https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084 Below you will find a variety of different resources relating to special education law and IEPs, and how parent/individuals can advocate for themselves. By: Marisa D'Amico and Tricia Willett en-us 2020-10-11 18:08:56 UTC 2026-02-19 18:26:57 UTC hello@padlet.com triciawillett18 https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819886597 This image gives a timeline of Special Education History. It begins with the Elementary and Secondary Act of 1965 and ends with the reauthorization of the IDEA in 2004. Parents and/or individuals will learn a little about the laws and when they came about. This would connect back to and would support parents’ and families’ understanding of IEPs because they would know their laws and rights regarding IEPs. For example, parents would learn that they have the right to bring an advocate in the development of an IEP. This particular resource would support parents and/or students in advocating because it’s important for parents and students to know about the laws. In knowing about the laws, they can see when their rights are being violated. Then, they can move forward in advocating for themselves and their children. Some laws are specifically for parents and their rights. For example, The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act FERPA. This image states that “parents are allowed to have access to all personally identifiable information collected, maintained, or used by a school district regarding their child” (Peterson, 2014). If schools deny this, then that may be something you would fight and advocate for. Overall, this is a great, quick resource to refer to if you want a timeline of the special education laws and what they hold.]]> 2020-10-11 18:10:13 UTC https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819886597 triciawillett18 https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819888616 This article talks about parents’ rights under the IDEA. It talks about procedural safeguards and what they do for parents with children with disabilities. The article states that “these safeguards are designed to protect the rights of parents and their child with a disability and, at the same time, give families and school systems several mechanisms by which to resolve their disputes” (Parents Rights under IDEA, 2017). Parents and/or individuals can learn about their rights and protections under the IDEA which can help them learn/understand their rights in the development of an IEP. For example, parents have the right to disagree with decisions made by the school during an IEP meeting. This article is easy to navigate and breaks down the safeguards further when you click on them. This is a great tool for parents that may not know anything or know very little about their rights. This particular resource would support parents and/or students in advocating because they will learn their rights so they can know when they are being violated throughout the IEP process.

]]> 2020-10-11 18:12:44 UTC https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819888616 triciawillett18 https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819889598 This video talks about being an advocate for your child with disabilities. Parents talk about their experiences with being an advocate for their child. It is important for parents to advocate for their children if their rights are being violated under the IDEA. This video provides some tips that include finding resources that can help your child, looking into organizations, etc. Professionals also give information on what parents can do such as asking questions, being involved, etc. Asking questions and being involved can help support parents’ and families’ understanding of their IEP. Parents and/or individuals can learn how important it is to advocate for your child. At the beginning of the video, the woman states “Your child doesn’t have a voice. You are his voice or her voice” (Being an advocate, 2019). They can also learn, from other parents, different tips for advocating for their child. This particular resource would support parents in advocating because the people in the video provide tips for how one can advocate for their child with disabilities.





]]> 2020-10-11 18:13:48 UTC https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819889598 triciawillett18 https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819890589 This magazine article is about advocating for your child with disabilities. It talks about different types of advocates such as lay advocates, educational advocates, and parents. It also talks about what advocates do. It mentions how you, the parent, are the most important advocate for your child. The magazine article also states “when educational advocates go to eligibility and IEP meetings, they are acting on the child’s behalf. Some educational advocates negotiate for services. Others are less knowledgeable about special education law and how to use tactics and strategies” (Wright & Wright, 2010). Therefore, this connects back to IEPs, because parents and families have the right to bring an advocate in the development of an IEP. It is important for parents to know and remember that you are the one who truly has your child’s best interests in mind. From the resource, parents can learn what they can do to help advocate for their children when their rights are being violated under the IDEA. Some examples include: identifying problems, proposing solutions, gathering data, etc. This particular resource would help the parents in advocating because it gives a list of what people can do to advocate for their child. 

]]> 2020-10-11 18:15:00 UTC https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819890589 triciawillett18 https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819891325 This resource helps give an overview of what inclusion is, the IEP process, parental roles, and the special education laws. Parents or individuals can learn what services their child may receive under the special education laws, what the IEP process is like, and how these goals will be determined. This resource would support parents or students in advocating because the information provided allows them to understand parental/students’ rights throughout the IEP process, along with the appropriate education a child with disabilities should receive. For example, the resource states that “if the parents disagree with the initial evaluation of their child they have the right to take their child for an independent educational evaluation and ask if the school system pays for this” (McCarthy et. al, 2010). Overall, this is a great resource for parents to watch and be informed of the services their child with an IEP will receive and the laws that support it. 













]]> 2020-10-11 18:15:53 UTC https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819891325 triciawillett18 https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819892005 This resource allows students to understand what an IEP is, why you need to be a part of your IEP team, and how to be an active participant when developing your IEP. Students can understand and learn why they might need an IEP, and the step by step process of an IEP meeting. This resource connects back to and would support parents’ and individuals’ understanding of the law because the IDEA says that children with disabilities that are receiving special education services are required to have an IEP (Kovac, 2002). This resource helps students advocate because they have the right to be at the meeting for the development of their IEP. For example, it is important for the student to “Tell your family and teachers that you are interested in participating in your next IEP meeting. It is important that you have the support of your parents and teachers, because they will play a major role in helping you” (Kovac, 2002, p.6). Overall, for students/parents who might not have a lot of experience with the IEP process, they can use this resource to gain knowledge about the law and how they can play a role in the special education systems. 







]]> 2020-10-11 18:16:43 UTC https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819892005 triciawillett18 https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819892484 It is important for parents and students to know their rights within the IEP process. Parents can learn that they have the right to participate in an IEP meeting to discuss their child’s needs. Parents can learn that, based on special education laws, they have the right to give or deny consent if they don’t want an evaluation or don’t agree with the services. One major takeaway for parents is that they have the right to disagree with a school decision and a mediation will be scheduled. In some cases “if you transfer your child to a private school, the school district usually doesn’t have to reimburse you. If your child needed services and the school failed to provide them, it might have to pay the tuition” (Lee, 2020). This helps parents advocate because if the school isn’t providing the proper tools and services listed in a child’s IEP, by law, a parent has the right to communicate that in a due process meeting. 

]]> 2020-10-11 18:17:19 UTC https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819892484 triciawillett18 https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819893213 When thinking about the law, one major component for a child with special education is the Least Restrictive Environment. This module provides a guideline for parents to be able to understand how their students will receive IEP services and where a child will spend their time in the school. Parents and students can learn that “ … according to IDEA, students with disabilities should be educated alongside their peers without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate” (Iris Center, n.d., p.2). Parents and students can understand that this creates an inclusive environment in which the student should have the opportunity to use their services without being removed from the general education classroom. This resource can help students and parents advocate because they can see the continuum and how their child with an IEP should be receiving support, based on the laws, in a general education classroom. Overall, parents that want to learn about Least Restrictive environments should look at this module to see examples of the supports and how it can be delivered. 

]]> 2020-10-11 18:18:14 UTC https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819893213 triciawillett18 https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819921322 2020-10-11 18:49:53 UTC https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819921322 triciawillett18 https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819921682 2020-10-11 18:50:20 UTC https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819921682 triciawillett18 https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819922023 2020-10-11 18:50:32 UTC https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819922023 triciawillett18 https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819927514 2020-10-11 18:56:58 UTC https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819927514 triciawillett18 https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819928411 2020-10-11 18:57:54 UTC https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819928411 triciawillett18 https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819928538 2020-10-11 18:58:03 UTC https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819928538 triciawillett18 https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819928666 2020-10-11 18:58:12 UTC https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819928666 triciawillett18 https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819932300 2020-10-11 19:02:32 UTC https://padlet.com/triciawillett18/v02zyzvgkxynr084/wish/819932300