Learn how to collaborate with parents and special education advocates to ensure student success. This practical book shows you how to navigate the tricky path to meeting special education goals and outcomes. It also provides strategies to help you communicate and partner more effectively with families and specialists.

About the AuthorsPrefacePART I THE PRACTICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATIONChapter 1 The Development of Special Education PracticesThe Legal EnvironmentConsiderations to PonderIf It’s Not Legal, Consider It IllegalConclusionChapter 2 The Evolution of InstructionFoundational Perspective of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)ConclusionConsiderations to PonderReflection Activity WorksheetChapter 3 The Individualized Education Plan (IEP) ProcessThe Exceptional LearnerThe Instructional Team: Changing "Me" to "We" Gathering Evidence: Who, What, When, and WhereDiscussing the Data: Who and WhatReviewing the Environment: Where and WhenAnalyzing the Problem: Why and HowThe Eight Components of an IEPConsiderations to PonderConclusionPART II COLLABORATING AND COMMUNICATINGChapter 4 Effective Communication and Meeting StrategiesThe Communication ProcessNonverbal CommunicationLanguage BarriersCulture Barriers Physical BarriersPerception CheckingCommunication Strategies for MeetingsConsiderations to PonderConclusionChapter 5 "Rule of Three": Working with Professional AdvocatesEnvisioning the 21st-Century ClassroomInstructional ImplicationsConsiderations to Ponder"Rule of Three"Parents: Partners in Language, Communication, and Data CollectionAdvocate: Mediator, Negotiator, and Objective Third Party"Rule of Three": Teacher, Parent, and AdvocateConclusionChapter 6 Advocating as a ParentConsiderations to PonderParent–Teacher Partnering TipsAdvocacy SupportKnow the LingoConclusionChapter 7 How to Keep Parent Relationships PositiveRule #1Pay Attention to the F WordThe Importance of Being ProactiveParent Involvement at School and at HomeConsiderations to PonderConclusionAfterwordReferencesAppendix