Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy: The Special Education Survival Guide [Paperback]

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

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2006

Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, second edition will teach you how to plan, prepare, organize and get quality special education services. In this comprehensive, easy-to-read book, you will learn your childs disability and educational needs, how to create a simple method for organizing your childs file and devising a master plan for your childs special education. You will understand parent-school conflict, how to create paper trails and effective letter writing. This book includes dozens of worksheets, forms and sample letters that you can tailor to your needs. Whether you are new to special education or an experienced advocate this book will provide a clear roadmap to effective advocacy for your child. You will use this book again and again.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Learning to be an effective advocate for your special needs child IS work! Special education is a "right", but must be assiduously pursued. But there are definite tactics and strategies to assist the parent. From Emotions to Advocacy [FETA] is a wonderful map for every parent. The book follows a logical and well organized road, beginning with preparing the reader for understanding the complex interplay of parents, schools, disabilities, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and other disability laws. Among the important lessons that authors Pamela and Peter Wright teach are how to organize your files using a document management system, how to use private sector expert evaluations of your child and why they are essential, and how to understand the critical role of testing, percentile ranks, and the Bell Curve, and how to use those results to work for your child's "SMART IEP". The use of the "Columbo Strategy" to build valid IEP goals by asking "who, what,why,where, when, how and explain" [5Ws+H+E] is taught. The critical skill of letter writing and documenting all conversations, agreements, and decisions with your school administrators is part of the strategy of writing calm, factual letters as if they will be read by a "Stranger". Lessons to bolster your self confidence and achieve results in IEP meetings are carefully discussed. The sample letters in the appendices and the numerous strategy discussions lay out how to avoid letting anger and other emotions interfere with keeping your focus on improving your child's education. Numerous other appendices and cross references throughout FETA provide additional resources, including the informative Q&As of the federal IDEA Appendix A. As an attorney who has a child with special needs, I have benefited greatly from Peter and Pam Wright's insights and apply that knowledge in my own practice. FETA is the "how-to" starting point and compass for all parents entering the special education struggle. --By Malcolm B. Higgins, II, Attorney at Law in Virginia Beach, Virginia

This book is the perfect companion to "Wrightslaw: Special Education Law". If you have a child with special needs the most frustrating thing as a parent is trying to get educational services for your child. This book teaches you how to advocate for your child to get the services he needs. The Wrights give you the confidence and skills that you need to successfully advocate for your child. This book (and it's predecessor) help level the playing field between the parents and the school. As a parent and child advocate, I own several 100 books. This book (and Wrightslaw) rank in the top 5. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who has a special needs child who is attending public school. --By William W. Joslin in TX

This is the book that parents of special needs children have been searching for! When a child does not "fit in the box", parents find that they must search for information on how to care for their child. Just when they have mastered the medical maze, the child begins school and the search for advice and knowledge begins all over again! Children with disabilities who succeed in school have parents who learn to set aside their feelings and clothe themselves in the armor of advocacy. "From Emotions to Advocacy" assists parents in the journey through the special education labyrinth by giving them a focus. Parents learn accurate documentation and record-keeping, productive communication skills, effective tactics and strategies, and Pete and Pam Wright have put it all together into an easy to read, understandable package. Parents who use the process and procedures outlined in "From Emotions to Advocacy" will avoid many of the pitfalls that entrap many parents of special needs --Patricia Howey

This book is the perfect companion to "Wrightslaw: Special Education Law". If you have a child with special needs the most frustrating thing as a parent is trying to get educational services for your child. This book teaches you how to advocate for your child to get the services he needs. The Wrights give you the confidence and skills that you need to successfully advocate for your child. This book (and it's predecessor) help level the playing field between the parents and the school. As a parent and child advocate, I own several 100 books. This book (and Wrightslaw) rank in the top 5. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who has a special needs child who is attending public school. --By William W. Joslin in TX

This is the book that parents of special needs children have been searching for! When a child does not "fit in the box", parents find that they must search for information on how to care for their child. Just when they have mastered the medical maze, the child begins school and the search for advice and knowledge begins all over again! Children with disabilities who succeed in school have parents who learn to set aside their feelings and clothe themselves in the armor of advocacy. "From Emotions to Advocacy" assists parents in the journey through the special education labyrinth by giving them a focus. Parents learn accurate documentation and record-keeping, productive communication skills, effective tactics and strategies, and Pete and Pam Wright have put it all together into an easy to read, understandable package. Parents who use the process and procedures outlined in "From Emotions to Advocacy" will avoid many of the pitfalls that entrap many parents of special needs children. I wish this book had been available in 1986, not only for my own use, but so that the hundreds of parents I have worked with since then could have benefited from it. If you are the parent or if you know of a parent of a special needs child, do yourself or them a favor. Buy yourself or them this book! --Patricia Howey

About the Author

Peter Wright and Pamela Wright are Adjunct Professors of law at the William and Mary Law School where they teach a course about special education law and advocacy. They are authors of the best-selling books Wrightslaw: Special Education Law and Wrightslaw: No Child Left Behind. The Wrights provide information and advice about educational law and advocacy at Wrightslaw.com, the #1 ranked special education web site. Pete Wright has represented children with disabilities for more than 30 years. He represented Shannon Carter before the U.S. Supreme Court in Florence County School District IV v. Shannon Carter, 510 U.S. 7 (1993) where he won a landmark victory that has benefited all children with disabilities. Pam Wright is a psychotherapist who has worked with children and families since the 1970's. She writes about raising, educating and advocating for children with disabilities.

Product Details

• Paperback: 311 pages
• Publisher: Harbor House Law Press, Inc.; 2 edition (January 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892320096
• ISBN-13: 978-1892320094
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (81 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Law > Specialties > Educational Law & Legislation
  • #37 in Books > Education & Reference > Schools & Teaching > Special Education

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.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars From Emotions to Advocacy wins EP Symbol of Excellence February 14, 2007

By Patricia Luker

Format:Paperback

It is the night before Jessica's first big IEP Team meeting and her parents are scrambling to find something - ANYTHING - that can help them prepare for the meeting. Try Wrightslaw. Sally's advocate is packing her briefcase as she heads out the door for the IEP Team meeting. She checks for her most critical resource. Wrightslaw. Susan, a school district attorney, checks her bag before heading off to her next meeting. Yup. Wrightslaw. Is there no one who hasn't heard of Wrightslaw?

Actually, we are sure that many readers have not, so today we review two new books from Wrightslaw. Both are second editions of books Pam and Pete Wright first released several years ago. The Wrights have updated both books to reflect the 2004 changes to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act [IDEA] and its implementing regulations. We use both books in our regular course of business and highly recommend them to parents, educators, advocates, attorneys and anyone else who has a need for quick but comprehensive manuals on special education law.

Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd Edition [Wrightslaw] is a wonderful and ready resource for all who want to be able to find and then quote chapter and verse of IDEA law and regulations. The book includes the complete text of all four parts of IDEA as enacted in December, 2004. Wrightslaw also contains the complete implementing regulations for IDEA that became effective in August, 2006. These texts alone are worth the cost of the book.

But Wrightslaw does not stop with the IDEA statute and its implementing regulations. Wrightslaw also includes the complete text of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act [FERPA]; the text to Section 504 [the Rehabilitation Act of 1973]; and the text of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. These inclusions ensure that the Wrightslaw user always has the key educational laws right at her fingertips at a moment's need. We have cited our Wrightslaw at IEP Team meetings, due process hearings, client meetings and the like.

Pam and Pete Wright make Wrightslaw even more valuable by including commentary on how to apply the included laws to typical special education circumstances. They talk about the No Child Left Behind Act and show how it fits into the special education law scheme. They cite and include the text of the major court cases that have shaped how special education law should be interpreted and implemented. And they have included a glossary of special education terms and acronyms with a user-friendly index.

We regard Wrightslaw as an essential resource in our practice. We believe the book should be part of every parent's [and educator's, advocate's, attorney's] special education library because of its rich and vital contents.

We also heartily recommend Pam and Pete's second book, Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition. The Wrights call this book "The Special Education Survival Guide." And well it is. The Wrights designed this book primarily for parents who need a one-stop how-to resource that will teach them to be strong and effective advocates for their children.

We cannot say enough about the contents and organization of this book. The Wrights have divided it into five sections. Section One helps parents to organize their thoughts and ideas, creating a mindset for them in their undertaking as advocates for their child. Section Two highlights the practice of advocacy, outlines the players, identifies common traps and provides strategies for resolving conflicts and managing crises. Section Three gives parents nuts and bolts information needed to make parents experts on all facets of their child's education; from file organization to testing to writing strong IEP's. Section Four walks parents through the broad principles found in IDEA's major provisions, touching on Section 504 and the No Child Left Behind Act. Finally, Section Five shows the now-well prepared parent how to advocate in the trenches: at the IEP Team meeting, collecting and documenting information; and managing and winning disputes.

We like From Emotions to Advocacy because it is loaded with sage advice that most parents will find easy to understand and apply. We especially like that the Wrights pull no punches in telling parents what they are in for as their child's advocates. Their "Rules of Adverse Assumptions," discussed in Chapter 21, are particularly powerful and to the point - don't expect others, especially educators, to see things your way. Plan and prepare to win your case on your own, using your own wits and resources. They then show you how.

Through Wrightslaw and From Emotions to Advocacy Pete and Pam Wright have provided a great service to parents, educators, advocates and attorneys, providing them with hands-on resources that pack power to the punch. We proudly award both books the EP Symbol of Excellence

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a Precious Resource For Child advocates March 7, 2002

By Robert Kall VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

The games you must play, the rules you must learn, the complex and confusing mazes you must navigate to get help for your child match the mythic mazes of antiquity, where people would wander, lost and hopeless until they died.

The Wrights have created a book that, almost like magic, dispels the mists, casts bright shining light upon the dark recesses of the bureaucratic blockades the average parent, coach or advocate will find when trying to get help for a child.

This is a superb book for parents. It helps them understand the laws, actually putting into print the actual legal verbiage, then interpreting it into plain English.

Then they give you great advice on how to prepare for, go into and negotiate in meeting where your child's needs are being discussed.

... I bring together hundreds of health care practitioners who work with children with ADD, learning disabilities, neurobehavioral, developmental, sensory, medical and emotional disorders. It's always a pleasure to discover a valuable resource to share with colleagues and this is one of them. It deserves a space on the bookshelf of any counselor, psychologist, educator or other provider who advocates for children.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars THE HELP WE PARENTS NEED! May 20, 2002

By Jackie B.

Format:Paperback

Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, The Special Education Survival Guide is a must have for ALL parents with a child in the special education system.
FETA helps to organize your thoughts, concerns and plan for your childs education. It gives you the ability to understand where the schools are coming from and how to build an effective relationship with the Special Education team. By doing this, you can effeectively advocate for your child. As the parent,you should be the "Project Manager" for your child as he/she makes her way through school. Through FETA you gain an understanding of HOW to do this. Special education systems and laws can at best be confusing and overwhelming, we parents need help in sorting it all out and FETA does that! We the parents of children in special education need to be equal players in the planning for our kids, NO ONE knows them like we do, and NO ONE will advocate for them like we will! FETA is an important tool in that process.
FETA also does a wonderful thing. It shows you how to organize all the mounds of paper that special education produces. I walk into meetings and seminars with everything I need at my fingertips.
FETA does someting else amazing, it helps you to understand the TESTING SCORES! Yikes, we all need help with that!
I can go on forever about this book, but I am running out of room. From special education laws, IEP's, resources, how to write effective letters, it its ALL in there! GET THIS BOOK!!