A Parent’s Plan for Success

Review of Law and Advocacy, part of the Special Education Law and Advocacy Training Series with Pete Wright, Esq., and Pam Wright, MA., MSW.

Reviewed by Janie Bowman

You hope it never happens yet you know it eventually will— a school crisis. You’ve attended multiple IEP meetings, are on good terms with your child’s teacher, and advocate for others in your school district. You’ve attended multiple conferences and trainings, and have a bookshelf devoted to books about special education and your child’s disability. You’re prepared. But now, here you are—a school crisis. What next?

Enter Pete and Pam Wright, with their progressive “Special Education Law & Advocacy Training Series” on CD. Law and Advocacy is an actual, live 6½ hour Power Point advocacy training presented to a group in Virginia over a four day period. The CD covers special education law and advocacy strategy, and is appropriate for parents, advocates, educators and attorneys.

Using WebEx, free software that you download and is easy to navigate, the Wrights use two of their flagship books, Wrightslaw: Special Education Law. 2^nd Edition, and Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy. 2^nd Edition as curriculum. You don’t have to rush to take notes, as they tell you exactly what you need to document, and where, guiding you every step of the way. If you need to review a section, you can click back and repeat that section as often as you like.

Many areas are covered, including:

• IDEA, Section 504, and No Child Left Behind
• The importance of the 5 “Ws” and H & E
• What is a SMART IEP?
• The dynamics of funding. Where does the money come from? Where does it go?
• Your Master Plan, and the rules of “the game”
• The Rule of Adverse Assumption
• When doing “nothing” is the best thing to do
• Which is more important: the facts or the law?
• What your calendar can do for you
• Tests and Measurements: creating graphs
• Letters to a Stranger
• Resources, and more...

This is advocacy training at its best, as Pete and Pam share personal stories and background information to help you understand the law, and various tactics and strategies. They present with expertise and with passion, often sprinkled with humor. The information “sticks” with you.

It is sometimes so interesting you wish you could see them in action. Indeed, including snapshots of them as they present the material would only enhance the training. The cost of the CD might be prohibitive for those on a tight budget, but it’s worth the effort to coordinate the purchase with other parents. Also, support groups, non-profits and schools would find this CD advantageous for training parents and advocates.

Every parent of a child with special needs, and all advocates, need to plan for success. The Wrights have put together a comprehensive roadmap to help you in your journey to secure and maintain a free and appropriate education for your child. Pete and Pam’s advocacy training is a unique gift. Now, there's no excuse for not having attended a Wrightslaw Advocacy Training. This CD is the next best thing to being there.

For more information, a demonstration, or to order the CD, please visit wrightslaw.
Continuing Education Credit is available.

Janie Bowman can be reached at janie@brightword.com