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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When you choose between school districts for your child with special needs, remember that each school district offers a different level of special education services. It is important to thoroughly research schools before moving to an area! Qualifying criteria for…
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Goals drive services, supports, and placement when properly integrated into your child’s IEP. Goals give parents and educators a way to measure the student’s progress. Clear and specific baselines, combined with measurable goals, tell the IEP Team if the student…
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I used to believe that if I called an IEP meeting and explained what my concerns were, that would be enough to get things moving again. Sometimes this worked, and sometimes it didn’t. I lived in a district that was…
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