You, Your Child, and Special Education: A Guide to Making the System Work [Paperback]

Barbara C. Cutler (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1557661154 | ISBN-13: 978-1557661159 | Publication Date: January 1993

This inspiring resource shows parents of children with disabilities how to obtain the educational services their children rightfully deserve. It examines the internal workings of the education system, reveals the challenges that await, lists the services that are available, and discusses the rights that are federally guaranteed. Complete with a resource list, directions for filing a complaint, and explanations of relevant legislation and regulations, this powerful handbook can make a difference for parents as well as educators.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Cutler debunks the myths that keep parents from intervening on behalf of their children... -- Contemporary Pediatrics

The author 'demystifies' the special education system and stresses the usefulness of ordinary, everyday skills... -- Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics

The author of this book serves as a savvy, experienced trail guide through the special education process and system. -- Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics

About the Author

Barbara Cutler got her advocacy training the hard way. Divorced and with two small children to raise, she began to search out services for her son with autism. It took her almost 10 years to realize that being patient, no-trouble-at-all-parent was not the way to get attention or services. She learned painfully through her personal experience that a parent has to become vocal, visible, knowledgeable, and relentless in order to become an effective advocate. A parent of a now-35-year-old son with autism, she has been through the system, in the dark days when her small son seemed to have no right s at all through the early days of the educational rights movement and lataer into the adult service system. From a once quiet and compliant parent, she became a leading advocate for people with disabilities and their families. Aware of deficiencies in systems serving people with disabilities, she worked on her own professional development, acquiring her bachelor's and master's of education degrees from Harvard (where she was also a Merrill Fellow of the Radcliffe Institute) and her doctorate in special education from Boston University.

Dr. Cutler has directed educational, supported work, and community resource programs; facilitated the development of a model respite care program; coordinated mental retardation programs for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health; and worked with Dr. Martin Kozloff at Boston University in training parents and professionals working with children and youth with disabilities.

For the past 20 years, Dr. Cutler has continued to advocate as a member of the governing boards of various service and advocacy organizations and state councils dealing with education, mental health, developmental disabilities, human rights, and disability law. She has given presentations on advocacy and services throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada. Her publications include chapters in Salisbury and Intagliata's Respite Care: Support for Persons with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families; Meyer, Peck, and Brown's Critical Issues in the Lives of People with Severe Disabilities (with Anne Donnellan); Cohen and Donnellan's Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Disorders (with Martin Kozloff). She is presently working on a book about families of and services for persons with autism.

Dr. Cutler lives next door to her son, George, and his wife, Sherrie, in Arlington. Her son, Robert, lives in a small group home in the same town and spends most weekends with his family. Looking back, she realizes that because of her son's disability, her career was chosen for her. She says, "I've made my personal and career decisions by dealing with the crises that parents of children with disabilities learn to expect as part of their daily routine. It's a life that's been harrowing, sometimes rewarding, but never, never dull. I've never regretted my decisions. Without strong parent advocates, our sons and daughters with disabilities could be overlooked and forgotten."

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Brookes Publishing Company (January 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557661154
• ISBN-13: 978-1557661159
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,651,944 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Parents of a Child with Learning Disabilitie, December 7, 1999

By 

M. Mahaney "An avid reader" (East Barre, Vermont) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: You, Your Child, and Special Education: A Guide to Making the System Work (Paperback)

Barbara Coyne Cutler is an amazing woman who fought for her son's right to a free, appropriate education for 10 yrs. before being heard. Not only did she fight for her son, she has fought for many other children herself and through her book. I read this book before an IEP meeting and it made all the difference in the world. This is an excellent, easily understood book.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for parents of "special" children, March 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: You, Your Child, and Special Education: A Guide to Making the System Work (Paperback)

I read this book as my husband and I battled our school district for services for our autistic son. I recommend it to all parents I meet now. It not only tells you what the schools can and can't do, it also tells you how to get and hold their attention and gives samples of letters, etc. For example, any meetings we now hold with school representatives also have a 3rd party witness - a hint gleaned from this book. If you are a parent buying this book to get services for your child, it will help. I wish you luck!!

5.0 out of 5 stars MEETS NEED OF SPECIAL CHILDRENS PARENTS, February 2, 2010

By 

K. lessard "GRANDMA" (WAYNESVILLE MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: You, Your Child, and Special Education: A Guide to Making the System Work (Paperback)

I BOUGHT THIS BOOK FOR MY DAUGHTER. IT REALLY SHOWED HER HOW TO GET THE HELP THAT HER DAUGHTER WAS ENTITLED TO AT SCHOOL AND YES IT SHOWED HER STEP BY STEP HOW TO GET THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO WORK WITH HER ON THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF HER DAUGHTER. HER DAUGHTER NOW RECEIVES OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY,PHYSICAL THERAPY AND SPEECH THERAPY WHILE ATTENDING THE NORMAL SCHOOL CLASSES. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK