Customer Reviews

The Complete IEP Guide: How to Advocate for Your Special Ed Child

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book will become the "bible" for parents of Special Education children. The book is wirtten with the lay person in mind in a clear and concise manner. The whole IEP process is spelled out in easy to follow steps that gently glides one through the process. The letters and forms which can be copied or added to are invaluable, and take a giant step toward helping parents become effective advocates for their children. A copy of the law IDEA 1997 is included, giving full disclosure to the general public. The information included in this book can save a parent thousands of dollars in attorney's fees. If you buy just one book about Special Education this year, this should be the one!

I found this book to be the MOST informative book on the market for writing an IEP. It gives examples, details and actual pull out pages of the forms necessary for writing a complete and accurate IEP. I reviewed MANY books and none were as informative as this book. I am going to my sons IEP with a complete and thorough knowledge and understanding of the process. I highly recommend this book to any parent who has or is having a child in Special Education or mainstreaming into regular classes.

Finally a book that really spells out the IEP process in layman's terms. I had bought legal books from Nolo years ago and was NOT impressed (they were too simplistic or didn't give enough information). However, I've been pleasantly surprised to find this book helpful. It lays out every step simply and also gives references at every turn so that you can go elsewhere for information on your particular circumstance. It is also very good about warning for situations that may be different state-to-state. It doesn't answer every question, but when you're just starting out in the myriad of IEPs, 502s and 766s, it's a sanity-saver!

I was saying to myself, as I drove to Nolo Press. They must write a book, we need something from a non-school prospective. Parents need their children & their issues addressed by some concerned party. The clerk had just put the book on the shelf about twenty minutes before I walked in the store, she said. Some higher source/force directed me to Nolo that day. It is well worth the price & invaluable in navigating the path for me & by son. Thanks, Lawrence & your supporting cast for a job well done !! This book is long over due. I can't seem to put it down. It even goes to the bathroom with me... I keep calling parents to share the fact that the book is available with them & sent email messages to several boards.

I am just beginning to navigate the special education maze and have found this book to be a valuable resource in plotting my course. It not only informs you of your rights, in non-techical terms, but it also provides insights, organization and planning tips as well as, a multitude of writing templates. It has allowed me to feel as though I am much more in control of the situation, versus feeling as though the process is "being done to me". I hope it helps you.

This book is the most complete resource that I have found. I recommend it to anyone who is entering the Special Education arena. I am a parent of a 10 year-old boy who was recently diagnosed with ADD and Dyslexia. This book helped me prepare for my IEP meeting. I especially enjoyed using the forms in the back of the book. These forms can be copied for use as letters and check lists. This book is very thorough and will walk you through the entire IEP process. This is definately a "Must Have Book"!

Whether you are new to the world of "special ed" or you are a seasoned veteran, attorney, Lawrence M. Siegel's book will guide you through the advocacy maze with ease. It is a valuable resource of information, including, but not limited to: an overview of special ed and the IEP process; sample IEP forms and letters; organization and planning tips; a listing of support groups, advocacy organizations and federal and state departments of education. Laws and procedures change frequently, and regulations can be different from state to state, so new editions are printed periodically. You can even take advantage of an "update service" that offers a 35% discount on any future purchases.
This is quite possibly the best resource available for assistance in navigating the path of the IEP process, so that you feel more in control of the situation. Although no published material can completely replace a knowledgeable expert or lawyer, I am now confident that I have sufficient knowledge of the IEP process to be able to be an effective advocate for my child.

This book has been a wonderful resource as we have journied through the special education system. I bought this book because we were struggling to get our school system to recognize the many difficulties of having a child with bipolar disorder and severe learning difficulties. I really like the forms and easy to use charts.

This book is a great resource for people new to the IEP world, especially before the first IEP meeting. This manual will give a great introduction into what to expect in the meeting, the jargon, the paperwork, and the placement. This book would also be a good first step if the process gets litigious. It gives the basics on how to file complaints and go through due process.

However, the book is a basic overview of the whole process. I gave it only 3 stars because it is far to general in dealing with formulating goals. Even though there are vastly different goals necessary in every individual's IEP, everyone might benefit by reviewing a wide variety of examples. I would like to see many examples of real life goals for various disabilities using the actual wording, style, jargon, and technique used to indicate the goal and its measurability.

...we had this book ten years ago. Our daughter was diagnosed with ADD in 1991 and it has taken us 10 years to get our school district to put her in a program that they refused to even tell us existed. We have fought tooth and nail over that time to put her in a program that would truly address her needs. It took her getting in trouble and put on probation for us to even find out what resources truly existed for her. Once we had the key words (thanks to a caring Probation Officer), the doors opened wide. Meanwhile, we wasted all of middle school and her freshman year of high school, as very little was done for her. This book has all you need to start getting answers and solutions. If you even suspect your child needs special accomodations or special education, you will find this the best $24.00 you could ever spend.