This essay by attorney Robert Crabtree is loaded with invaluable advice.
Because the stakes are so high, it is very difficult for parents of children with special educational needs to advocate calmly and objectively for the educational and related services their children need. Nevertheless, calmness, objectivity, and a third quality -- patience for the long haul -- are the parents' most important tools in a complex and often frustrating process. In the course of that process, here are a few rules of thumb I have found to be helpful to parents.
- Build a reliable team around your child: Your team should consist of strong and credible experts who know your child!
- Learn the rules: Every state has its own rules and regulations, but all must comply with the federal standards.
- Don't over-rely on the rules: The art of negotiation.
- Prioritize your issues: Understanding the importance of your child's needs.
- Share information: The pros and cons.
- Document your communication with your school system.
- Understand 'least restrictive environment' (LRE)
- Personality conflicts: How to keep from being distracted from the real issues. Consider how each step would look to an impartial decision-maker:
- Steering the straight and narrow path in the special education process.
