Intended for parents, the manual discusses in detail the education of handicapped children, with a focus on the state of Texas. Section 1 provides basic information and covers such aspects as basic laws and regulations--including the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (P.L. 94-142), case law, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Also reviewed are the obtaining and keeping of records, and their confidentiality. Section 2 focuses on various aspects of the child centered education process. A chapter on individual assessment covers such things as special services, the parent role, testing requirements, and independent evaluation. The individual education plan (IEP) is examined in terms of such areas as goals and objectives, writing the IEP, and the private school. A chapter on placement reviews such aspects as least restrictive setting, mainstreaming, cost of placement, residential placement, accessibility, and contracting for services. Also covered in Section 2 are the referral process and parent and child rights. The third section concerns how to deal with problems, and focuses on such areas as the discipline of handicapped students, taking legal action, and other administrative remedies. In addition, the impartial due process hearing is examined in detail. Also provided are lists of organizations for parents, state agencies, and organizations providing legal assistance in the state of Texas; a glossary; and brief summaries of important laws, rules, and regulations. Sample forms, letters, checklists, and other aids are appended to individual chapters. (DLS)