Your Special Education Rights: What Your School District Isn't Telling You

by Jennifer Laviano, Julie Swanson

The definitive guide for parents of children with disabilities is out.This book   is authored by two special education experts and draws on decades of experience from the front lines of special education advocacy.The authors, Jennifer Laviano and Julie Swanson, detail a strong, practical, and results oriented perspective that helps parents cut through the fog of special education to get the services their children deserve."Our bottom line is parents are often ineffective at advocating for their child because they don't know their rights," said Jennifer Laviano, co-author and special education attorney. "We see it time and The child doesn't get what he or she needs because the parents don't know what they don't know. This book looks to change that," Laviano added. Your Special Education Rights  demystifies the federal laws related to public school children with disabilities and explains how school districts often ignore or circumvent the law."We're passionate to pull the curtain back on the realities of special education - and tell parents the truths that school districts don't always disclose," said Julie Swanson, co-author and special education advocate, who's also the mother of a child with a disability. "Our message to parents is - plain and Know your rights or run the risk of being taken advantage of," Swanson added.Your Special Education Rights  provides parents with vital information and specific guidance to address key challenges - How to respond to special education "urban legends" like your child is "too smart" for services; how to avoid "toothless" language in a special education plan; and overcoming discrimination and low expectations. The book also explains why now, more than ever before, parents must be vigilant to protect children's rights - and how recent Supreme Court case law and changes at the federal level impact children with disabilities.Though  Your Special Education Rights  is for parents primarily, educators and administrators can also learn how difficult it can be for parents to understand the special education system, which hopefully helps schools and parents work more closely.

173 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 15, 2017

Reviews

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advocacy is my jam, and I can’t believe I had only been made aware of this book recently. It’s one that I’ll definitely be recommending to parents along with some others. Well written, easy to understand, and gives great direction to parents. This can be an overwhelming process and road for many, but this book really helps to arm parents with direction/ process/plan.

[Tan Tran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Highly recommended for parents with special needs children.

Easy to understand and covers all the important topics on how to work with school districts when it comes to IEP.

[Katherine Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

So informative and a must-read

This is for all of the parents out there who have a child with special needs, a child with a 504 Plan and a child with an IEP.

The knowledge in the book allows for next-steps and practical wisdom.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of good information I wish I had known a while ago.

[Cin Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource - especially for caregivers just starting the special education process.

[Chrism485 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-organized and easy to understand.

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every parent of school age children with special needs needs to have this book! I wish I would have known about it in 2018 when my daughter started school. Lots of good information for parents.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating look into how advocates perceive the special education process. Knowing full well that the authors note they are talking from a position of the most extreme cases, I still find it hard to believe that some schools fail to do the basics, like find a meeting time that works for parents and school staff.

[Breanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical and insightful information. Easy to understand for any parent in an overwhelming process.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helps gear you to be a real advocate for your child—a book I plan to keep nearby.