Relentless – A Michigan Man

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I’m going to tell you something about myself, but first I’m going to tell you a story.  You’ll wonder for a paragraph or two where this is going, but stick with me.  You will learn why this post is on my special education law blog. What is a “Michigan Man”? There are many articles and […]

Put Communications Between Teachers and Parents in the IEP

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A new tactic being used by schools against parents of children with disabilities is to require / funnel all communications with the school through one person, usually the case manager.  We’ve seen numerous questions by parents if this is illegal or whether parents can request two-way communication be listed as an accommodation in the IEP. […]

Bullying and the Gebser Letter

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You probably know what bullying is. You may not know what a Gebser Letter is or what it does. Sit down, grab your cup of coffee and read on. The Effects of Bullying First things first. It is now widely accepted as fact that children with disabilities are more likely to be bullied than their […]

Public Schools Have Made Your Child the Enemy and You, the Taxpayer, Are Funding Their Battle

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You pay federal taxes.  You have schools in your town.  Those schools have special education programs.  If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably a parent of a child with special needs. Well, guess what?  If you have a dispute with your school about your child’s IEP or otherwise not meeting your child’s special education needs, […]

Websites for Parents of Twice Exceptional (2e) Kids

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Identifying 2e Children https://www.brainbalancecenters.com/blog/2015/02/identifying-twice-exceptional-children/   Tips for Parents: Meeting the Needs of 2e Children http://www.davidsongifted.org/Search-Database/entry/A10140   7 Myths About 2E Students https://www.understood.org/en/friends-feelings/empowering-your-child/building-on-strengths/7-myths-about-twice-exceptional-2e-students   Gifted Children With Learning Disabilities https://www.understood.org/en/friends-feelings/empowering-your-child/building-on-strengths/gifted-childrens-challenges-with-learning-and-attention-issues   2e Newsletter http://www.2enewsletter.com/index.html   NEA: Twice Exceptional Dilemma http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/twiceexceptional.pdf [PDF File]   Amazon.com Books on 2e Kids http://amzn.to/2jtknFy  

Audio Recording IEP Meetings – Is It Allowed?

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Having an audio recording of what happens in an IEP meeting is powerful evidence, especially when school districts deny what was said or fail to put a service in writing into the IEP.   For example, an audio recording can prove or disprove what was actually discussed during the meeting, whether the parents were given proper […]

The New Jersey Dyslexia Handbook

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A group of smart minds in the New Jersey world of special education gathered and put together an excellent guide to assist schools, parents, and providers in helping children with dyslexia.  They recently issued “The New Jersey Dyslexia Handbook: A Guide to Early Literacy Development & Reading Struggles” (PDF) which is free to download from […]

I love teachers! . . . (really, I do!)

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There is a bad reputation out there for special education lawyers, advocates and parents of special education kids.  The reputation is that we hate all school teachers and those who work in the schools and we are simply out for vengeance. I’m going to focus this post on the misrepresentation that I must hate teachers […]

What’s a FERPA letter?

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For those of you who are new to education law or are in a battle with your school district to make sure your disabled student is getting a “Free Appropriate Public Education”, you may have heard the term “FERPA” or been told to send a “FERPA letter“.  And you’re probably wondering “What the heck is […]

Pass the IEP, please!

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You remember at the dinner table (perhaps most notably the Thanksgiving Dinner table) when you would ask someone to pass something along?  Maybe it was the stuffing bowl; maybe it was the cranberry sauce; maybe it was the dinner rolls; or maybe it was the fruit cake (OK, I know it wasn’t the fruit cake […]