Many parents think the terms “mainstreaming” and “inclusion” mean the same thing. In the San Francisco Bay Area, they do not. What is “mainstreaming”? “Mainstreaming” is the term that most districts use to describe the selective placement of special education…
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As the parent of a disabled child, I have experienced all of the emotions that come with trying to best support my child in a school setting: frustration, trust, fear, hopefulness, anxiety. At some point, parents realize they also need…
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Your child’s district has evaluated her and found her eligible for special education. It’s not unusual for a school district to blame low test scores on a child’s intelligence and lack of capacity. It’s much quicker and easier for them…
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IEP paperwork lists what services your child will receive If you ask us about the single most important rule of special education, we’ll tell you this: If it is not written down, it never happened. EVERYTHING that matters in your…
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In IEP timelines, there is a set of standards that school districts must observe to be in compliance with state and federal regulations. Here are some of the events in IEP Timelines that may help you in the IEP process:…
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Midway through the school year is a great time to check in and see how your child’s education is going. There are those rare and wondrous years when special education really works. Your child’s teacher works well with them, and…
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We’ve met parents who want their special needs student retained because they’re not progressing in school. We also occasionally encounter school districts that suggest retention for students with IEPs. We recently had a client whose student was in regular education…
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The special education field is well known for the sheer volume of paperwork it generates. Between assessments, logs, IEPs, and other documents, there are often hundreds of pages every year. Busy parents trying to juggle work, relationships, and children often…
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Parents often wonder what IEP services are available to their students. Indeed, there are many different kinds of supports, placements, and services, making it difficult to know which are the most appropriate for any one student. Start with thorough assessments…
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Tip #1: All IEP processes take time. It can be exceedingly frustrating when you are not able to get your children what they need. We understand the frustration—we’ve been there. A parent once called in November 2018 to see about…
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