| Are you the parent of a child with autism or dyslexia | | | | opinion the situation will get worse as many school |
| that is sick and tired of not getting your child special | | | | personnel will just escalate the lies, due to the fact that |
| education services they need? Would you like to learn | | | | the parent is not stopping them! |
| 8 ways that you can win a dispute with your school | | | | 5. Be willing and able to spend money to win the |
| district, and finally get your child the educational and | | | | dispute. Even though the Individuals with Disabilities |
| related services that they require to benefit their | | | | Education Act states that a child has the right to a |
| education? This article will help you learn 8 things that | | | | free appropriate public education, parents know that |
| you can do to finally get your child the services they | | | | they must spend money in order to ensure this! What |
| need! | | | | is the money used for? Iindependent educational |
| I recently was asked by a parent if it is possible for a | | | | evaluations, due process expenses, advocate, |
| parent to ever win a dispute with special education | | | | attorney etc. |
| personnel! The good news is that yes many parents | | | | 6. Be willing to get other people and agencies involved |
| win special education disputes and are able to get their | | | | with the dispute. What other people and agencies? |
| child needed special education services. | | | | Evaluators, state board of education (by filing a |
| To win a dispute a parent must: | | | | complaint, or due process), media, etc. I heard about a |
| 1. Have a change of attitude! Tell yourself over and | | | | story where a young boy with disabilities was abused |
| over in your head that you have the right to advocate | | | | on his school bus. The parent tried everything to get |
| for your child, and no one has the right to tell you to | | | | punishment for the employees, but the school district |
| stop! By changing your attitude you can finally be in a | | | | still refused. A brief report by media on the news as |
| place to get what your child needs! | | | | well as in a large newspaper was all it took; the |
| 2. Along with a change of attitude, comes a priority | | | | employees were fired! Consider going to the media, |
| that your child's need for special education services, is | | | | especially if it is about abuse! |
| stronger than your desire to be nice! I am not telling | | | | 7. A working knowledge of state and federal special |
| you to be mean or to use curse words. What I am | | | | education law! You will not win a dispute unless you |
| recommending is assertive persistence! | | | | understand what the law is and how special education |
| 3. Go outside of your comfort zone! Speak up and be | | | | personnel are violating the law! |
| assertive; no longer sit at meetings and say nothing. | | | | 8. Consistent and continuous advocacy until the |
| Ask lots of questions and ask for a lot of explanations. | | | | situation is resolved. I have had some disputes that |
| Give your opinion about what services your child | | | | have taken over a year of hard advocacy to resolve. |
| needs. Remember your child's life will be ruined if you | | | | Be assertively persistent for as long as it takes to |
| do not advocate for them-go outside your comfort | | | | positively resolve the dispute for the good of your child! |
| zone-for the good of your child! | | | | While the playing field is not level between parents and |
| 4. Stand up to lies and bullying by some special | | | | school districts; parents can win disputes for the good |
| education personnel! If you allow special education | | | | of their child! If your child is not ready for independent |
| personnel to continue to tell untruths and do not call | | | | living, and post school learning they will not be able to |
| them on the untruths; they will continue to lie! In my | | | | have a happy fulfilled future! Good luck! |