Wrightslaw: Special Education Law [Paperback]

Peter W. D. Wright (Author), Pamela Darr Wright (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 9, 1999

Special education law is more than a legal specialty niche. Special education laws govern eligibility, IEPs, evaluations, placement, educational progress, transition plans, discipline, and educational records - and are vitally important to parents of disabled children, educators, child advocates, school psychologists, health care providers, and school administrators.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Concise, well organized reference tool explaining intricacies of special education law in a user friendly, easy to understand manner. -- New Jersey Lawyer/ Lawyer’s Bookshelf/ June 2003

It clarifies federal special education law in a way parents and educators alike can clearly understand. -- Autism Support Center/ On the Spectrum Newsletter/ Fall 2003

Perfected the art of turning large amounts of complex information into clear, comprehensive, readily-understandable articles that help navigate the law. -- CHADD/Hyper Talk/ Winter 2003

Wrightslaw: Special Education Law is the complete source for the law and its interpretation. -- Advocate/First Signs Newsletter/Winter 2003

From the Publisher

Peter and Pamela Wright accomplish several goals in this comprehensive reference book. They provide an overview of law and special education law, along with the full text of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and implementing regulations. They include a casebook of special education decisions by the U. S. Supreme Court, including Florence County School District IV v. Shannon Carter and the recent decision in Cedar Rapids v. Garret F. Woven through the book are clear, concise definitions, information about educational research, and practical tips about how to deal with school officials.

This book is a useful reference for experienced attorneys and for non-lawyer parents and educators.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 386 pages
• Publisher: Harbor House Law Press (November 9, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892320037
• ISBN-13: 978-1892320032
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #936,232 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Pete and Pam Wright are the founders of Wrightslaw, created in November 1993 after Pete successfully represented Shannon Carter before the United States Supreme Court. He won a landmark victory in Florence County v. Shannon Carter, 510 U.S. 7, that has benefited all children with disabilities.

Pete is an attorney who represents children with special educational needs. Pete struggled with learning disabilities, including dyslexia, dysgraphia and ADHD. His determination to help children grew out of his own educational experiences.

Pam is a psychotherapist who has worked with children and families since the 1970's. Her training and experience in clinical psychology and clinical social work give her a unique perspective on parent-child-school dynamics, problems, and solutions. Pam has written extensively about raising, educating, and advocating for children with disabilities.

Pete and Pam are Adjunct Professors of Law at the William and Mary Law School. They have written books and produced an award winning DVD to provide parents, advocates, educators, and attorneys with accurate, up-to-date information about special education law and advocacy. Pete and Pam train thousands of parents and advocates across the nation annually and have created and produced a Wrightslaw multimedia training program.

Pete and Pam have two sons, a daughter, two daughters-in-law, and three beautiful grandkids. They love to sail, windsurf, fish, kayak, explore, and have adventures on the Chesapeake Bay at their home on Stingray Point VA. Pete (AD4VI) and Pam (KF4LCU) are amateur radio operators as well.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This should be the first tool in the advocate's tool box!, October 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Wrightslaw: Special Education Law (Paperback)

Effective special education advocacy begins with knowledge. Peter and Pamela Wright are nationally known for their litigation and educational advocacy skills. This new work is a substantial contribution to any parent's or attorney's tool box.

The book and detailed index place a great deal of information in a compact, lie-flat, graphically pleasing volume. It provides more than 370 pages of the fundamental statutes, regulations, and U.S. Supreme Court decisions that weave the matrix of IDEA special education law and Section 504 law, as well as providing the educational record keeping rules of FERPA.

The authors introduce each basic source material with "overview chapters" to assist a lay reader. One of the best features of the book is the insertion of editorial content by the authors immediately adjacent to various statutory sections of text of IDEA. For example, on pages 76-77, the authors advise on the confusing area of manifestation determination reviews, suspension or expulsion, and interim alternative education settings.

As a practicing attorney advocate for children with special education needs, my interest in special education law began with one of my daughters, a child with a disability."Wrightslaw: Special Education Law" differs from other compilations, which bury the raw statutes in fine print in an appendix at the back of the book. It is an intelligent selection of the mandatory laws presented in a readable font and organized with user-friendly editorial overviews and commentary. With this new book, parents and attorneys have the actual law at their fingertips to dispell misinformation and (sadly) disinformation from administrators in local school systems.The Wrights have made a terrific contribution in assembling so much important material.

Reviewed by Malcolm B. Higgins,II. Law Offices of Malcolm B.Higgins,II, Virginia Beach, Va.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource for Parents and Professionals, November 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Wrightslaw: Special Education Law (Paperback)

This is a great resource, putting all the laws, rules and regulations that are relevant to special education in one handy place. In addition to the actual copies of laws, notation of relevant case law is a really useful addition. Overviews of the laws/regulations and commentary are extremely helpful.

This book is a valuable resource for school psychologists, and it is required reading for my graduate course covering legal and ethical issues for school psychologists in training. Knowing the regulations and the law will help professionals plan programs that meet the needs of children and the requirements of the law.

I recommend it highly for parents, also. Parents are many times at a disadvantage because they do not know the law. With this book as a reference parents can be a fully participating member of the special education team.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for any parent fighting for services, October 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Wrightslaw: Special Education Law (Paperback)

I am a parent of a child who five years ago, was illegally denied services by his high school and because of the fighting between parents and school adiminstration, our son wound up being expelled for behavior associated with his disorder. Out of that situation, I have devoted my life to helping parents of children with Attention Deficit Disorder, to make sure this does not happen to their child. I have accumulated years woth of documents on the legal aspects of advocating for your child. This book, eliminates the need for me to have those files. It is consise, to the point, realistic, and based on sound legal advice, and the best advice I have ever seen relative to Special Education. As an active advocate, on a nationwide basis, for children with Attention Deficit Disorder, this is now the first book I go to to get help from. This is not just another rehash of old ideas. I don't think you need this book. I know you need this book.