Parents who have to attend IEP meetings want to know that they are doing right by their child with special needs. It is incredibly important to know if your child has all the necessary supports, therapies, accommodations, etc. in place…
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How do you fight bullying tactics in special education when they come from your school district? Hiring an advocate brings someone to the IEP meetings that can come to your defense. Sometimes, school districts are just plain bullies. Their main…
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A huge mistake often made in special education is a parent who waits for a school to start to do the right thing. It is less confrontational to hope that a school will finally realize that they have not given…
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This is a question I have asked myself many times: HOW do I decide what is best for my child with special needs? When you have a child that is disabled, you are often given the message that you must…
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IEP documentation and Wrightslaw are two of the most important ways to protect you and your child’s right to an education during the IEP process. Wrightslaw—or special education law—has a section referred to as: “the rules of adverse assumptions”. The…
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Families often struggle with this question. When IS the best time to hire a special education advocate? Most of us have far more expenses on our budgets than we have excess funds and if there are areas where we can…
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One of the less-commonly discussed items in special education is when to hire a special education advocate. Most parents call us when they hit a roadblock with their child’s school district. Often the parent is not being heard at an…
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The role of a special education advocate is very specific, even if it incorporates a variety of different skills. Every IEP is different and advocates will not take the same approach for any two IEPs. There are so many ways…
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IEP goals need to be SMART – Specific, Measurable, Appropriate, Realistic, and Time-sensitive. Let’s define measurability in SMART goals. We sit in a lot of IEP meetings where the teacher or therapists say “We were not sure what this goal…
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There are many elements to a well-written IEP. Two of the most important are SMART goals and well-written baselines. SMART Goals When creating a child’s IEP, it is important to have the team collaborate on SMART IEP goals. SMART is…
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