Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference

One-day special education law and advocacy programs focus on four areas:

-  special education law, rights and responsibilities
-  tests and measurements to measure progress & regression
-  SMART IEPs
-  introduction to tactics & strategies for effective advocacy

Wrightslaw programs are designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providers, advocates and attorneys who represent children with disabilities regarding special education. The program is not disability specific.

Registration Fee:
   Individual:  $70 (on or before February 21, 2014) ; $100 (through March 10, 2014)
       Online registration will be available soon. There will be no walk-in registrations. Register here:

Schedule:

8:00-9:00       Registration

9:00-10:30     Introductions

• IDEA History and Overview
• Section 1400 Findings, Purpose
• Section 1401 Definitions: Special Education, Related Services, LD, etc.

10:30-10:45      Break

10:45-12:00

• Section 1412 Extended School Year, Child Find, Least Restrictive Environment/Mainstreaming/Inclusion, Private Placements, Statewide Assessments
• Understanding Tests and Measurements, and the Bell Curve, Standard Scores, Scale Scores, % ranks, Grade Equivalent, Age Equivalent

12:00-1:00  Lunch

1:00-2:30

• Section 1414 Evaluations and IEPs
• Section 1415 Prior Written Notice, Procedural Safeguards Notice, Mediation, Due Process Hearing, Appeal, Discipline, Age of Majority
• Section 504, ADA, FERPA
• NCLB No Child Left Behind
• Litigation: Special Ed Caselaw
• S.M.A.R.T. IEPs
• Special Ed Advocacy for the Parent, Advocate, and Parent’s Attorney
• Legal, systemic and “school culture” obstacles to compliance with IDEA-04

The Parent as the Special Ed Manager and Expert

• Developing the Master Plan
• Knowing the Rules of the Game
• Recognizing and Avoiding the Fatal Obstacles
• How to Deal with Conflict, a Healthy and Normal event
• Crisis, Emergency, Help
• Organization of the Child’s File

2:30-2:45 Break

2:45-4:00

• Tactics and Strategies
• Rule of Adverse Assumptions
• Private Evaluations
• Paper Trails
• The Letter to the Stranger
• 5 Ws + H + E
• Preparation for Meetings
• Meeting Strategies

4:00-4:30    Questions and Answers

Meeting will be in the Fellowship Hall.

Free Parking!

Conference includes a light breakfast, lunch, refreshments and three books Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd Edition, Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition, and Wrightslaw: All About IEPs.