"...is a compilation of life lessons learned by the parents of a child with significant special needs. The book shares critical strategies and practical advice to help you navigate the maze of financial, educational and emotional decisions you will face each day as a parent or caregiver. This handbook is designed to help you focus on what is most important in your life as you deal with the constant challenges. You will learn how to survive and even thrive while providing the best for your child."--P. [4] of cover.

Over six million American families are involved in special education, and the numbers are growing. The complex web of laws, regulations, personalities and stresses, combined with anxiety over raising a child with a disability, have made special education advocacy an impenetrable maze to many parents. This book presents the complexities of the process in a simple-to-understand way and offers practical tips, checklists and strategies on how to make the system work to insure the educational success of all children.

Disability law can be complex and intimidating, so how can concerned parents use it to ensure their child with a disability receives the appropriate education they are legally entitled to? A Guide to Special Education Advocacy gives strategies for advocating for better provision of special education in schools. Despite the many services and accommodations that have been made for students with disabilities, such as the use of Braille or providing specialized education in a regular or special classroom, many children with disabilities do not get the services they need and are not placed in appropriate programs or settings. Because of this, the perception of disability often remains unchanged. Matthew Cohen's insightful manual gives a practical vision of how a parent or a professional can become an advocate to achieve a more inclusive and rewarding education for the child with a disability. This book will provide parents, people with disabilities, professionals and clinicians thinking about special education advocacy with an overview of current disability law and how it works, identifying practical ways for building positive and effective relationships with schools.

"Written with both compassion and expertise, this bestselling book provides families with a comprehensive guide to planning for the lifetime needs of a child with disabilities. It presents the Five Factors readers need to consider-family and support, emotional, financial, legal, and government benefits-and how to plan for these factors at every stage of a child's life. The second edition includes updates based on current law, fully revised chapters with a wealth of practical recommendations, and a ten-step, manageable planning process. Online resources include fillable timelines, worksheets, and other planning documents to help families create a secure, full, and happy life for and with their child"--

Drawing on decades of experience, Jennifer Laviano, a high-profile special education attorney, and Julie Swanson, a sought-after special education advocate, help parents of students with disabilities navigate their school systems to get the services they need for their children. Parents will find no other book on special education like Your Special Education Rights. Julie and Jennifer demystify the federal laws that govern the rights of public school children with disabilities and explain how school districts often ignore or circumvent these laws. They pull the curtain back on the politics of special education, exposing truths that school districts don’t want you to know, such as the fact that teachers are often under extraordinary pressure not to spend resources on services. Most importantly, they outline the central rights you and your child have regarding your child’s education. Did you know that you can refer your child for a special education evaluation? That you can ask for a second opinion if you disagree with the results of some or all of the testing? That you are entitled to parent counseling, training, and more? They also show you how to take that knowledge and apply it to advocating for your child. Here’s what you need to know about the paperwork you will have to complete, detailed information on how to advocate for your child and how to craft language in documents that benefit your child, and more. Filled with vital information and invaluable resources, Your Special Education Rights gives you the information you need to help your child succeed in school and beyond.

As a parent and advocate, you are the only constant team member. Other IEP team members- teachers, therapists, and administrators-revolve and eventually fade. You need to make your unique viewpoint as meaningful as possible. However, the laws governing special education are complex; full of confusing terms, rigid timelines, and complicated decisions. This guide translates the legalese and organizes the material, making it user friendly. As you learn more about these laws, you will gain a sense of equality and confidence that will make you a more effective and proactive advocate for your child.Wherever you are on the special education journey, this guide will help you learn: -The school district's responsibilities, -Your child's rights, -Your rights as the parent of a special education student, -Techniques to help you come to each IEP meeting informed and prepared, and-How to be a proactive (rather than reactive) advocate.Using charts, graphs, examples, and other resources, this guide lays out the referral, eligibility, IEP, student discipline, ITP, and dispute resolution processes with an emphasis on maximizing the parents' role as an advocate for the best outcomes for their child. Citations to relevant law are included throughout the manual.

Aimed at parents of and advocates for special needs children, explains how to develop a relationship with a school, monitor a child's progress, understand relevant legislation, and document correspondence and conversations.

Finally, a book for parents and professionals about parent rights and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA 2004 A PARENT HANDBOOK FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES provides an overall look at special education as related to rights and services. IDEA 2004 A PARENT HANDBOOK FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES provides a complete introduction to special education law and discusses: Historical Perspective, Disability Law, Procedural Safeguards and Parent Rights, Discipline Guidelines, Placement Procedures, and the Now What factor. IDEA 2004 A PARENT HANDBOOK FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES offers all of the basic information needed to advocate effectively for your child.

Now thoroughly revised and updated, Children with Spina Bifida--the highly acclaimed guide written especially for parents and recommended by professionals--is available in a new edition. This compassionate and comprehensive guide covers the medical, therapeutic and educational issues that arise from birth to age six. Chapters focus on specific issues, such as: • Causes of spina bifida • Prenatal diagnosis • Neurosurgery • Urological & bowel management • Orthopedic concerns • Physical therapy • Common medical problems • Development • Day-to-day parenting issues • Education & accommodations • A child's emotional health • Legal rights & hurdles • Perspectives from adolescents & adults with spina bifida New to this edition is the latest information on research and medical advancements, including prenatal testing and surgery; new treatments & medications; the link between low folic acid levels and spina bifida; new rating systems for assessing mobility; an overview of orthotics & wheelchair options; changes to federal education law (IDEA); and much more. It also includes a resource guide, and a glossary of terms.

This is a comprehensive, must-have reference that provides parents with the support and information they need to help their child recover from a closed-head injury and prevent further incidents. Coping with traumatic brain injury (TBI) involves a complex process of readjustment to the changes in a once healthy child and affects everyone in the family. Traumatic brain injury occurs when the brain abruptly and violently moves within the skull as a result of extreme force to the head during an automobile, biking, or playground accident, for example. The effects of TBI can range from mild to severe and recovery can take from weeks to years. Although each child's condition is unique, all TBI patients experience impairment in one or more of the following areas: cognition; emotion/behaviour; and motor skills. While TBI can happen to anyone, children, particularly teens, are susceptible. And, children who have already had one TBI are at greatest risk. Written by a team of medical specialists, therapists, educators, and an attorney, the book covers: what is traumatic brain injury?; medical concerns; rehabilitation and treatments; coping and adjustment; effects on learning and thinking, speech and language, and behaviour; educational needs; and legal issues. Throughout the book, a case study of a boy who was injured at age eight, illustrates the effects of TBI on education, socialisation and independence. Parent statements at the end of each chapter attest to the variety of response families have, and offer insight about the experience of raising a child with TBI. A resource guide of support and advocacy organisations, a reading list, and glossary round out this authoritative guide. This book is useful to professionals who provide services to children with TBI and their families. General and special educators will find it essential reading to help their students with TBI. But most of all, the book gives parents the hope and facts they need to improve the outcome of their child's recovery.