You, Your Child, and Special Education : A Guide to Dealing with the System, Revised Edition

Many parents feel overwhelmed and intimidated when they¿re dealing with the complex special education system. How can they transform themselves into confident, knowledgeable advocates and get their children the free appropriate public education they¿re entitled to? Give them the answers with this empowering survival guide, the book with the straight talk parents want and the encouragement they need as they work to get the best services for their child. A comprehensive update of a resource parents have relied on for more than 17 years, this no-nonsense guide cuts right through the myths and obstacles that block the way to better education for a child with special needs. Veteran advocacy expert Barbara Cutler directly addresses parents with empathy and candor, drawing on 30 years of professional expertise and her deep personal insight as the mother of a son with autism. Share this book with parents and they¿ll have the step-by-step, real-world guidance they need to proactively participate in IEP meetings, develop productive assertiveness, and arrange, prepare for, and conduct a classroom observation. Cutler makes successful advocacy come to life through sample letters, realistic vignettes, practical materials like a detailed classroom observation checklist, and solutions to large and small problems that might arise. One of the most important books a parent will ever have, this is an essential resource for every professional to share with the families they serve.

Barbara Coyne Cutler, Ed.D., is an independent consultant and advocate in Arlington, Massachusetts, and has worked tirelessly for more than 30 years with many service and advocacy organizations to obtain services and supports for her adult son with autism as well as countless parents and children across the nation.