On the Same Team
| On the Same Team |
Building collaborative special education relationships between home and school.
| Parents and Educators! Stay updated on new updates and interesting developments in the world of special education. Register to receive "The Backpack": It's quick, easy and free! Register now. |
| For Parents: Services & Consultations Learn more... |
| "Do the BLOG!" Join a world-wide, interactive community of special ed moms. Register now. |
| For Support Groups: Arrange a presentation for your organization. Learn more... |
| Book Nook Find a "good read." Click here. |
| Copyright © 2009, Maureen A. Lowry-Fritz. All rights reserved. Disclaimer: The information on this website does not constitute legal advice. It is solely for informational and educational purposes. It is not intended to be a legal recommendation, nor should it substitute for obtaining legal counsel from your own attorney. It may or may not represent the current law in your state or locality. |
| Products Visit our online store to view our collection of books, tutorials and ebooks. Click here. |
| For Educators: Presentations & Trainings Learn more... |
| Upcoming presentations: View a complete list of upcoming presentations. Click here. |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Special Education Case Law For more special education case law, click here. |
| Federal IDEA Laws More on IDEA... |
| Information by State For information about your state, click here. |
| For Parents |
| Lowry-Fritz Special Education Consulting Services assists parents in becoming active and equal partners in their child's educational programming. Many parents feel ill-equipped to represent their child's interests at the IEP meeting. My goal is to help parents understand the law, so that they may confidently contribute to the development and implementation of their child's individualized education program. Lowry-Fritz offers a variety of consulting services to fit your family's needs and circumstances. Find a service that works for you! |
| Parents: It is time to optimize your legal capacity and become an equal member of your child's IEP Team. |
| Why must parents understand the law? |
There are four essential components to becoming an effective representative of your child's educational interests:
1. Know your child.
2. Know your child's disability.
3. Know your child's school.
4. Know the law.
2. Know your child's disability.
3. Know your child's school.
4. Know the law.
This makes sense, right?
First, know your child.
What motivates your child to learn? What type of learning style does your child have? What comes "naturally" to him...and what does not?
This probably comes naturally to you. Instinctively, you understand your children and what makes him "tick". You have many weeks, months
and years of "on the job training" in getting to understand your son or daughter. You don't need to go to school to become educated on your
child. Your life is one long seminar -- all about your child!
You are the expert on your child.
Second, know your child's disability.
Some parents learn of a diagnosis in the child's early years. Others wait years to discover a "label" that explains what their child is living with.
Still others never find the name of a "condition" that fully encompasses their child's circumstances.
Whether you have a definitive diagnosis or not, you can still become an expert on your child's disability. This may involve a formal evaluation
by a neuropsychologist or developmental pediatrician. If you are able to arrange such an evaluation, it may help you in more fully
understanding your child's needs. If you are not able to obtain such an evaluation, you can still make great strides in understanding you child's
disability.
Virtually every parent has the ability to become a "lay expert" on the child's disability. You have access to books and the Internet - either in
your home or in your public library. There is research available on every known condition. You can ask your child's pediatrician for
information about your child's needs. You can join parent support groups that provide extensive information, seminars, and even conferences
about specific disabilities. You can meet with your child's school psychologist to further understand your child's disability.
The most valuable insight, however, is not generated in a library, doctor's office, or seminar.
The most important lessons you learn about your child, happen in your home and school.
Watch your child as he goes through his day. What frustrates him? What does he struggle with? What comes easily and naturally? If your
child is doing homework, what does he enjoy, and what does he dislike? Take it further... Does your child have difficulty organizing himself?
Does he have difficulty focusing his attention on his work? Does he understand written directions? Or does he understand them better when
you read them aloud? Make arrangements to observe your child in school -- general education courses, resource time, and "specials" like P.
E., music and art. You will be amazed at how much you learn about your child and how his disability impacts his academic functioning.
Process what you learn. Synthesize the information. Keep a journal documenting your observations. Share this information with doctors and
teachers to more fully understand your child. Over time, you will likely find that you have a very deep and broad understanding of how your
child's disability impacts his ability to function in school.
Third, know your child's school.
Visit your child's school. Meet with members of your child's educational team -- and not just once a year at the IEP meeting. Volunteer to
do clerical work for your child's teachers (general education and special education). This will help you better understand the units of study,
assignments, and classroom expectations. Join the school PTA, and work on a committee. This will enable you to develop a rapport with the
school administrators and teachers. Volunteer in your child's classroom. This is when you really have the opportunity to understand your
child's teacher, her instructional style, classroom dynamic and expectations, and curriculum requirements.
To understand public schools in general, read up on public education in America. Understand how the system works -- what it can do, and
what it cannot do. Public schools have a great responsibility, and in many cases, do an extremely wonderful job. However, teachers and
administrators do operate under many constraints that often limit what they are permitted to do. Understanding how schools and school
districts operate will enable you to have realistic expectations regarding your child's education.
Fourth, know the law.
Of the four components, this is the most-often overlooked. Parents are busy -- particularly parents of children with special needs.
But this component is just as important as understanding the your child, your child's disability, and your child's school.
Therefore, it is absolutely essential that you begin to understand special education law and how it affects your child.
You do not have to go to law school, but you do need to understand with confidence and competence the following concepts:
You must be knowledgeable about all of these topics (and more) so that you can become an active and equal participant on your child's IEP
Team.
In other words, you must optimize your legal capacity as a parent.
How do you do that?
There are several ways to start. First, get to know this website. It contains a vast amount of information about all of the concepts listed
above. Visit each page, read the information, process it, visit it often. Second, visit the website for your own state's Board of Education.
Third, attend presentations on special education law and IEPs. Fourth, get one or two books on special education law. Read them, highlight
them, re-read them, highlight them again, re-read them again, and highlight the yet again!
First, know your child.
What motivates your child to learn? What type of learning style does your child have? What comes "naturally" to him...and what does not?
This probably comes naturally to you. Instinctively, you understand your children and what makes him "tick". You have many weeks, months
and years of "on the job training" in getting to understand your son or daughter. You don't need to go to school to become educated on your
child. Your life is one long seminar -- all about your child!
You are the expert on your child.
Second, know your child's disability.
Some parents learn of a diagnosis in the child's early years. Others wait years to discover a "label" that explains what their child is living with.
Still others never find the name of a "condition" that fully encompasses their child's circumstances.
Whether you have a definitive diagnosis or not, you can still become an expert on your child's disability. This may involve a formal evaluation
by a neuropsychologist or developmental pediatrician. If you are able to arrange such an evaluation, it may help you in more fully
understanding your child's needs. If you are not able to obtain such an evaluation, you can still make great strides in understanding you child's
disability.
Virtually every parent has the ability to become a "lay expert" on the child's disability. You have access to books and the Internet - either in
your home or in your public library. There is research available on every known condition. You can ask your child's pediatrician for
information about your child's needs. You can join parent support groups that provide extensive information, seminars, and even conferences
about specific disabilities. You can meet with your child's school psychologist to further understand your child's disability.
The most valuable insight, however, is not generated in a library, doctor's office, or seminar.
The most important lessons you learn about your child, happen in your home and school.
Watch your child as he goes through his day. What frustrates him? What does he struggle with? What comes easily and naturally? If your
child is doing homework, what does he enjoy, and what does he dislike? Take it further... Does your child have difficulty organizing himself?
Does he have difficulty focusing his attention on his work? Does he understand written directions? Or does he understand them better when
you read them aloud? Make arrangements to observe your child in school -- general education courses, resource time, and "specials" like P.
E., music and art. You will be amazed at how much you learn about your child and how his disability impacts his academic functioning.
Process what you learn. Synthesize the information. Keep a journal documenting your observations. Share this information with doctors and
teachers to more fully understand your child. Over time, you will likely find that you have a very deep and broad understanding of how your
child's disability impacts his ability to function in school.
Third, know your child's school.
Visit your child's school. Meet with members of your child's educational team -- and not just once a year at the IEP meeting. Volunteer to
do clerical work for your child's teachers (general education and special education). This will help you better understand the units of study,
assignments, and classroom expectations. Join the school PTA, and work on a committee. This will enable you to develop a rapport with the
school administrators and teachers. Volunteer in your child's classroom. This is when you really have the opportunity to understand your
child's teacher, her instructional style, classroom dynamic and expectations, and curriculum requirements.
To understand public schools in general, read up on public education in America. Understand how the system works -- what it can do, and
what it cannot do. Public schools have a great responsibility, and in many cases, do an extremely wonderful job. However, teachers and
administrators do operate under many constraints that often limit what they are permitted to do. Understanding how schools and school
districts operate will enable you to have realistic expectations regarding your child's education.
Fourth, know the law.
Of the four components, this is the most-often overlooked. Parents are busy -- particularly parents of children with special needs.
But this component is just as important as understanding the your child, your child's disability, and your child's school.
- Without understanding the law, you will not know the supports and services to which your child is legally entitled.
- Without understanding the law, you cannot actively participate in IEP meetings.
- Without understanding the law, you cannot meaningfully communicate with educators and administrators.
- Without understanding the law, cannot effectively represent your child's educational interests.
- Without understanding the law, you cannot ensure that your child is receiving a "free appropriate public education".
Therefore, it is absolutely essential that you begin to understand special education law and how it affects your child.
You do not have to go to law school, but you do need to understand with confidence and competence the following concepts:
- Other critical special education concepts
You must be knowledgeable about all of these topics (and more) so that you can become an active and equal participant on your child's IEP
Team.
In other words, you must optimize your legal capacity as a parent.
How do you do that?
There are several ways to start. First, get to know this website. It contains a vast amount of information about all of the concepts listed
above. Visit each page, read the information, process it, visit it often. Second, visit the website for your own state's Board of Education.
Third, attend presentations on special education law and IEPs. Fourth, get one or two books on special education law. Read them, highlight
them, re-read them, highlight them again, re-read them again, and highlight the yet again!