Children with learning disabilities have different needs than other kids in special education -- let Nolo's IEP Guide: Learning Disabilities help you make sure those needs are met.
This one-of-a-kind book walks readers you through the Individual Education Program process, providing all the instructions, suggestions, resources and forms they'll need to understand and navigate the special-ed system.
Step by step, they'll learn how to:
understand their child's rights
prepare to make the most effective case
untangle eligibility rules and evaluations
develop effective IEP goals
figure out the best programs, services and teaching strategies
get ready for IEP meetings
resolve disputes with the school district
do legal research on learning-disability issues
and much more
The 3rd edition is completely updated to reflect the latest -- and major -- changes to the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the law that governs special education and the IEP process. It also provides the forms, sample letters and resources readers will need.
The call I received, from the father of a child with a "learning disability," was not unusual. He was confused, overwhelmed, and angry.
"My 12-year-old has always done pretty good at school, is great at sports, and has friends, but the last year or so has been a mess. He's stopped doing his homework and his grades have gone south. He used to be a really outgoing kid, but now he's often quiet and moody. His teacher thinks he's depressed."
The pain and frustration in this father's voice weren't new to me. I've heard this profile from many parents, all of them concerned about their child and unsure what to do next.
"The teacher thinks my son has a learning disability. She said something about auditory memory and a processing problem. He has always been very meticulous, but now that he is in junior high, his homework seems to take all night and then he's even further behind. It sure seemed easier when I was in school, when there wasn't so much homework and kids didn't have to take so many standardized tests."
Homework and the quantification of American education. My opinions about how education has lost sight of its real purpose in the mad rush to show progress through numbers, the frustrations I have shared with my wife too many times, were ready for delivery, but that wasn't going to help this parent or his child.
"I don't know what to do. I don't know how to help him -- and he won't listen to me, anyway. He was suspended last month for fighting and he no longer qualifies for the football team. We're no longer thinking of a good college for him -- we just want him to make it through high school."
"Is your son in special education?"
"No, but you know, I'd be happy to pay your legal fees just to help with tonight's algebra. This learning disability stuff is so vague, its like a jellyfish. It isn't like a broken arm -- we can't take my son to the doctor, get a cast put on him, and know that he'll be fine in a couple of months. How do you fix these auditory memory and processing problems?"
The pain of this father and son is shared by the more than two million children (and their parents) in this country who are dealing with learning disabilities. Late nights, bad report cards, tears, yelling, frustration -- this wasn't what we thought school would be like for our kids.
The fundamental purpose of this book is to help these children and their parents or guardians through the maze that is special education -- including the special twists and turns that apply to kids with learning disabilities.
A. What Is Special Education?
"Special education" is the broad term used to describe the educational system available for children with disabilities. A learning disability is a specific disability category covered by special education law and addressed by special education programs.
As discussed in greater detail later in this book, learning disabilities can range from minor differences in learning style to serious difficulties processing information. A lot of people, many of them highly intelligent, have learning disabilities. There is no relationship between native intelligence and the existence of a learning disability. Your goal as you wind your way through the special education system is to make it easier for your child to achieve academically, despite his or her learning disability.
There are three fundamental questions to consider as you begin the special education process:
Where is your child now? How is your child doing at school and at home?
Synopsis
This one-of-a-kind book walks readers you through the Individual Education Program process, providing all the instructions, suggestions, resources and forms they'll need to understand and navigate the special-ed system.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to Special Education for Children With Learning Disabilities
A. What Is Special Education?
B. Special Education and Learning Disabilities
C. Being Your Child's Advocate
D. Using This Book
E. Icons Used Throughout
F. Getting Help From Others
2. Your Child's Rights Under the IDEA
A. What IDEA Requires
B. Individualized Education Program
C. State Special Education Laws
D. Working With Your School District
3. What Is a Learning Disability?
A. Legal Definitions B. Scientific and Professional Definitions
C. Does Your Child Have a Learning Disability?
D. Learning Disabilities and the IEP Process
4. Getting Started
A. First Steps
B. Obtain Your Child's School Records
C. Start an IEP Binder
D. Keep Track of Deadlines
5. Developing Your Child's IEP Blueprint
A. Begin at the End: Define Your Child's Needs
B. Preparing an IEP Blueprint
C. Other Sources of Information for the Blueprint
D. What's Next?
6. Evaluations
A. When Evaluations Are Done
B. The Evaluation Plan
C. Analyzing the Tests
D. Approving, Rejecting, or Changing the Evaluation Plan
E. Reviewing the Report
F. Reevaluations
7. Eligibility
A. Eligibility Definitions
B. Eligibility Standards for Children With Learning Disabilities
C. Preparing for the IEP Eligibility Meeting
D. Attending the Eligibility Meeting
E. Joint IEP Eligibility/Program Meeting
F. If Your Child Is Not Found Eligible for Special Education
8. Gathering Information and Evidence
A. Analyze the School District's Information
B. Chart Your Child's Progress
C. Explore Available School Programs
D. Find Out About Related Services
E. Compare Your Blueprint With the Existing Program and Services
F. Generate Additional Supporting Information
G. Independent Evaluations
9. Goals
10. Preparing for the IEP Meeting
11. The IEP Meeting
12. Resolving IEP Disputes Through Due Process
13. Filing a Complaint
14. Lawyers and Legal Research
15. Parent Organizations
Appendixes
1. Special Education Law and Regulations
2. Federal and State Departments of Education
3. Support Groups, Advocacy Organizations, and Other Resources
4. The Severe Discrepancy Model
5. Sample IEP Form
6. Tear-Out Forms
Request for Information on Special Education
Request to Begin Special Education Process and Evaluation
Request for Child's School File
Request to Amend Child's School File
Special Education Contacts
IEP Journal
Monthly IEP Calendar
IEP Blueprint
Letter Requesting Evaluation Report
Request for Joint IEP Eligibility/Program Meeting
Progress Chart
Program Visitation Request Letter
Class Visitation Checklist
Goals Chart
IEP Material Organizer Form
IEP Meeting Participants
IEP Meeting Attendance Objection Letter
IEP Preparation Checklist
Letter Confirming Informal Negotiation
Letter Requesting Due Process
Index
Reviews
The New York Times ...
"In this useful guide, parents may find the support they need for a long and often lonely process."
Terence K. Prechter, Past President, Learning Disabilities Association of California ...
"Provides parents and advocates an excellent resource to address the educational needs of all students with learning disabilities. I highly recommend this book!"
Providence Journal ...
"Help[s] parents advocate for their child's educational needs."
About the Creator
Lawrence Siegel has been a Special Education Attorney and Advocate since 1979, and has represented children with disabilities extensively in IEPs, due process, complaints, legal action and before legislative and policy bodies. Mr. Siegel has lectured and consulted with advocacy and parent groups throughout the country and is a member of the California Advisory Commission on Special Education. He has written special education legislation that has been adopted in several states and is the author of Least Restrictive Environment: The Paradox of Inclusion (LRP Publications, 1994). Mr. Siegel is the founder and Director of the National Deaf Education Project which works to ensure that the fundamental communication needs of deaf and hard of hearing children are part of the educational system. In 2004-5 he was appointed to an endowed chair at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. for his work as an advocate special education. He lives in Fairfax, California, with his wife Gail and two daughters, Catie and Elisabeth.
