Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy: The Special Education Survival Guide
Learning to be an effective advocate for your special needs child IS work! Special education is a "right", but must be assiduously pursued. But there are definite tactics and strategies to assist the parent. From Emotions to Advocacy [FETA] is a wonderful map for every parent. The book follows a logical and well organized road, beginning with preparing the reader for understanding the complex interplay of parents, schools, disabilities, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and other disability laws. Among the important lessons that authors Pamela and Peter Wright teach are how to organize your files using a document management system, how to use private sector expert evaluations of your child and why they are essential, and how to understand the critical role of testing, percentile ranks, and the Bell Curve, and how to use those results to work for your child's "SMART IEP". The use of the "Columbo Strategy" to build valid IEP goals by asking "who, what,why,where, when, how and explain" [5Ws+H+E] is taught. The critical skill of letter writing and documenting all conversations, agreements, and decisions with your school administrators is part of the strategy of writing calm, factual letters as if they will be read by a "Stranger". Lessons to bolster your self confidence and achieve results in IEP meetings are carefully discussed. The sample letters in the appendices and the numerous strategy discussions lay out how to avoid letting anger and other emotions interfere with keeping your focus on improving your child's education. Numerous other appendices and cross references throughout FETA provide additional resources, including the informative Q&As; of the federal IDEA Appendix A. As an attorney who has a child with special needs, I have benefited greatly from Peter and Pam Wright's insights and apply that knowledge in my own practice. FETA is the "how-to" starting point and compass for all parents entering the special education struggle. --By  Malcolm B. Higgins, II, Attorney at Law in Virginia Beach, Virginia<br /><br />This book is the perfect companion to "Wrightslaw: Special Education Law". If you have a child with special needs the most frustrating thing as a parent is trying to get educational services for your child. This book teaches you how to advocate for your child to get the services he needs. The Wrights give you the confidence and skills that you need to successfully advocate for your child. This book (and it's predecessor) help level the playing field between the parents and the school. As a parent and child advocate, I own several 100 books. This book (and Wrightslaw) rank in the top 5. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who has a special needs child who is attending public school. --By William W. Joslin in TX<br /><br />This is the book that parents of special needs children have been searching for! When a child does not "fit in the box", parents find that they must search for information on how to care for their child. Just when they have mastered the medical maze, the child begins school and the search for advice and knowledge begins all over again! Children with disabilities who succeed in school have parents who learn to set aside their feelings and clothe themselves in the armor of advocacy. "From Emotions to Advocacy" assists parents in the journey through the special education labyrinth by giving them a focus. Parents learn accurate documentation and record-keeping, productive communication skills, effective tactics and strategies, and Pete and Pam Wright have put it all together into an easy to read, understandable package. Parents who use the process and procedures outlined in "From Emotions to Advocacy" will avoid many of the pitfalls that entrap many parents of special needs --Patricia HoweyThis book is the perfect companion to "Wrightslaw: Special Education Law". If you have a child with special needs the most frustrating thing as a parent is trying to get educational services for your child. This book teaches you how to advocate for your child to get the services he needs. The Wrights give you the confidence and skills that you need to successfully advocate for your child. This book (and it's predecessor) help level the playing field between the parents and the school. As a parent and child advocate, I own several 100 books. This book (and Wrightslaw) rank in the top 5. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who has a special needs child who is attending public school. --By William W. Joslin in TXThis is the book that parents of special needs children have been searching for! When a child does not "fit in the box", parents find that they must search for information on how to care for their child. Just when they have mastered the medical maze, the child begins school and the search for advice and knowledge begins all over again! Children with disabilities who succeed in school have parents who learn to set aside their feelings and clothe themselves in the armor of advocacy. "From Emotions to Advocacy" assists parents in the journey through the special education labyrinth by giving them a focus. Parents learn accurate documentation and record-keeping, productive communication skills, effective tactics and strategies, and Pete and Pam Wright have put it all together into an easy to read, understandable package. Parents who use the process and procedures outlined in "From Emotions to Advocacy" will avoid many of the pitfalls that entrap many parents of special needs children. I wish this book had been available in 1986, not only for my own use, but so that the hundreds of parents I have worked with since then could have benefited from it. If you are the parent or if you know of a parent of a special needs child, do yourself or them a favor. Buy yourself or them this book! --Patricia Howey