Are You an Empathetic Parent?

If your child walks in the door with her shoulders drooping and her face forlorn do you say something like "You look sad. Come in and tell me what happened."

Or if your child is stomping around do you say "You seem upset. Your feelings are important to me. Let's talk." Or do you tell your child to "Change your attitude, buddy!"

Perhaps you feel uncomfortable talking about feelings. You may have grown up in a home where it was better to keep a stiff upper lip. Or if you were upset you were told to go to your room. In other words, your parents probably didn't teach you how to express your feelings in a healthy way. You were probably taught to stuff your feelings, especially "negative" ones.

The decision you need to make is, "Do I want to teach my kids to stuff their feelings or do I want to take the time to teach them how to talk about their feelings?"

There are lots of benefits to being an "empathic" parent i.e. one who helps a child name a feeling, listens carefully and repeats back what the child is saying while striving to understand the child's point of view.

The most important reason is that you and your child will be closer. Every person in the world longs to feel understood by another and wouldn't it be wonderful if you were that person for your child? Listening for feelings is the best way to keep your "attachment" to your child tight.

By modeling empathy you are teaching your child to care for other people, to be a good listener, to be understanding, to have compassion and to express feelings in a way that doesn't hurt anyone or anything.

Your child is going to get better at managing his/her own feelings and will be more sensitive to the impact his/her behavior has on other people. (Children under the age of seven typically don't have a lot of empathy, but you can still begin the teaching process.)

Often times using empathy can diffuse a potentially explosive exchange. If your child notes that you're leading with empathy and trying to understand his/her point of view, s/he may reach out for the olive branch of understanding rather than escalating the exchange. You will also remain calmer if you're listening with your heart.

A three-step process for using empathy and building understanding that I recommend is from the "EQ for Families" family education workshop at www.6seconds.org.

The VIE process has three steps:

1) Validate: Acknowledge the feeling(s), help the person know s/he's "been heard."
2) Inventory: Identify what happened and what choices have been made.
3) Expand: Develop multiple options of what to do next.

Here's an example:

Let's say that you have another family over and one of the children tells you that your 4-year-old has just hit his brother. You certainly don't want her to hit anyone, so a time out would be a viable discipline option, but instead of doing that, what if you tried leading with empathy?

Parent: "Tell me what happened."
Child: "The three of them were playing basketball and they wouldn't let me play."
Parent: "You were feeling left out?"
Child: "Yes! I can't reach the hoop, so I was bored and left out. I wanted to play, too!"
Parent: "You wish they would play with you, too, and you felt left out."
Child: "Yeah!"
Parent: "It's hard to watch others playing and having fun and you're left out."
Child: "Yes."
Parent: "Do you think hitting Charlie was a good solution to the problem of feeling left out?"
Child: "No..."
Parent: "I agree. Hitting hurts people. In our family, we use words instead of fists to solve problems."
Child: "I know."
Parent: "Let's think of what other choices you had."
Brainstorm together: play alone; find a game the four of you can play together; stay with the adults; tell them how you're feeling; get adult help.
Parent: "What solution would you like to pick?"
Child: "Will you come with and help me talk to them?"
Parent: "Sure. Would you also be willing to do something to let Charlie know that you're sorry that you hit him?"
Child: "Yes."

So, what has your child learned?
a) She can talk to you about her feelings.
b) Her feelings now have a name.
c) You understand what happened.
d) That hitting is wrong.
e) That you can talk out a problem and find solutions.

If you're going to use empathy, here are a few guidelines.

1) Remain positive. Don't criticize the child.
2) Don't reassure the child by saying, "It doesn't matter. It will be OK." Let the child reach his/her own conclusion.
3) Don't attempt to solve the child's problem for him. "I know just what you can do!"
4) Don't punish the child for having angry/sad feelings by saying, "You go to your room until you can change your attitude!"
5) Don't tell the child how s//he should feel or criticize the feelings she expressed by saying "You're this upset about THAT?"

Instead, help the child name the feeling, explore what happened and develop next steps that could be helpful to the child.

Try using empathy at least once a day and your child will experience hundreds of times when you have listened with your heart and tried to connect with him/her on an emotional level. Think of how powerful this experience will be for both of you.

By Toni Schutta, Parent Coach, M.A., L.P., Families First Coaching, Self Growth's Official Guide to Parenting. Visit http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com to receive the free mini-course "The 7 Worst Mistakes Parents Make (and How to Avoid Them!) and to preview 17 on-line parenting classes that solve the most common parenting problems.

Note: John Gottman is one of the leading researchers in this area. He's written a book called, "The Heart of Parenting: Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child" which is a great resource. Another good book "Emotional Intelligence: Why it Can Matter More that IQ" by Daniel Goleman. You can also purchase my "EQ: Raise an Emotionally Intelligent Child" audio class at: http://www.getparentinghelpnow.com/EQAudio.htm

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Advising a Single Parent With a Troubled Teen

If you work with troubled teens, chances are likely that a few of them come from a single-parent family. This makes the teenager's problem all the more acute because it is always difficult to be without one parent, and it is even more difficult to build good relationships with the parent who is at home because that parent is likely to have to work a lot to make ends meet. The situation is no better from the parent's perspective, either, as he or she probably regrets not getting to spend more time with the children. Either way, counseling the single parent of a troubled teen can be a particularly difficult task, one that takes skill, understanding, and delicacy.

First off, when you're going into a single-parent home, know that the person you're talking to is likely to be very independent because he or she has been breadwinner and homemaker, mother and father to his or her children for a while. This is not an easy job; it takes dedication and hard work and can leave the best of us feeling exhausted, mentally drained, and frustrated. Barelling into a single-parent home and bossing mom or dad around will probably cause the parent to unleash some of that frustration in your direction.

So, be sure that you really understand what you're walking into before you start throwing out unwanted advice. Find the parent a babysitter, take her out to coffee, and spend some time just listening to her side of things. Maybe you feel that a single father has completely neglected his son's education but you realize after speaking with him that he works three jobs just to put a little money back for his son's college fund. Or maybe you'd like to accuse a mother of being harsh toward her children until you realize that she is stressed to her utmost limit and can't help but act out of her frustration and exhaustion.

Whatever the case, listen before you speak. And when you do start speaking, watch the parent's reaction. If you suggest too much too quickly, you may cause him to shut down and wall you out, shooting your chances of productive conversations in the future. So definitely come with some ideas about how to help her troubled daughter get out of the mess she's making, but don't shove them all at her at once.

Instead, pick a few of the most important points on your list and talk about them in a compassionate way, being sure to listen for the parent's reactions. If one point comes across well, keep pressing forward to see how far the parent is willing to go to help the troubled youth at the moment. If you have too many points to process all at once, just give it some time.

When it comes to advising the single parents of troubled teens, you can't be too compassionate, patient, or careful. These parents, just like every other, want to help their children succeed, but they may also have more emotional and practical barriers that must be carefully overcome for your advice to be taken correctly.

Additional Resources: Read more on http://ForTroubledTeens.com programs and Alternative Treatments for Youth.

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6 Things That Parents Need to Know About Special Education Resolution Meetings

Do you have a child with autism or a learning disability who is not getting needed special education services? Have you considered filing for a due process hearing? Would you like to know about resolution meetings, and if they could help your child get needed services? This article will discuss 6 things that every parent should know about the special education due process resolution meeting!

1. The resolution meeting is mandatory to parents who have filed for a due process hearing. Due process is a hearing that is held in front of a special education due process hearing officer. If you have filed for a due process hearing against your school district, you must attend the resolution meeting. Though the resolution meeting can be waived, if both parties agree in writing.

2. While attendance is mandatory, parents do not have to bring any evidence with them, or show special education personnel what their case is! In fact I recommend that parents bring only three things with them to the resolution meeting. A pen and paper to take notes and a list of things that they are willing to settle for.

3. School districts may not bring their attorney to resolution meetings unless the parent is represented by an attorney. Parents may bring advocates though, and I suggest you consider this.

4. In most states what happens at a resolution meeting is not confidential and may be brought up in due process. Some states such as Indiana, Ohio, and Texas do consider the resolution meeting confidential! Parents should not agree to sign a confidentiality agreement before a resolution meeting why? Because any thing stated at the meeting by school personnel can be used at due process, unless a confidentiality agreement is signed between the two parties.

5. In the states that do not make the resolution meeting confidential, parents may have the right to tape record the meeting, and use a transcript at the due process hearing. Check with your state board of education if you are interested in tape recording a resolution meeting.

6. If a resolution is reached between special education personnel and parents a written legally binding settlement must be developed and signed by both parties. Make sure that the written agreement is specific to what services the school district is going to provide the child: minutes of the service, who is going to provide the service, how long the child will get the service, and anything else that is important. This agreement is enforceable in any state or federal court.

Whether resolution meetings are helpful to settle due process cases depends on where you live, and your school district. I do think that it is helpful for parents to attend with an open mind, and listen to what special education personnel have to say. By knowing these 6 things you will be an assertive and persistent advocate for your child. Good luck!

JoAnn Collins is the mother of two adults with disabilities, and has helped families navigate the special education system, as an advocate, for over 15 years. She is a presenter and author of the book "Disability Deception; Lies Disability Educators Tell and How Parents Can Beat Them at Their Own Game." The book has a lot of resources and information to help parents fight for an appropriate education for their child. For a free E newsletter entitled "The Special Education Spotlight" send an E mail to: JoAnn@disabilitydeception.com For more information on the book, testimonials about the book, and a link to more articles go to: http://www.disabilitydeception.com

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More Studies Show Divorce Hurts Kids' Education

Recent studies of divorced children in Australia, Canada, and the United States have shown the devastating consequences of divorce and family chaos on children's education. Australian students appear to be more adversely impacted than those in the US and Canada. Divorce is also more disruptive than death of a parent. Multiple divorces worsen outcomes even further, dropping high school graduation rates to 40% or less.

Australian high school students suffered an average of a 12 month cut in their time in school due to a single divorce in the family. American and Canadian studies fared slightly better, with just under 11 months average reduction in high school attendance. By contrast, the death of a parent resulted in an average of 6 months less.

Although high school attendance and completion rates declined dramatically, university education was not affected much. This suggests that older children are less disrupted by family chaos and/or that children or more wealthy families that can afford university educations for their children might be less affected by divorce.

Adverse impact of divorce upon education has skyrocketed as divorce has been more common. Divorces in 1920 caused a 3.6 month loss of education, but since 1970 they have blown up to about a year in lost education. This time-frame roughly corresponds with the rise of "no fault divorce" in Western nations.

Multiple divorces had an even worse impact on high school graduation rates. While students who parents stay together average a 78.4% rate of graduation from high school by age 20, one divorce drops the graduation rate to 60%, about the same as for children whose mother or father died.

Divorce and remarriage did not significantly change the graduation rates for children versus divorce with no remarriage. But with divorce-remarriage-divorce (two divorces), the graduation rate drops further to only about 40%, half of that for children whose parents remained married.

As to causes for these consequences, again disruption to children's lives, the family chaos, and financial devastation that divorce wreaks on both parents are likely to contribute to worsening educational outcomes.

Rob Washington is a devoted father of three children and an avid researcher and writer for angiEmedia.com

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Increasing Parent Involvement Beyond the Local PTA

Teachers at local PTA meetings invariably stress the need for increasing parent involvement, but this concept goes beyond mere education. Involved parenting requires that we take our children more seriously - that we fully understand the magnitude of the issues which bother them and be genuinely interested in the things that interest them.

Yes, you have important 'adult' things to take care of - office work, household, neighborhood politics, family visits, ad nauseam. When Junior prattles on about what was taught in school today, how mean the new boy in class is, or how great that movie on Disney Channel was, do you often find yourself nodding distractedly, throwing a patronizing smile and delivering a reminder about homework?

Increasing parent involvement in a child's life is all about condescending to the child's level, trying to understand what is happening in the child's life and making an effort to be part of it. Since school is such a large and important part of a child's life, parents tend to give that aspect considerable importance. This is proper, but how well can we truly understand how our children react to school unless we understand them as individuals?

The things that are discussed at the local PTA meeting must make sense to you on a deeper level. Unless you have made it a habit to interact with your child at Ground Zero level, you will have little to contribute at such meetings, and will not know how to integrate what you hear there in your parenting approach.

The parent-child bond demands that you share your child's world - not view it dispassionately from the outside. For instance - when your child reports an instance of bullying at school, you need to know how your child generally reacts to aggression. How can you know that unless you have observed him on the playground, or during an argument with a friend? When your child stops to stare at a violent movie poster, have you ever asked him what thoughts and feelings it evokes?

Your child needs you to be part of his life. At the local PTA meeting, you need to be able to weigh what you hear against what you intimately know about your child. Increasing parent involvement in a child's life requires that you get down on your knees more often to talk to your child face to face. At such times, you needs to let go of your adult pretensions, and to connect with the child one-on-one... trying to understand what goes on, why it goes on and how one can help smooth the ride.

Priya Florence Shah writes for Parentella, a private communication platform for parents and teachers. By building an online school community and helping you connect with other parents and with your child's teacher, we provide a platform for increasing parent involvement in school affairs. Visit us for a private, safe, and secure experience in communicating with your child's educationists.

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Can Parents Be Too Involved With Their Child's Education?

Being involved in your child's education is obviously a good thing. But, some may wonder if ever there can be too much of a good thing. Can parents be too involved with their child's education? While this, like anything else, should not be taken to the extreme, parental involvement in a child's education is generally considered a good thing.

Research has shown that parents who are involved actively in their child's education perform better when it comes to reading and math. Along with getting higher grades, parents' involvement also leads to increased motivation in their children and better family lives. This being said, parents don't have to run for an office at the PTO or the school board. A few hours of quality time spent with your child to help with his homework or doing an after school activity together makes a big difference. Below are a few points that parents who are or want to get involved with their child's education will find helpful.

PTO

Being involved through the PTO opportunities in your child's school can keep pertinent issues within closer reach. PTO organizations help parents be a part of what takes place at school, as well as keeps them informed of recent issues and developments. There will be meetings and events to not only discuss the issues, but also to have fun with the children while they learn. Many PTOs host events such as family math nights.

Will the Kids Be Annoyed at Parental Involvement?

Some kids may become annoyed if parental involvement in education is at a high level. I think this may be more common with high school students than students in middle or elementary schools. Many kids enjoy parental involvement and it gives a boost of confidence to them to see how much their parents care.

Educational Conflicts

Because methods used to solve math concepts can differ from what parents were used to as kids, it can sometimes be difficult to help kids with math. However, this should not stop parents from helping their children and being involved. There are ways to get around this, such as online tutoring help where parents and students can spend 45min-1 hour together with the tutor by putting him on speakers. The parents can observe the child learn this way. Then, when it comes time to help later on, they will know how.

Benefits of Being Involved in a Child's Education

When parents are involved with their child's education, there come many benefits to both the child, as well as the parent. Children who have involved parents will likely have a better chance at succeeding than those whose parents are not aware of what is going on or whether their child is struggling. An aware parent can provide help to the child wherever it is needed. Ways to help your child with his math problems.

This type of involvement in a child's education can lead to better grades, as it is much harder for a child's difficulty with concepts to slip under the radar. Also, involved parents can observe their children's interests and use those to make learning time a fun time, rather than a chore. Technology can also be used in a constructive way to help your child.

Homeschooling

Homeschooling is a great example of how parental involvement gives a boost to a child's morale. I have been to various homeschooling conventions and my observation has been that homeschooling children are more open with what they are studying and have a higher level of confidence than other students who always shy away from even talking about the M (ath) word. Could this have something to do with the involvement of their parents? I would assume so. With this method, parents can be fully aware of what is going on with their child's education, as they are the ones doing the teaching and planning.

Surabhi Mittal works with the academic department of ClickandClimb.com that provides one-on-one online math tutoring to children in grades 3-12. She can be reached at surabhi@clickandclimb.com. To learn more about online math tutoring or to get a 2-week free trial, please visit http://www.clickandclimb.com/.

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Unpacking Special Education

First, it is important to understand that Special Education services are meant to help your child succeed as a student and as an individual. Hopefully it is no surprise when your child is referred for Special Education Services. This referral can come from you, the teacher or anyone else who works with your child. Once your child is suspected of having a disability or believed to require extra services, a referral is placed.

What is a referral? Paperwork is submitted to a team called the CSE or Committee on Special Education. Generally the team consists of teachers, the school psychologist and other people who work with your child. What you may or may not know, the most valuable member of the CSE is the parent. After all, you know your child best!

Once the referral is received, the student is evaluated. Different members of the CSE meet with your child and evaluate through observations, and various assessments. It is important to note, that this can NOT happen without your consent. Usually, the initial evaluation includes: a physical examination, psychological assessments, social/emotional history, observation of your child in their classroom and any other appropriate assessment. This could also include speech and/or language, behavior evaluation etc.

Once the evaluation has been completed, a CSE meeting will be scheduled. It is important that the parent be present and is aware of their rights. At the CSE meeting, the results of the evaluation will be discussed and recommendations will be made. If you disagree with the results, you have the right to request that an outside agency evaluate your child, at the expense of the school district.

If your child is eligible to receive special education services, the Committee must select a disability category that is most appropriate for your child. Again, if you disagree with the committee, you have the right to seek mediation.

Once your child is deemed eligible to receive services, the committee will be responsible for developing an IEP or Individual Education Plan for your child. When creating your child's plan, their strengths and needs will be taken into consideration. The IEP will document goals that your child will attempt to meet with the support of special education services. The IEP will also indicate where the services will take place. It is important to note that Special Education services are based on a spectrum that ranges from the least restrictive environment or LRE to the most restrictive environment.

Once the IEP has been implemented, you should receive written progress reports documenting how your child is progressing with their goals. Once a year, the CSE will meet to review the IEP. Every three years, a reevaluation will take place, similar to the initial referral to CSE to determine if your child still requires the support of Special Education services.

Hopefully this has "unpacked" the special education process for you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Bernstein
  

Special Needs Children's Education

It's almost as though homeschooling was invented for a special needs children's education.  Kids afflicted with ADHD, autism, dyslexia or Asperger's among other learning difficulties can all benefit from being taught at home by their parents.  Some public school systems can afford to hire trained therapists for these fields, but the extra attention and time afforded a student at home by a loved one can make a big difference in a child's ability to learn.  It's just natural for a parent to be able to teach their own child more effectively.  They've been doing it for the student's whole life and know how to best approach new things with them.  They will likely be more patient than a public school teacher and offer the extra time it might take to learn.  A classroom would likely not be as able to offer the one-on-one time it might take until a student "gets it".

It's likely a parent would also know better than a public school instructor what manner of teaching would best suit their child.  Some learn better with visual aids, some by repetition and some by seeing it done for them and copying what they're taught.  It's very likely a parent would already know this from their own experience.  They'll also know what to look for when a special needs child is getting frustrated and ready to act up or quit, thereby avoiding a bad learning experience for the child.

If you're wondering what sort of curriculum would best suit your special needs children's education, there are several avenues to get started.

We would first look on the Internet.  Non-profit groups who support your child's disorder will likely have a presence there and should have good information about learning difficulties and how to overcome them.  They will likely make suggestions or direct you to other good sources.  They may even list case studies of various methods of learning and their success rates.

We would also try to find support groups on the Internet for your particular disease.  There will likely be several forums on the Web where you can read others' posts and ask questions directly.  Parents on these websites are often very willing to share their experiences and will offer help when they can.  Although your child is an individual, often there can be common practices that will help almost all children suffering from a common ailment.

There are also many books available about homeschooling your special needs children.  Some are written specifically for particular disorders and offer teaching suggestions as well as curriculum selection guides.  Most are written by people who have been homeschooling their own special needs children, so they speak with experience and write in every day language, rather than from theory with medical-babble-speak.

If you start with these suggestions, you should quickly be on the road to solving how to best get your special needs children educated.  It can be as rewarding for you as it will be for your child since you will have contributed directly to his education and well-being.

A J Adams has had a keen interest in home schooling for a number of years. With several public school teachers in his family, he has had many discussions regarding current school problems. He's heard many suggestions, one of which was the growing number of children being home schooled. After a thorough period of research, he decided to write an article about special needs children education. He will be submitting more in future articles. Mr. Adams also owns and maintains a website with his wife at http://www.elementary-home-schools.com where you can get a free 10-part mini-course on homeschooling and watch a touching video made by a young man to thank his mother for her many years of homeschooling him.

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What is a Neuropsychologist? Could They Help My Child in Special Education?

Are you the parent of a child with autism who is far behind their grade appropriate peers and you wonder why? Are you the parent of a child with a learning disability who has received special education services for many years, with little to no progress? Or are you concerned that your child may have dyslexia or other undiagnosed disabilities, and wonder if a neuropsychological evaluation could help your child? An evaluation with a neuropsychologist could help diagnose why your child is not learning, and what educational and related services they need in order to progress in their education. This article will discuss what a neuropsychologist is, the purpose of their evaluations, and disabilities that they may diagnose in your child.

A neuropsychologist has much more training than a regular psychologist or a school psychologist. A neuropsychologist must have a doctoral degree in psychology, as well as years of additional neuroscience training and experience.

The neuropsychology training involves training in psychology, neurology, neuro psychiatry and health disciplines. To be competent in this area requires several years of additional training and experience beyond the doctoral degree required for conventional practice. Some neuropsychologists are in private practice and may only work with children.

The purpose of an evaluation by a neuropsychologist is:

1. To find possible problems with brain functioning.

2. To determine if a child has any undiagnosed disabilities. These could be dyslexia or other language based disorders, autism, Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) etc. These disabilities could explain why your child is having difficulty learning.

3. To make a determination on what educational and related services a child needs, in order to make progress in their education.

4. To document a child's brain related strengths and weaknesses.

5. To document changes in the child's functioning over time.

Many parents who bring their child to a neuropsychologist are doing so because their child is not making progress in their education, or the parent needs to know what specific services that their child requires. When the testing is complete, and the report is finished, many parents will then bring this to the school and ask them to provide needed services.

Many parents seek neuropsychological evaluations and treatment for these common conditions:

1. Autism spectrum disorder

2. Pervasive Developmental Disorder-NOS

3. Dyslexia

4. ADD or ADHD

5. Verbal and non verbal learning disabilities

6. Sensory processing disorder

7. Central auditory processing disorder

8. Tourette's Syndrome

It is frustrating that parents must pay for outside evaluations in order to get their child appropriate special education and related services, or to have the school district find them eligible for special education. To find a Neuropsychologist in your area contact a local disability organization and ask them if they are familiar with one who works with children. Also, you can ask other parents if they know of any neuropsychologists that work with children. Remember that you not only want a neuropsychologist that can test your child, but you also want one that can give very specific recommendations about what services that your child needs. Good luck in your efforts!

JoAnn Collins is the mother of two adults with disabilities, and has helped families navigate the special education system, as an advocate, for over 15 years. She is a presenter and author of the book "Disability Deception; Lies Disability Educators Tell and How Parents Can Beat Them at Their Own Game." The book has a lot of resources and information to help parents fight for an appropriate education for their child. For a free E newsletter entitled "The Special Education Spotlight" send an E mail to: JoAnn@disabilitydeception.com. For more information on the book, testimonials about the book, and a link to more articles go to: http://www.disabilitydeception.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=JoAnn_Collins

Help! My Child Was Screened For Special Education and Found Not Eligible? Now What Do I Do!

Has your child been screened by special education personnel and told that they are not eligible for services? Did their doctor state that your child has autism, but the school stated that they did a screening and found that your child did not have autism, thus was not eligible? This article will discuss screening and how it is related to eligibility for special education services.

School districts in the US must perform something that is called: Child Find. What this means is that school districts are required to locate, identify and evaluate those that may have a disability. This requirement is included in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) under 300.111 (a) (i). Many school districts use screening tools as a basis to fulfill their Child Find obligations.

But screening is not the same as testing for special education eligibility. Once the school district finds someone that may have a disability, through the screening process, they must be evaluated, to determine if they are eligible, according to IDEA and the Child Find requirements.

The evaluation should be comprehensive and include all areas of suspected disability, which is required by IDEA. Some of these areas could be speech/language needs, occupational therapy needs, fine motor difficulty, learning disability central auditory processing disorder, social/emotional and behavioral needs, functional needs, sensory processing disorder and not just academic difficulties.

So if your child is screened and thought to have a disability, a complete evaluation must be completed on your child to determine if they are eligible for special education and related services. Do not accept screening as an eligibility tool!

IDEA states that two things must occur to be eligible:

1. They must have a disability

2. They must have educational needs.

Many school districts may state that the child's disability must negatively affect there education; but that was taken out when IDEA was reauthorized in 2004! They must have a disability, and must have educational needs (not just academic needs, as discussed above).

According to Caselaw: Seattle School District No1 vs. BS (9th circuit 1996) : The term unique educational needs shall be broadly construed to include. . . academic, social, health, emotional, communicative, physical and vocational needs

Once the testing is complete, an eligibility conference will be held between you and special education personnel in your district. Do not go alone, try and find another parent or an advocate who is familiar with special education. The eligibility conference is one of the most important conferences in special education.

At the eligibility conference if your child is found eligible for special education an Individual Education Plan will be developed. If they are not found eligible ask for an Independent Educational Evaluation at Public Expense, because you disagree with the school districts evaluation (and/or interpretation).

Many school districts find children ineligible for special education services even though they do have a disability, and have educational needs. The difficulty begins with their interpretation of the testing. The test scores may be extremely low, but they interpret them to be fine, and then find the child ineligible.

You must advocate, because you are their parent and they are depending on you! Good luck in this difficult process, but it will be worth it!

JoAnn Collins is the mother of two adults with disabilities, and has helped families navigate the special education system, as an advocate, for over 15 years. She is a presenter and author of the book "Disability Deception; Lies Disability Educators Tell and How Parents Can Beat Them at Their Own Game." The book has a lot of resources and information to help parents fight for an appropriate education for their child. For a free E newsletter entitled "The Special Education Spotlight" send an E mail to: JoAnn@disabilitydeception.com. For more information on the book, testimonials about the book, and a link to more articles go to: http://www.disabilitydeception.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=JoAnn_Collins

Use the Parent Plus Loan to Help Pay For College

The cost of college continues to rise and with incomes staying relatively static or even worse, unexpected job loss, paying for your child's college education can be a source of great anxiety. There is a little known option offered by the federal government that may help you. Let's take a look at the parent plus loan.

The parent plus loan is a loan taken out by a parent on behalf of a child to help pay for tuition and other school related expenses at a qualifying college or university, or by a graduate student for graduate school. Your child must be enrolled at least half time and your credit has to be good or excellent.

Keep in mind that this is not a needs based loan so if you have damaged or no credit and are looking for a way to finance your child's college, you will be better off filling out the FASFA to qualify for one of the needs based grants or loans.

With the parent plus loan, you can borrow enough money to finance your child's entire undergraduate education including housing, books, tuition, and any other eligible school expense at a federally guaranteed low interest rate.

It should be noted that it is recommended that this loan should be used in conjunction with student loans, grants and scholarships. It should not be used as the only form of payment if possible.

Remember that this is not a needs based loan. The federal government says this about the qualifications:

"Eligibility for the parent plus loan depends on a modest credit check that determines whether the parent has adverse credit. An adverse credit history is defined as being more than 90 days late on any debt or having any Title IV debt within the past five years subjected to default determination, bankruptcy discharge, foreclosure, repossession, tax lien, wage garnishment, or write-off."

As of June of 2006, the fixed interest rate is 8.5% with a .25% credit if an automatic withdrawal is set up and interest may be tax deductable.

While not widely known, the parent plus loan can be the perfect way to finance the rest of your child's college education.

Tim is the author of elementary-finance.com, a financial blog providing beginning investment and finance advice to those who have a desire to learn the basics of investing and finance.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Parker

Weighing the Differences Between Classical Education and Calvert Grade-In-A-Box Curriculum

Since 1905 Calvert School has been offering homeschoolers a complete package- one year of curriculum covering all subjects. Previously I hadn't even considered their company for two reasons: cost (one time fee of over $600) and my control over materials: a parent has no control over the choices for subjects.

This year Calvert began offering a payment plan which would cause its cost to be similar to what we budget for now, when we deliberate and choose our texts. So with the cost objection out the window, I looked more carefully at the course descriptions.

Calvert is really impressive for a few reasons. First, teachers are available on-line or by telephone if your kid(and you) are stumped by some topic. They have initial placement tests and unit testing in subject material online. Each enrolled student has resources available to them in their Calvert account. These include math and spelling games, an "i-Library," tutorials, and e-textbooks. There is a lot of parent support available, through the phone, email, or the parent's online resource which include answer keys.

The coursework is thorough, and includes art history, geography and computer literacy from elementary years on. However, the approach of the curriculum in general is scatter-gun in organization similar to public schools. For instance, putting life cycles and physics together in the same year of science instruction. Biographies not laid in the timeline of history, but as a focus of the history course? I much prefer the classical organization of science with history in a chronological flow.

I am a staunch believer in the classical methodology of running the sciences along with the story of history:

1st/5th/9th grades: biology with ancient history
2nd/6th/10th grades: astronomy & earth science with medieval history
3rd/7th/11th grades: chemistry with the age of exploration
4th/8th/12th grades: physics and computer science with modern history

During each period of history, vast improvements in the corresponding sciences occurred. I think studying things within their natural framework leads to a cohesion mentally as to when things and why things happened the way they did in history.

In addition, another beneficial aspect of classical curriculum is using whole books instead of readers. Textbooks for literature are edited for ease of reading. The most exciting and pivotal scenes are chosen so that the reader is always entertained and engaged without effort. Each selection is provided with a character and plot summary bringing the student reader 'up-to-speed' on the passage. Carefully phrased questions pertaining to the portions provided are at the end of each passage. Definitions of unknown words are available in bold in the margin. How does a child learn to analyze for content with such material? Reading literature from a textbook is akin to watching educational television: you are passively fed information, and are asked to regurgitate someone else's assessment of the information. Classical education requires the reader to do investigative work to discover under their own mental powers what the text has for you.

Perhaps you took your child out of public or private school because of social or safety reasons, and you know that homeschooling is best for this child. Maybe you found homeschooling to be a solution to your problem, but you aren't one of those people who always knew this was the road for you. If this describes you, I would wholeheartedly recommend this company and their curriculum as a solution. It ensures that if your child does the work, no gaps will be left in your his education.

However, for our purposes, I will invest the time and energy to lay out a curriculum based on The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home. I think the benefits of a classical education far outweigh the ease and convenience available through Calvert School, however excellent it may be for others.

Teresa Dear divides her time between home-educating her four children, making a comfortable home, and stocking her http://www.mama4x.etsy.com storefront with handmade greeting cards and vintage ephemera. You can read more about the Classical Education Method in general and her homeschool lifestyle in particular at http://mama4x.blogspot.com Find out her choices for curriculum and everything else homeschool.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Teresa_Dear

5 Reasons Not to Give Consent For Special Education Personnel to Bill Your Private Insurance

Are you the parent of a child with autism or dyslexia? Is your child receiving special education related services? Have you been asked to give written consent, so that your school district can bill your private insurance company? This article will give you 5 reasons not to consent to having your private insurance billed for related services and evaluations.

Related services are special education services that your child needs to benefit from their education. They can be: transportation, physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), speech/language therapy. Private insurance can also be billed for psychological testing (though many will not pay for this), testing for OT, PT, and Speech/language.

Below are 5 reasons why every parent in the US should refuse to have their private insurance billed for special education services:

Reason 1: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act states that all children with disabilities have the right to special education and related services to meet their educational needs. Most parents have to fight so that their child can receive appropriate services in the correct amounts to meet their needs; but special education is an entitlement!

Reason 2: School districts receive state and federal funding for related services. While federal funding does not pay all of the costs, states also chip in.

Also, every state in the USA has returned money to the federal government, for IDEA funds that have gone unused. Between 2000-2002 state board of educations sent back 1.7 billion dollars of unused IDEA funds! Find out how much your school district sent back by contacting your state board of education!

There is money, it is just that many special education personnel have other priorities, rather than giving related services to needed children.

Reason 3: The children in the district receiving Medicaid, often have their parents give consent for school districts to seek reimbursement for related services. This is another funding stream that school districts receive, that they rarely discuss. This could amount to millions of dollars in some school districts, so do not worry about your schools pocketbook!

Reason 4: Many insurance companies have caps on benefits. If you allow your insurance to be billed, your child may reach their cap, which means they would have no insurance. Also this may prevent your child from getting insurance in the future, if they have major bills for related services and evaluations.

Reason 5: If you allow your insurance company to be billed for psychological testing or other testing, special education personnel may ask for testing that your child does not need. Reimbursement should not be the reason for testing your child; educational needs and services needed should be the reason.

Form: The form that you may be asked to sign would probably state: Parent consent for reimbursement of health related services. Read this form very carefully. It should state that this permission is voluntary. Also on the form should be 2 boxes: 1. I give consent for billing of my private insurance company for related services and evaluations or 2. I do not give consent for billing of my private insurance company for services and evaluation.

By understanding these 5 reasons, you will know why it is in your child's best interest to not give consent for your private insurance to be billed, for related services and evaluations.

JoAnn Collins is the mother of two adults with disabilities, and has helped families navigate the special education system, as an advocate, for over 15 years. She is a presenter and author of the book "Disability Deception; Lies Disability Educators Tell and How Parents Can Beat Them at Their Own Game." The book has a lot of resources and information to help parents fight for an appropriate education for their child. For a free E newsletter entitled "The Special Education Spotlight" send an E mail to: JoAnn@disabilitydeception.com. For more information on the book, testimonials about the book, and a link to more articles go to: http://www.disabilitydeception.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=JoAnn_Collins

The Secrets of Good Parent - Teacher Communication - A Brief Handbook For Teachers

The Difficulties Teachers Face   Besides the obvious challenges of classroom management, curriculum development and ever-increasing mounds of paper work, teachers often have to face the difficulty of having to work with a parent who does not want to work with them.  

While many parents are helpful, cooperative and responsive, there are some who can be exceedingly challenging, particularly when your contact with them comes at the end of the day and you are both already tired. These parents can yell, accuse, criticize, act belligerently, entitled, defensive or, conversely, fail to be in contact entirely.   Understandably, many teachers are left bewildered, hurt and angered by this behavior. Some take it personally and wonder what they've done. Others may dismiss it, and so doing, neglect pursuing that relationship at all, which, in the long run, doesn't help anyone at all.

Why Parents Respond The Way They Do   It may not make the behavior any more pleasant but it can help teachers engage with these parents by understanding that parents sometimes come to the classroom with notions that predispose them to being defensive or difficult. They may expect to have a negative experience for reasons having nothing to do with you.       

Perhaps their childhoods were harsh or academics were particularly grueling or punitive for them. Perhaps as adults it is their chance to finally rebel and draw the line in the sand, even when it doesn't need to be drawn anymore. Many adults cover their own insecurities by acting fierce or non-responsive. If a parent has had a negative experience with school or they feel shameful about their own level of education, it may manifest in posturing with his/her child's teachers.       

People most typically don't consciously choose aggressive or dysfunctional behaviors. They learn them and usually come from environments in which the behavior was needed, adaptive and helped them survive in some way. This is not an excuse for it, merely an explanation. And when we understand what moves people, we can better help them. 

Common Traps & Pitfalls 

Fighting Fire With Fire: 

When we respond to anger and frustration with more of the same, we perpetuate and increase the problem. If a parent needs to vent their suspicions, criticism and confusion - let them. Unless you know you've made a mistake and are covering it up, it is decidedly not personal. A parent that is raging about their child's difficulties in class was almost surely raging before he/she got into your classroom. A parent that expresses helplessness and makes you feel responsible was almost certainly doing that elsewhere as well. See the person and the problem before you with a detached compassion. If, in fact, you have made an honest mistake or there are things you don't know and don't understand about your student, it's your job to say so and let the parent know how you are working on it. Elicit the parent's alliance. He or she knows the child better than most others. Let the parent know what an important and valuable resource he or she is.  

Taking The Short View:

When you only see what's in front of you and forget about where you want to go professionally with your students, you start to lecture instead of listen, act before you assess and cut to the chase instead of taking the time to develop a relationship. Get to know the parent sitting in front of you. It's true that your time is limited. But if it requires more than one visit or you need to solicit the help of your school social worker to conduct home visits so that it is more convenient for the parents, do so. Mind you, some people feel very comfortable about home visits and some do not. Unless there is serious reason for a more assertive stance, do not force this. Offer it as a service and not as an investigative tool.

Talking Down:

No teacher deliberately intends to talk down to a parent. But when you're rushed, fatigued, overworked or accustomed to acting in "teacher mode" all day, it can happen easily if you're not vigilant. No one, including teachers, wants to be lectured or judged. 

Knee-Jerk Judging:

Everyone but everyone makes assumptions. It is the way human beings engage socially in a complex, fast-moving culture. We make decisions based on how someone dresses, how he walks, talks or smells. Some of these assumptions may turn out to be true, some false. We judge people based on limited information even though we know it to be less than accurate and way less than useful in many cases. It may be rumor, a person's presentation or a difference in social status or culture.  

We need to stay very aware of this tendency in ourselves and be ready to receive new information that can change the course of a parent-teacher conference, and in turn, the course of a child's academic career.  

Handy Tips to Avoid Common Mistakes 

1. Establish your Position Early - Let the parent know you're a collaborator. Send a card, have a chat, make a call. Express your excitement about working with the child. Make it clear that although you're the expert on education, the parent is the expert on his/her child and that you welcome, even need, his or her input. 

2. Switch Gears - Take a deep breath and take a breath from the rest of the school day. Working with a parent is a peer-process. Do a little self-check on your inner attitude and tone: Had a tough day? Annoyed about something at home? About something to do with the parent? Can you create a calm and welcoming feeling? Sometimes a trusted colleague can be very helpful in providing a reality check. 

3. Dealing with Defensiveness - If a parent comes in angry and you respond to the anger, you can be sure it will escalate. Even if you feel attacked, you don't have to attack back. Assume it's not you causing the reaction rather that it's about "the school," the frustrations of parenthood, anxiety, past experiences. If the parent is actually angry at YOU, maintain eye contact, listen till he's finished and try to understand what's motivating it and if there is in fact something you can fix. 

4. Listen and Empathize - By detaching it's easier to listen calmly and emphatically. When we do, it's amazing how people suddenly soften and calm down. Listening carefully is also the smartest and easiest way to discover the real issues and not be misled by what is presented. 

5. Keep an Open Mind - Set aside any assumptions. The truth is that for the most part we really don't know the full story. We get bits and pieces from different sources, many of whom are also getting it second or third hand. Preconceptions, like out-and-out prejudices, can get in the way of a productive relationship. 

6. Assume the Best - At least until proven otherwise. Clearly, if you need to respond to a dangerous or seriously negative situation, it is your legal and moral responsibility to do so. Until then, however, assume a parent wants what is best for his or her child - even if they themselves are not sure what that is - and actively look for a way to connect, educate and collaborate. 

7. Take Time and Make Time For You - That means on both fronts: professional and personal. Give yourself enough time to meet with a parent comfortably, if at all possible. And give yourself the time you need to unwind with your peers, your spouse or alone. If you're terribly stressed, take a break. Give yourself what you give to everyone else. 

Judith Acosta, LISW, is a licensed psychotherapist, crisis counselor and homeopath in private practice in New Mexico. She is the co-author of The Worst Is Over: What To Say When Every Moment Counts, hailed as the "bible of crisis communications." She lectures around the country on Verbal First Aid, trauma, stress, and intuition development. She may be reached at her website: http://www.wordsaremedicine.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judith_Acosta

Homeschooling and the Single Parent

Stories about a disturbing number of parents abandoning their children in Nebraska have captured national headlines.  A safe haven law with an unfortunate loophole allows parents to drop off their children at any hospital in the state without consequence.  Although the law was initially designed to protect infants in unwanted circumstances, parents of older children are using this law as a way out of difficult situations.  These types of stories shine a negative light on all parents across the nation, stealing the spotlight away from truly newsworthy parents.   

Headlines rarely feature the small group of dedicated single parents willing to give up everything to provide the best education possible for their children.  This growing group of single parents may not get the recognition that they deserve, but the movement continues to expand.  It seems impossible that a single parent would be able to home school their children when in fact they must work full time to support their family.  Bearing in mind a few vital factors, this difficult task can be accomplished.

Flexibility Factor

When children attend a traditional school they must conform to the school curriculum and schedule.  However, when a child is home schooled, there is much more flexibility.  For example, classes can take place at times convenient for both parent and child such as on evenings or weekends.  That flexibility is possible because a home schooled child may not require as much time to learn a lesson as a whole classroom of students.  In addition, there are curriculum available where older children can work independently, then review with an adult.  

Family Factor

A single parent needs to secure the assistance of friends and families in order to be successful with a home school program.  Some fortunate parents already have a close knit support group within their own communities.  Other parents may need to relocate in order to be closer to family members who are willing to help.  Churches are also filed with people who are more than willing to lend a hand to single parents in their attempt to educate their children.  Some churches even have programs for home schoolers.  Often, participating families are happy to include children of single parents on trips and special events.   Even some babysitters may be willing to work on academics while watching the children.  It is possible to find support by simply reaching out. 

Faith Factor

Some home schooling parents are willing to take the risk of working from home.  For some, a career change is necessary in order to be able to work from home.  For others, it means working out a work-from-home deal with their company.  Wise financial planning and budgeting play a major role in successfully implementing a home schooling program.  Shopping at yard sales, consignment shops and good will stores may be a necessity.  Other sacrifices such as downgrading a vehicle or moving into a smaller home may also be necessary in order to afford less hours of work.  Parents need to have faith in themselves and know that although these are significant sacrifices, they are well worth it. 

Behavioral Issues

Death and divorce are the main reasons why a person might be left a single parent.  Although behavior issues rise in all types of children, those who have experienced a death or divorce are more likely to exhibit behavior problems.  For these children in particular, home schooling is the best option.  Children who have lost a parent crave stability and need to feel like they can trust the adults who are still in their world.  A parent who is present consistently will have more insight into their child's behaviors and know how to best handle them.  It's hard to provide consistency when you are a single parent responsible for handling all things, without taking a break.  But, single parent home schoolers consent that their children are worth all the sacrifices. 


Support for Learning Disabilities

Just because a child has a learning disability does not mean that they must be enrolled in public school.  One of the most common childhood learning disabilities, ADHD, had been proven to be best taught in the home.  The advantage of having children with learning disabilities taught in the home is that parents can tailor the curriculum specifically to their needs.  In a classroom of 30 children, the teacher will not be able to give a child with a learning disability the time or attention necessary for their success.  When parents teach their children, they give them their undivided attention, which leads to understanding their unique needs and better addressing those needs.

If you think your child has difficulty learning, have your child evaluated by a professional.  Finding out the specific disability will help parents research the nature of the disability and the most appropriate practices for teaching the child.  Knowing the specific disability will also help parents get connected with support groups made up of other parents.  Support groups can often be found online.  Seminars are available to empower parents to deal with specific disabilities.  Never believe that children with disabilities are better off in public school.  A special education teacher deals with such a wide variety of disabilities that they only scratch the surface of each.  As the parents of one child with a disability, you would become a subject matter expert in your child's disability.  Your love and concern as a parent qualifies you as the best teacher.

Child-focused Curriculum

Single parents home schoolers have found that the best curriculum for them is the child-taught one.  Robinson Curriculum is one such curriculum that has proven results throughout the years.   It was developed for her children by Laurelee Robinson, whose husband was left a single-parents home schooler after her passing.  The children began to teach themselves with much success.  These types of curriculum's give single parents the freedom to guide their children in their learning, without the hassle of preparing and teaching lessons.

Being a single parent requires great strength, commitment and support from others.  No one plans to be a single parent.  But when caught in that situation, many parents are choosing to sacrifice even more in order to provide their children the best education possible.  In the end, these parents have no doubt that they are doing the best for their child.

Michedolene Hogan, publisher of UniqueParenting.com is a proud wife and mother who has devoted her time to understanding the strength behind the family and the bonds that grow within it. She is a homeschooling mom of her four younger children and is very passionate about her role as a mother and educator in their lives.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michedolene_Hogan

How Does Federal Parent Plus Loans Work?

Federal Parent Plus Loans are quite simple - they are loans which are supported by the federal government. With Parent Plus Loans, parents are able to loan money in order to pay education costs of their children who are still dependent (undergraduate students only). This type of loan is generally given out depending on the credit of the parent. As for the interest rate, it is fixed, and after the second loan, repayment must start.

The requirements for a Federal Parent Plus loan is quite simple. Firstly, you must have very good credit, or else you are automatically not eligible. The student must also be in university or college half of the time. Some schools require students applying for a Federal Parent Plus Loan to fill out a FAFSA form. Although, this is only required by some schools, and not by others. You can ask the financial office of the university to find out. Lastly, the student must be a citizen of the US or a permanent resident. Those from Samoa and/or Swains Island are also eligible.

There are quite a few benefits as for this type of loan. For starters, the parent is obviously getting a fair bit of money to help their child enroll in higher education. Secondly, this type of loan as a set interest rate, meaning it cannot exceed it. This set interest rate is 8.5% -- which was applied in 2006. There is also zero collateral required. Another great aspect of this type of loan is that one cannot be rejected for having a very high income. This loan is solely rewarded based on your credit. The funds do not only have to be for tuition - they can be for food, housing, textbooks, and so on.

The amount you can loan depends on how much other financial aid you are receiving. You must take the cost of your education for a year, subtract the amounts of other financial aid you are receiving, and that is how much you can loan.As for repaying, you have 10 years to do so. If you need to consolidate, you can also do that as well.

For out more information about Federal Stafford Loan, visit my simple and impartial loan consolidation guide at : http://consolidateprivateloansnow.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kasper_Bovorsky

Why is Parental Involvement Important in a Child's Education?

Numerous researches have been conducted to support the issue that parents who are involved in their children's education are building the foundations for a better educated child. These children are better adjusted to school which usually leads to life-long learning. Additionally, parental involvement sends a message directly from the parent to the child that education is important.

Parental involvement is directly correlated to reading achievement; reading is emphasized and becomes enjoyable when parents begin reading to their children at a young age. Children begin to understand the importance of reading and monitoring the child's achievement becomes routine which keeps the child on the right grade level for reading throughout the educational process. Students' reading performance is a big educational issue in America. Parents who develop a strong educational foundation in reading assist their children in future endeavors and life goals. Another pertinent reason for parents to be directly involved with their children's education is that deficiencies can be noticed quickly. Early recognition of a child's strengths and weakness helps to develop a child's Individual Learning Plan (ILP) and can be addressed in the child's daily instruction.

Equally important, is the fact that parents who are involved with their children's education will make sure their home is conductive to learning. This means that the home will have plenty of books available for the children to read. The home will also have a variety of reference materials and tools available, such as: encyclopedias, magazines, a computer and other electronics, pens, pencils, paper, etc. The home usually has a designated area for study which allows for quietness and concentration for school work. Creating an educational atmosphere also includes limiting the amount of television viewed throughout the week. Homework is usually completed at the same time everyday, and if homework has not been issued it is often created by an involved parent.

Parent/Teacher Conferences and volunteer services for activities at school are equally important at demonstrating the significance of an education and building strong bonds for communication. Children observe their parents, and they realize that their education is important to their parent. Furthermore, school officials are appreciative of the parents who are involved and volunteer their services both in and out of the classroom. Parents become knowledgeable on educational issues and school funding sources which often lead to additional learning advantages and opportunities for their child.

The involved parent understands the importance of reading, having an educational environment that is conducive to learning and communicating and volunteering with the school personnel. Parents who are involved in their child's learning process help them to build a strong educational foundation; these are the students who tend to excel academically and become the top of their class. Parental involvement is not something in which a parent should have a choice but something in which a parent must be involved.

For additional information go to http://www.stratesville.org.

Ronnie Phillips, a very experienced educator and parent.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ronnie_Phillips
   

How to Use Special Education Caselaw to Get Your Parental Rights

Do you have a child with autism who has just started receiving special education services? Has your child with dyslexia been receiving services for several years, but you feel that they are not making academic progress? Have your been frustrated over the fact that your school district is refusing to listen to your input on what you think your child needs, to benefit from their education? This article will be discussing two different court cases on parental rights, and how to use these ruling's to get parental rights that you are entitled to!

I hear from parents all the time that are frustrated because their school district is refusing to allow them to have meaningful participation, in determining what special education services and placement their child needs.

There have been many Court decisions about parental rights and you can probably find them through a search engine such as google.

In a couple of the cases the court held that in order to fulfill the goal of parental participation in the IEP process, the school district was required to conduct, not just an IEP meeting, but a meaningful IEP meeting,

They also found that parents have a significant role in ensuring that their child receives a free appropriate public education, concerns that parents have for enhancing their child's education must be considered by the team, and that IDEA grants parents independent enforceable rights.

These rights which are not limited to certain procedural and reimbursement related matters, encompass the entitlement to a free appropriate public education for the parent's child. In other words the rights that IDEA gives parents are found to encompass not only procedural but also substantive rights.

So how do you use these court rulings to help you get your parental rights:

1. If special education personnel in your district are not allowing you to give input on your child's education and services write them a letter and tell them that they are violating your rights under IDEA, to be part of the team that determines services for your child.

2. At your child's next IEP meeting write a parent input statement. The parent input statement should be one page, and typed if possible, and include what you think your child needs in their education. This parent input statement should be brought to your child's IEP meeting, shared with school personnel, and attached to your child's IEP. Remember, that in the Deal case the court found that the parent participation must be meaningful.

3. Check with other parents in your school district and see if they are experiencing the same problem you are, with trying to have input in your child's education.

4. If they still refuse, consider filing a state complaint for violation of IDEA. If other parents in your district are having the same problem, consider filing a systemic complaint. A systemic complaint means that the school district is violating many parent's rights, not just yours!

IDEA states that parents are members of any team that determines placement and services for their child. This would be the issue of your complaint to your State Department or Board of Education. Include a copy of your letter and your parent input statement as evidence that you are trying to have input, and your school district is refusing to allow you to!

By having knowledge of what the court has ruled in special education parental right cases you will be able to effectively advocate for your child!

JoAnn Collins is the mother of two adults with disabilities, and has helped families navigate the special education system, as an advocate, for over 15 years. She is a presenter and author of the book "Disability Deception; Lies Disability Educators Tell and How Parents Can Beat Them at Their Own Game." The book has a lot of resources and information to help parents fight for an appropriate education for their child. For a free E newsletter entitled "The Special Education Spotlight" send an E mail to: JoAnn@disabilitydeception.com. For more information on the book, testimonials about the book, and a link to more articles go to: http://www.disabilitydeception.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=JoAnn_Collins

8 Ways For You to Win a Special Education Dispute and Finally Get Your Child Services!

Are you the parent of a child with autism or dyslexia that is sick and tired of not getting your child special education services they need? Would you like to learn 8 ways that you can win a dispute with your school district, and finally get your child the educational and related services that they require to benefit their education? This article will help you learn 8 things that you can do to finally get your child the services they need!

I recently was asked by a parent if it is possible for a parent to ever win a dispute with special education personnel! The good news is that yes many parents win special education disputes and are able to get their child needed special education services.

To win a dispute a parent must:

1. Have a change of attitude! Tell yourself over and over in your head that you have the right to advocate for your child, and no one has the right to tell you to stop! By changing your attitude you can finally be in a place to get what your child needs!

2. Along with a change of attitude, comes a priority that your child's need for special education services, is stronger than your desire to be nice! I am not telling you to be mean or to use curse words. What I am recommending is assertive persistence!

3. Go outside of your comfort zone! Speak up and be assertive; no longer sit at meetings and say nothing. Ask lots of questions and ask for a lot of explanations. Give your opinion about what services your child needs. Remember your child's life will be ruined if you do not advocate for them-go outside your comfort zone-for the good of your child!

4. Stand up to lies and bullying by some special education personnel! If you allow special education personnel to continue to tell untruths and do not call them on the untruths; they will continue to lie! In my opinion the situation will get worse as many school personnel will just escalate the lies, due to the fact that the parent is not stopping them!

5. Be willing and able to spend money to win the dispute. Even though the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act states that a child has the right to a free appropriate public education, parents know that they must spend money in order to ensure this! What is the money used for? Iindependent educational evaluations, due process expenses, advocate, attorney etc.

6. Be willing to get other people and agencies involved with the dispute. What other people and agencies? Evaluators, state board of education (by filing a complaint, or due process), media, etc. I heard about a story where a young boy with disabilities was abused on his school bus. The parent tried everything to get punishment for the employees, but the school district still refused. A brief report by media on the news as well as in a large newspaper was all it took; the employees were fired! Consider going to the media, especially if it is about abuse!

7. A working knowledge of state and federal special education law! You will not win a dispute unless you understand what the law is and how special education personnel are violating the law!

8. Consistent and continuous advocacy until the situation is resolved. I have had some disputes that have taken over a year of hard advocacy to resolve. Be assertively persistent for as long as it takes to positively resolve the dispute for the good of your child!

While the playing field is not level between parents and school districts; parents can win disputes for the good of their child! If your child is not ready for independent living, and post school learning they will not be able to have a happy fulfilled future! Good luck!

JoAnn Collins is the mother of two adults with disabilities, and has helped families navigate the special eduation system, as an advocate, for over 15 years. She is a presenter and author of the book "Disability Deception" The book has a lot of resources and information to help parents fight for an appropriate education for their child. For a free E newsletter entitled "The Special Education Spotlight" send an E mail to: JoAnn@disabilitydeception.com. For more information on the book, testimonials about the book, and a link to more articles go to: http://www.disabilitydeception.com

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Parent Education Through Parent Teacher Association

The norms in academics are getting more and more stringent, the curriculum at school is getting larger and new age moms and dads are becoming busier. There is a huge gap between what the children do at school and the extent to which parents are being able to help students. Neither is it the fault of the school which is expanding the curriculum in order to prepare the students to take up challenges in future, nor is it the fault of parents who are working hard to secure the future of their wards. Nevertheless, the disparity between the children and parents has to be reduced and this is where the role of a Parent Teacher association fits in.

Parent teacher associations are often seen as a mere parent-teacher meeting organizations where discussions about children happens between the teachers and parents. But in reality, PTA has a lot more to it than mere meetings. It plays an important role in building strong relationships among parents, teachers and schools with the ultimate aim of supporting students.

PTAs serve as venues in discussing about educational issues concerning the child. It is not just a one on one meeting between teachers and parents, but it is a forum where many parents can come together to discuss their individual concerns and plan activities that nurture student behavior.

In the process, parents get to learn a lot about the academics of their child, the various aspects of the school curriculum and the progress of the child. The associations usually have a counselor or a teacher educating the parents about the importance of giving time to the child and the role of parents in shaping the persona of the child

Parent teacher associations help the new age parents understand the psyche of children and the importance of their involvement in the growing up years of their child, something that is very essential in drawing working parents' attention towards the nurturing of their wards.

I am a academician working as a visiting teacher in International Schools Bangalore and I have also involved myself in their parent teacher association

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