Synopses & Reviews
Review
“This is one book that all parents should have in their personal library to better understand special education.”
-Attention!
Review
"ADDitutde: ""As a writer and educational specialist who has learning disorders, I found this book indispensable. Don’t go to a school meeting without it!""
Special Education Law Blog (http://specialedlaw.blogs.com): ""A Parent's Guide to Special Education…represents itself as an ‘insider's’ guide to the system. I am happy to report that the book lives up to this claim especially regarding the process of psychological testing…. This book tackles those issues in a readable way without oversimplification. The graphics and illustrations are clear and the needed concepts are well covered. The book also has many pointers for more effective advocacy. I certainly recommend this book to parents, and even to other attorneys and advocates, to assist in the process of effective advocacy."""
Synopsis
"The term 'special education' encompasses dozens of learning challenges: developmental delay, learning and physical disabilities, emotional disturbance, retardation, language impairment, autism, and others. By nature of this diversity, navigating even well-run, well-funded special education programs can be daunting. A Parent's Guide to Special Education offers guidance to parents and their children -- as well as to teachers, counselors, and administrators -- on issues including:
* diagnosis and awareness * special education laws * eligibility issues and requirements * programs * parenting issues * communication between parents and schools * and much more
A Parent's Guide to Special Education offers invaluable information and a positive vision of special education that will help them through a potentially overwhelming process. Filled with practical recommendations, sample forms, and enlightening examples, this is a priceless resource for helping every child learn."
Synopsis
"The term 'special education' encompasses dozens of learning challenges: developmental delay, learning and physical disabilities, emotional disturbance, retardation, language impairment, autism, and others. By nature of this diversity, navigating even well-run, well-funded special education programs can be daunting. A Parent's Guide to Special Education offers guidance to parents and their children -- as well as to teachers, counselors, and administrators -- on issues including:
* diagnosis and awareness * special education laws * eligibility issues and requirements * programs * parenting issues * communication between parents and schools * and much more
A Parent's Guide to Special Education offers invaluable information and a positive vision of special education that will help them through a potentially overwhelming process. Filled with practical recommendations, sample forms, and enlightening examples, this is a priceless resource for helping every child learn."
About the Author
"Linda Wilmshurst (Eustis, FL) is a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology (American Board of Professional Psychology) and is currently a Licensed School Psychologist in Florida . She has more than 30 years of clinical and school psychology experience and has taught in clinical and school psychology programs in universities, internationally.
Alan Brue (Bethesda, MD) is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and Director of Professional Standards for the National Association of School Psychologists, and has also worked as a school psychologist and university trainer."
Table of Contents
"Acknowledgments
Introduction to Special Education: A New Territory
Part I: Walking Through the Process
Step One: Federal Law and Your Child’s Education
Chapter 1: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004: What a Great IDEA!
Chapter 2: Not All Roads Lead to Special Education Placement: The 411 on 504 Plans
Chapter 3: A Comparison of IDEA 2004 and Section 504, and a Brief Look at No Child Left Behind
Step Two: Understanding the Psychological Assessment and Your Child’s Disability
Chapter 4: The Psychological Assessment: What to Expect
Chapter 5: The Assessment of Intelligence
Chapter 6: Other Psychological Assessments: Achievement Testing, Process Testing, and Emotional/Behavioral Assessments
Chapter 7: Understanding Your Child’s Disability
Step Three: Understanding the Special Education Process
Chapter 8: Labels: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Chapter 9: You and Me and the IEP
Chapter 10: Beyond Eligibility for Special Education: What’s Next?
Part II: Helpful Hints for Positive Parenting
Chapter 11: A Parent’s Guide to Parent-Teacher Communication and School Meetings
Chapter 12: A Parent’s Guide to Stress and Coping
Chapter 13: A Parent’s Guide to Building Your Child’s Self-Esteem and Increasing Social Competence
Chapter 14: A Parent’s Guide to Behavior and Discipline
Appendix A: Selected Changes in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004
Appendix B: Sample 504 Plans
Appendix C: Sample Behavior Charts
Appendix D: Procedural Safeguards
Appendix E: Sample IEP Forms
Appendix F: Food for Thought: Helpful Resources
Glossary: Acronyms 101--Educational Abbreviations and What They Mean
References
Index"