autism: Navigating the Special Education System" offers information, tools, and tips that will help parents become an even more effective advocate for their children. Many teachers, administrators, and school…

This resource conveys policies, procedures, and guidelines that support the delivery of special education services in British Columbia's (Canada) public schools. It was originally published in 1995 (ED414703), following an extensive provincial Special Education Review (1993-94). The purpose of this manual is to provide a single point of reference…

This monograph describes the basic physical/neurological examination of children with special needs and how such an exam fits into the multidisciplinary evaluation and development of individualized programming for such children. The first section addresses the importance of the medical history. Next, the basic exam is described, followed by…

As any parent of a child with autism knows, your life changes and you take on new roles after your child receives a diagnosis of autism. Ready or not, you are now expected to be an expert on interventions, support professionals, and special education. Suddenly, your concerns and worries are different from the parents around you. While they may be…

This guidebook is intended to assist the transition of Colorado students with developmental disabilities from school to post-school activities by promoting flexible and collaborative planning and service delivery among community-centered boards (CCBs), local education agencies, and other state and community agencies. First, a definition of…

The booklet is composed of columns that have appeared in each issue of "PACESETTER," a newsletter published by PACER Center, a coalition of 18 Minnesota disability organizations focusing on appropriate education for handicapped students. Columns are intended to address topics of interest to parents, including changes that may be made in students'…

Ways in which parents of handicapped children can learn their rights under P.L. 94-142, The Education for All Handicapped Children Act, are considered. Specific areas of rights include prior notice (parental consent and content of the notice), record review, independent educational evaluation, parental involvement with Individualized Educational…

Presents suggestions to help parents prepare for an IEP meeting, including: meet with the teacher to discuss the child's strengths and weaknesses; contact people performing preliminary evaluations for the meeting; be attentive and listen to information presented; treat other meeting participants as partners; request a copy of the new IEP and…

This article outlines person centered planning (PCP) methods to assist in the review and revision of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities. Two methods of PCP are explained and illustrated with case studies. The article describes uses of PCP methods for IEPs and concludes by suggesting ways that PCP methods may…

This single-sheet eight panel brochure provides guidelines for parents on effective participation in meetings with school personnel to discuss their child's individualized education program (IEP). Included are an explanation of what the IEP contains; the settings in which it can be implemented; the non-academic, extracurricular, and supportive…