Many parents feel intimidated when talking with special education professionals. There is much in our society which encourages us to look at professionals and to accept what they say without question. However, that does not mean you should be intimidated. The discussion is about your child and you know your child better than anyone, giving you the…

The rights of all students to participate in extracurricular programs are required by current law but are often nonexistent, misunderstood, or even sometimes purposely not shared with parents. This article is addressed to parents regarding the rights of their children with disabilities to participate in extracurricular sport activities. Included…

Teens with disabilities need information about risk topics such as addiction, abuse, sex, and delinquency to make healthy choices as they participate in mainstream society. This article presents questionnaire-based information provided by special educators in secondary schools about their efforts, limitations, and needs in providing risk reduction…

The authors describe how the participation of Family as Faculty parents in case-based instruction influenced 16 beliefs of 89 special education teacher candidates about the value of partnering with parents. The parents, who all had children with disabilities, participated in a simulated individualized education program meeting that was embedded in…

On November 14, 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision in "Schaffer v. Weast." This special education decision concerned which party bears the burden of persuasion when parents challenge a school district's Individualized Education Program (IEP) in a due process hearing. In this article, we define burden of persuasion and…

Prior Written Notice is one of the important rights in special education for parents. These rights are in a federal law called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). When a child receives special education services, this law says that schools must notify parents in writing before taking a specific action or before refusing to take…

This paper presents some suggestions parents should consider when planning their child's Individualized Education Program (IEP). Suggestions are organized according to these sections: (1) Before the IEP team meeting; (2) At the IEP team meeting; and (3) After the IEP team meeting.

Suggestions for special education teachers preparing for parent-teacher conferences include: preparing a folder showing students' tests, assignments, and progress; and encouraging a two-way dialogue by providing a supportive environment. Suggestions for parents include being responsive and receptive to teachers' suggestions and asking for…

The value of homework for students with disabilities is examined, focusing on the relationship between the stages of learning (acquisition, proficiency, maintenance, and generalization) and the responsibilities of supervising individuals (special and regular education teachers and parents). Suggestions for effective use of homework assignments are…

Intended for all those working with handicapped children, the manual provides guidelines for the understanding and implementation of P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. Chapter 1 contains an introduction to the highlights of the law and a statement of what is required of the educational community for compliance. The next…

A survey of 904 special education teachers determined the nature and extent of parent-teacher interactions, by gathering data on number of parent contacts, time spent, communication format (written, telephone, or personal visit), nature of parent contacts in Individualized Education Plan (IEP) development, teachers' roles during IEP meetings, and…

One of a series of guides that provides practical resources on topics critical to the process of preparing individuals with disabilities for adulthood, this volume is designed to help special education teachers, guidance and rehabilitation counselors, parents, advocates, and psychologists become familiar with how to develop individual transition…