Preface. Introduction: Past, Present and Future. 1. Getting Started in Special Education. 2. School Personnel. 3. Outside Professionals. 4.Understanding School Evaluations. 5. Conflicts of Interest. 6. The IEP: Powerful Tool or Worthless Paper? 7. Writing Effective IEP Goals. 8. TeamMeetings. 9. The Paper Trail. 10. The Legal Process. 11. Transition Planning and Graduation. Afterword. Appendix A: Test Score Conversions. AppendixB: Special Education Glossary. Appendix C: Special Education Resources. References. Index.
Written by parents who have been through the US specialeducation system, this book cuts through the jargon to provide other parents with a no-nonsense road map full of valuable first-hand insights and tried-and-tested advice.The authors clearly describe:· the special education process, including the schoolhierarchies parents are likely to encounter and etiquette to beaware of when dealing with school personnel· the information parents should expect to see in schoolevaluations and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), andwhat to do when this information is missing or insufficient· problems parents may encounter when the needs of theschool conflict with the needs of a child, including how to dealwith such situations and when to seek legal advice· the importance of organizing special educationdocumentation and establishing a 'paper trail', and how tobegin this process· why transition planning is so important, and transitionservices parents may want to consider for their child.Demonstrating that parents really do have the power to make special education work for their child, this empowering guide is essential reading for parents of children with disabilities who are new to the special education system in the US, as well as those who feel frustrated with the system.