When a group meets to discuss a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), they are called a team, but they rarely understand the perspectives of the people with whom they are sitting at the table. This is especially true when cultural and linguistic diversity is part of the equation. This unique book explores the individual perspectives of IEP meeting participants who work with students who are culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD). Authors interviewed a principal, a general education teacher, a special education teacher, a teacher of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), an educational advocate, a disability rights attorney, a parent, a translator, a school psychologist, a specialist, a transition services specialist, and a guidance counselor. Their experiences provide critical insight for those seeking to realize the potential of these sometimes marginalized students. Interviews examined the dynamics of home-school communication, IEP meetings, and cross-cultural interactions. The perspectives shared in this book relate to known best practices and also provide practical suggestions for improving the experiences of teams serving the CLD population.

Black school psychologists are significantly underrepresented in American schools, and this must be addressed to effectively meet the needs of marginalized groups in this field. Through the lenses of critical race theory, intersectionality and the trauma-informed approach, this phenomenological study explored the experiences of eight Black graduate students studying school psychology at both predominantly White institutions (PWIs) and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Convergent data yielded themes of (1) Awareness of Intersectionality, (2) Black Representation Matters, (3) Black Mentor/Faculty as Support, (4) Black Sociocultural Safe Spaces, (5) Cultural Incompetence at PWI, and (6) Unsupported Traumatic Experiences at PWI. Divergent data revealed that students from HBCUs experienced a sense of belonging, whereas students from PWIs experienced feelings of isolation. Lastly, divergent data revealed that accreditation was the main concern for students who attended HBCUs. Implications, recommendations, limitations, and future research directions are provided.

Understanding the relationship between law, advocacy, and Special Education is crucial for those who educate and advocate on behalf of students with disabilities. Special Education Law and Policy: From Foundation to Application provides a framework for understanding and implementing the law as it applies to students with disabilities and their families. Dr. Rodriguez and Dr. Murawski crafted a textbook that distills complex legal concepts into a digestible format to ensure readers understand their roles as teachers, counselors, administrators, and advocates. Their clear and accessible style of writing is intended for students and practitioners and offers case law and real-world examples to highlight the effective application of both law and policy. With contributions from experienced educators and legal professionals, readers will gather the foundational knowledge they need to support students, families, and schools. This is the text that every administrator, teacher, and advocate will want at their fingertips! Key Features: * Authentic case studies of challenging issues resolved from different perspectives * Chapter objectives and summaries to improve retention * Boxes throughout the text with key terms, concepts, and checks for understanding * Putting it in Practice and Application in Action boxes with real-world examples from case law * For Further Consideration sections at the end of each chapter with discussion questions, case law, and additional resources

Supporting Your Child with Special Needs offers practical activities and strategies to help you prepare your children for school success and best connect with school personnel to meet your child's unique needs. Each of the ten chapters includes key themes supported by research as well as activities for you to complete with your children to bond with and build them up. Rachel Jorgensen's guidance will help you both understand and tackle the real-world situations you'll encounter as a parent navigating the special education system. You will find yourself better equipped to support your child in the school setting and better able to prepare your child for a path to greater independence in adulthood.

Take advantage of a resource that’s right in your classroom—your students! This book offers practical strategies for empowering students as co-teachers, decision makers, and advocates in the classroom. Ideal for K–12 general and special education teachers, this guide describes how to: Involve students in instruction through collaborative learning groups, co-teaching, and peer tutoring that foster self-discipline and responsible behavior Make students a part of decision making by utilizing personal learning plans, peer mediation, and more Use assessment tools, lesson plans, case studies, and checklists to put collaboration with students into practice

Legal aspects of individual learning for children with disabilities who need special education.