DSAF Wrightslaw Boot Camp 

Providing advocacy training for parents of children with special needs

July 29 & 30, 2011

9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Scottish Rite Temple
332 Centennial Mall South
Lincoln, NE 68508

All children qualifying for special education services are required to have an Individualized Education Program (IEP).  The IEP specifies the special education and related services necessary to ensure the child a free appropriate public education.  The IEP process can be overwhelming for parents due to complex federal laws and regulations.  DSAF is hosting an intensive, two-day Wrightslaw training on special education and advocacy.

If you are a parent or guardian of a child receiving special education services, or a professional wanting to better serve kids with disabilities, you don't want to miss this 2-day training!

Participants will learn about:

• special education statutes and regulations to get answers to their questions
• tests and measurements to measure educational progress
• charting out test scores
• writing SMART IEP goals and objectives
• using No Child Left Behind as a tool to open doors to services
• creating paper trails and writing effective letters
• advocacy strategies to negotiate for appropriate special educational programs

Register Now!                                         SEATING IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 250 PEOPLE

Payment must be received within 10 days of registration in order to reserve the spot. 

Your registration fee includes lunch, break refreshments, and three books ($ 63 retail value):  Wrightslaw:  Special Education Law - 2nd Edition; Wrightslaw:  From Emotions to Advocacy - 2nd Edition; and Wrightslaw:  All About IEP's.

SCHEDULE

Day 1 - Special Education Laws
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.  Registration and Refreshments

9:00 - 10:30 a.m.   

• Introductions, Agenda, Pre-test
• Overview of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA-97) and the Reauthorized IDEA of 2004

10:30 - 10:45 a.m.  Break

10:45 - 12:00 p.m. 

• Section 1400:  Findings and Purposes
• Section 1401:  Definitions
• Section 1412:  "Catchall Statute" - Least restrictive environment (LRE), Extended School Year, Notice, Statewide Assessments

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.  Lunch Provided

1:00 - 2:30 p.m. 

• Measuring Progress:  Tests and Measurements and the Bell curve Demo: How to Chart Tests Scores
• Section 1414:  Evaluations, Consent, Individualized Educational Programs (IEP's)  

2:30 - 2:45 p.m.  Break

2:45 - 4:00 p.m. 

• Section 1415:  Procedural Safeguards - Prior Written Notice, Procedural Safeguards Notice, Mediation, Due Process, Appeal, Discipline
• Section 504:  Discrimination, Retaliation, Damages
• Review and Homework Assignment

4:00 - 4:30 p.m.  Questions and Answers

Day 2 - SMART IEP's, NCLB, Advocacy Strategies
9:00 - 10:30 a.m.   

• Review:  Law, Tests and Measurements, Bell Curve
• No Child Left Behind (NCLB):  Reading, Research Based Instruction
• Highly Qualified Teachers, Praprofessionals, Parent "Right to Know"
  

10:30 - 10:45 a.m.  Break

10:45 - 12:00 p.m. SMART IEP's

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.  Lunch Provided

1:00 - 2:30 p.m. 

• Advocacy Strategies, Crisis Management, Emotions, Conflict
• Obstacles to Successful Advocacy, School Culture
• Rule of Adverse Assumptions
  

2:30 - 2:45 p.m.  Break

2:45 - 4:00 p.m. 

• Hazards of Litigation and Outcome Prediction
  
• Comprehensive Evaluations
  
• Negotiating, Paper Trails and Letters
• School Meetings:  Preparation and Survival Strategies
  

4:00 - 4:30 p.m.  Questions and Answers

About the Presenters:  Pete and Pam Wright

Pete Wright 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.  In October 1993, Pete successfully represented Shannon Carter before the United States Supreme Court.  The Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision on Shannon's behalf in Florence County V. Shannon Carter.

Pam Wright is a psychotherapist who has worked with cildren and families since the early 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 Wright are the founders of Wrightslaw, the #1 ranked website about education law, special education law, and special education advocacy.

Continuing Education

Legal Profession -  This course has been approved for 11 hours of continuing legal education by the Nebraska Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission.

Other Professions - Continuing education approval is pending for other professions.