Disability law can be complex and intimidating, so how can concerned parents use it to ensure their child with a disability receives the appropriate education they are legally entitled to? A Guide to Special Education Advocacy gives strategies for advocating for better provision of special education in schools. Despite the many services and accommodations that have been made for students with disabilities, such as the use of Braille or providing specialized education in a regular or special classroom, many children with disabilities do not get the services they need and are not placed in appropriate programs or settings. Because of this, the perception of disability often remains unchanged. Matthew Cohen's insightful manual gives a practical vision of how a parent or a professional can become an advocate to achieve a more inclusive and rewarding education for the child with a disability. This book will provide parents, people with disabilities, professionals and clinicians thinking about special education advocacy with an overview of current disability law and how it works, identifying practical ways for building positive and effective relationships with schools.

This book offers practical guidance on such topics as roles and responsibilities, school environment and culture, classroom organization and management, collaboration with other professionals, and individual professional development.

Despite the prevalence of students with disabilities in the general education classroom, few teachers receive training on how to meet these students’ needs or how to navigate Despite the prevalence of students with disabilities in the general education classroom, few teachers receive training on how to meet these students’ needs or how to navigate the legally mandated processes enumerated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). What is their role? What are their responsibilities? What are the roles and rights of parents? And what must all teachers do to ensure that students with disabilities and other special needs receive the quality education they’re entitled to? In this practical reference, David F. Bateman—bestselling author of A Principal’s Guide to Special Education—and special education administrator Jenifer L. Cline clarify what general education teachers need to know about special education law and processes and provide a guide to instructional best practices for the inclusive classroom. Topics covered include The pre-referral, referral, and evaluation processes Individualized education programs (IEPs) and the parties involved Accommodations for students who do not quality for special education, including those covered by Section 504 Transition from preK to K–12 and from high school to postschool life Classroom management and student behavior Educational frameworks, instructional strategies, and service delivery options Assessment, grades, graduation, and diplomas The breadth of coverage in this book, along with its practical examples, action steps, and appendixes covering key terms and definitions will provide the foundation all K–12 teachers need to successfully instruct and support students receiving special education services. It’s an indispensable resource for every general education classroom. the legally mandated processes enumerated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). What is their role? What are their responsibilities? What are the roles and rights of parents? And what must all teachers do to ensure that students with disabilities and other special needs receive the quality education they’re entitled to? In this practical reference, David F. Bateman—bestselling author of A Principal’s Guide to Special Education—and special education administrator Jenifer L. Cline clarify what general education teachers need to know about special education law and processes and provide a guide to instructional best practices for the inclusive classroom. Topics covered include The pre-referral, referral, and evaluation processes Individualized education programs (IEPs) and the parties involved Accommodations for students who do not quality for special education, including those covered by Section 504 Transition from preK to K–12 and from high school to postschool life Classroom management and student behavior Educational frameworks, instructional strategies, and service delivery options Assessment, grades, graduation, and diplomas The breadth of coverage in this book, along with its practical examples, action steps, and appendixes covering key terms and definitions will provide the foundation all K–12 teachers need to successfully instruct and support students receiving special education services. It’s an indispensable resource for every general education classroom.

A Quick Guide to Special Needs is an easy go-to guide for busy teachers, SENCOs, practitioners and anyone else who is interested in pragmatic solutions to the challenges of teaching children and young people with additional needs. Detailing over 60 conditions which cause people to have additional needs, Bob Bates helps you broaden your understanding of different physical, neurological, psychological, and developmental needs with accessible bite-sized explanations of the conditions, best practice approaches to working with these learners, and how to apply them to your everyday teaching. Each individual need is explained over a 2-page spread and every entry includes: Case studies encouraging you to reflect on real-life situations to understand the impact each condition has on people and how they and their parents deal with it. Do it steps offering a simple step-by-step approach that you can follow in order to meet additional needs arising out of these conditions. Important steps for the classroom specifically for teachers to use. Recommended reading, suggesting books, articles and websites where further information on specific conditions are available. Whether you’re a newly qualified or experienced teacher, or simply want to further your understanding on the vast variety of individual needs, this guide is the ideal dip-in dip-out reference point for SEND. Also from Bob Bates: Educational Leadership Simplified Learning Theories Simplified

Fully updated to include the most recent developments in law and practice, the second edition of this comprehensive and straightforward guide to the legal rights of children and young people with special educational needs clearly explains the key issues in a complex system. Helping parents to understand the legal entitlements of their child, Nettleton and Friel explain the new Education, Health and Care Plans which have replaced the Statements of Special Educational Needs. They explain what an Education, Health and Care Plan is, how assessments are carried out, and how annual reviews, amendments, rights of appeal and tribunals work in practice. They also include help with 42 of the most common problems encountered, a discussion of relevant cases, extracts from the official published guidance issued, and a draft Reasons for Appeal. This essential handbook for parents of children with special educational needs will also be a key reference for teachers, charities, Local Authority officers, and lawyers in other fields.

Providing insight into current research, and comprehensive guidance on recent legislation and policy, this key text offers anyone working or preparing to work with children with SEND with essential academic and theoretical understanding to underpin and inform existing and future practice. Exploring prime areas in which professionals work directly with children with SEND, chapters broach current issues and debates relating to practice, and examine recent advances in research, policy and legislation in areas including education, health and social care. This interdisciplianry approach, coupled with case studies, points for reflection and clearly signposted activities throughout, gives readers the opportunity to develop a thorough understanding of the complexities surrounding SEND and enables them to relate these to their own practice. Packed with practical tips and examples of best practice, topics discussed include: approaches to inclusion, integration and segregation competing discourses surrounding SEND and their impacts on children, families and professionals safeguarding and the voice of the child multi-agency work and the changing role of the SEND practitioner working in partnership with parents and families research and practice in relation to issues such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder, chromosomal and gestational diversity, ADHD and Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities and Difficulties. Demystifying changes to policy, exploring legislation, and identifying best practice, this invaluable resource will support students, SEND practitioners and professionals to develop and enhance practice with children with SEND.