This guide is designed to assist family organizations and advocates of children with mental, emotional, or behavior disorders in asking the right questions at the right time during the development of their state's publicly funded managed behavioral health care plans. The first section provides an overview of managed care, including information on…

This manual is intended to be used in conjunction with a 1-day training workshop to help parents of children with emotional disorders establish working alliances with protection and advocacy agencies for people with mental illness (PAMIs). The workshop prepares parents for developing specific plans for forging alliances with the state PAMI. The…

This directory contains information about organizations in the United States that offer support, education, referral, advocacy, and other assistance to parents of children and youth with emotional and behavioral disorders. Organizations included are those identified as providing one or more of the following services: education and information;…

Even for parents who "do everything right," the road to successful management of ADHD is seldom smooth. Now leading child psychiatrist Dr. Peter Jensen guides parents over the rough patches and around the hairpin curves in this empowering, highly informative book. Readers learn the "whats," "whys," and "how-tos" of making the system work-getting…

Three informational sheets provide parents and employers with advice on ways of assisting school reform through becoming better citizens, getting more involved in the schools, and initiating supportive efforts. The three informational sheets are entitled: (1) "How Can You Be Involved as a Citizen?"; (2) "The ABCs of Parent…

This manual is a workbook designed to prepare and help citizens' groups to campaign for equal education for children of both sexes in their communities' public elementary and secondary schools. The manual is divided into two major sections. Section I, "Planning Your Campaign," includes chapters on (1) goal setting; (2) analyzing the…

Developed by the Illinois Governor's Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities, this guide is intended to help parents and other laypersons communicate more knowledgeably and effectively with professionals who work with handicapped persons, as well as with handicapped individuals themselves. Section I offers suggestions for interpersonal…

The booklet offers guidelines to help parents of children with autism become more effective advocates for their children. Following a brief summary of parental rights in the education process, the booklet addresses special education and due process concerns. The hierarchy of procedures in bringing about a resolution of differences between parents…

Parents of children with disabilities are frequently asked to tell all or part of their family's life story. These stories are potentially powerful ways to develop empathic relationships among parents and professionals. This document discusses ways parents can prepare and present their stories so that key themes are emphasized and the information…

The mother of a gifted daughter advises parents that they can provide a rewarding educational experience for their children by searching for professionals who offer guidance and support, locating a responsive school, choosing activities that showcase the child's talent, not accepting stereotyping of the child, locating special programs, and…

This collection of readings is intended to help parents of children with disabilities join together or with professionals to advocate for inclusive recreational programs for their children. The following 15 readings are included: "To Play or Not To Play? A History of Recreation in America" (Carla E. S. Tabourne et al.); "Why Is…

The six issues of this newsletter have the following themes: (1) home schooling, (2) promising practices, (3) parent advocacy, (4) the young gifted child, (5) "being out of sync," and (6) philosophy of giftedness. Major articles include the following: "Homeschooling for Gifted Primary Students" (Patricia Linehan); "Learning to Fly: A Home…

This manual is intended to help parents understand how to work with school systems to obtain the best possible education for their children with learning disabilities. The guide begins with a definition of learning disabilities and describes the characteristics of successful advocates. The importance of keeping written records of requests,…

This newsletter issue describes the importance of vocational assessment in the educational process of students with disabilities. Vocational assessment is defined, its purposes are explained, and the ways in which vocational assessment can benefit teenagers with special needs are discussed. Types of informal and formal assessments are explored, as…

This pamphlet is designed to help parents serve as advocates for the adoption of gifted programs in their local school districts. Rebuttals are offered to six myths about gifted students which commonly are used to deny gifted programs. Step-by-step methods for two strategies for obtaining gifted programs are presented: working from the top down…