If a parent won’t sign an IEP, does the school system have the right and ability to sue the parent on behalf of the student? In the eyes of the system, the student would not be receiving FAPE. Does the judge ever go against the wishes of a parent? Yes, this does happen. It’s often [...]
IEP’s / Ed Law
We receive many questions about violations of IDEA. The children’s names and dates of birth change but their stories are similar. The child shows clear signs of a disability. The school may have an evaluation showing the child has a disability – a learning disability, ADHD, anxiety disorder, or another disability. The school district fails [...]
It appears I’ve offended some teachers by the post and comments on “Fifth grader is reading at 2.7 grade level. Should he be tested for Special Ed?”
Before clarifying the purpose of that article, I have a question for you: If your child was in 5th grade and reading on the 2.7 grade level, wouldn’t you be alarmed? Wouldn’t you want a research based reading program that has a proven record of success before your child falls even further behind?
Every year as Halloween approaches, I have to fight the desire to ignore the bell, bolt my door shut, and drown my sorrows in the bags of Milky Ways and M&Ms I pretended to buy for the neurotypical little goblins who pass my way. Personally I find Halloween to be the most painful time for [...]
Here’s a follow up to the “Blind Trust” post from last week (10/11/08). The San Jose Office of the Independent Police Auditor (August 2008) published A Students’ Guide to Police Practices. Thanks to a heads up on October 7 from the “I Speak of Dreams” blog and a recommendation for the updated version of this [...]
The live debate tonight is being exclusively Webcast by edweek.org with generous support from NASSP. Live from Teachers College, Columbia University: “Education and the Next President,” a debate between Linda Darling-Hammond, education adviser to Democratic nominee Barack Obama, and Lisa Graham Keegan, education adviser to Republican nominee John McCain. Register now to watch the live [...]
It’s another busy month for Wrightslaw. Special Education Law and Advocacy trainings coming to New York, Maryland, and West Virginia. Sign up today. Visit our schedule page for a full listing of Wrightslaw conferences through 2010! Go to Source
We are working on a line of promotional products and need a catchy, memorable slogan or tag line for “Wrightslaw.” Our brains are stuck in first gear so we decided to ask you for ideas. Here are some well-known slogans: You are in good hands with Allstate. We bring good things to life. Reach out [...]
With 19 days before the election, having just watched the final Presidential debate, it is time for me to publicly weigh in on the issues that are most vital to me. Not surprisingly, among the primary issues for me are education and special education. Senator McCain’s position in favor of vouchers will in no way [...]
DIR which was formerly known as Greenspan/Floortime has worked very well for a number of children with autism that I represent. The following article is from Michele Ricamato, a certified DIR therapist, SLP and a well respected colleague of mine, who has dedicated her professional life to working with children with autism and other disabilities [...]
The following is a speech given to a local autism support group. The speech is from the parents of a young adult who was diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum in his late 20s, after his time in school had passed, and as discussed below well too late to prevent tragic consequences. I publish [...]
The following is a posting from Jess Butler who is an attorney and officer with COPAA.org one of the leading special education advocacy organizations in the U.S. She has summarized and explained the effect of the new amendments for school age children and in later life. These revisions represent a win for people with disabilities. [...]
This is the second part of the earlier post to get your new school year off to a humorous start. You choose your child’s medical specialists by whether or not their waiting room has an accessible outlet for your portable DVD player. You get pulled over by a police officer and automatically pull out your [...]
One of the things that up to now has held back robots is the ability to have a pressure sensitive "skin" which feels and moves more naturally. A team of Tokyo University researchers has revealed a break through in material science; a rubber material that conducts electricity which would potentially allow for the development of [...]
Every field has its lingo and jargon. Special education has more than its share and sometimes the language contains coded or veiled meanings that are hard for parents to discern or decipher. The following link is a useful and sometime humorous decoder ring for the phrases, jargon and lingo used everyday in schools and at [...]
The deserved furor is growing against the degrading movie Tropic Thunder. Click here and here for more information and how to participate in the national protest against this movie. Here is a pledge against the use of the 'r' word. Go to Source
