A survey was conducted on the use of lay advocates to investigate state reaction to a recent court decision in Delaware on the use of lay advocates and the availability of representation for parents of students with disabilities in due process hearings. The Delaware Supreme Court found in 1999 that lay advocates representing parents at due process…

This final report discusses the activities and outcomes of a study that investigated the involvement of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) and non-American Indian/Alaska Native parents of children with disabilities in the general educational and Individualized Education Program (IEP) processes, and the specific needs of parents that would…

This report reviews ongoing projects by the Parent Advocacy Center for Educational Rights (PACER), in particular its parent training program and programs for students. The Parents Helping Parents project is described and evaluated, including its efforts concerning public information, workshops for all parents, workshops for special groups,…

This manual for child advocates in New York describes detailed procedures for organizing and operating citizen adoption groups and provides background information on the decision-making bodies, funding sources and resource organizations involved in adoptions. Procedures for changing bureaucracies and influencing legislation are emphasized.…

PTAs in the northwest are regaining momentum and membership by becoming involved in advocating for education reform, seeking funding, promoting child safety, seeking equity, addressing discrimination, providing school enrichment programs, establishing site-based management councils, involving parents in educational decision making, addressing…

This report describes a national survey of organizations of and for parents of children and adolescents with serious emotional disabilities. The telephone survey located 207 parent organizations of which 26.7 percent were publicly affiliated and 72.9 percent were either private, non-profit, or informally organized. About 54 percent were part of…

This text is designed to enable parents to become powerful advocates for their gifted children at school and at home. Chapters 1 through 5 focus on becoming an advocate at home. Chapter 1 discusses three broad characteristics of giftedness, the difference between bright and gifted children, and other dimensions of giftedness. Chapter 2 provides a…

This handbook discusses different types of disorders, mental health services, and school services. The first section highlights the importance of parental advocacy and family support networks. This is followed by a discussion of the plight of parents who have a child with an emotional or behavioral disorder and the perspective of a child with…

This Task Force Report generates 5 general themes for improving the state foster care system (all geared to improving the functioning of the natural family and using foster care as a temporary tool to facilitate that process) and makes specific recommendations which deal with these themes. The 5 themes are: (1) during crisis situations, a child…