Subj: THE SPECIAL ED ADVOCATE,
NOVEMBER 23, 1999 (V. 2, N. 29)
Date: 11/24/99 5:13:14 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: webmaster@wrightslaw.com (Wrightslaw)
Sender: owner-special-ed-advocate@wrightslaw.com
To: special-ed-advocate@wrightslaw.com
==============
The Special Ed Advocate:
The Online Newsletter About Special Education and the Law
November 23, 1999 Vol. II, No. 29
Visit us today at http://www.wrightslaw.com
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The Special Ed Advocate is a free online newsletter about special education legal issues,
cases, tactics and strategy, effective educational methods, and Internet links.
As a subscriber to The Special Ed Advocate, you will receive announcements and
"alerts" about new cases and other events. Back issues of The Special Ed
Advocate are archived at our web site -
http://www.wrightslaw.com/main_newsletter_archives.htm
Contact, copyright, and subscription information is at the end of this newsletter.
=====================
1. NEW CASE -- T. H. v PALATINE (ABA CASE)
2. NEWS FLASH! IDEA COMPLIANCE REPORT DELAYED
3. NEWS FROM THE ADVOCATE'S BOOKSTORE
4. WEST VIRGINIA -- YOU MADE OUR DAY!
5. UPDATE ON WRIGHTSLAW PROJECTS
6. SUBSCRIBER AND CONTACT INFORMATION
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1. NEW CASE -- T. H. v. PALATINE (ABA CASE)
In this decision from Illinois, the Judge tells the story of a 5 year old boy with autism:
"T.H. has just celebrated his fifth birthday. Over the past two and half years, he
has cleared some important cognitive, linguistic, and behavioral milestones despite the
autism which makes it difficult for
him to focus his attention on the task at hand. There can be no doubt that the informed
and dedicated involvement of T.'s parents has been instrumental in securing for T. a
productive educational environment. But "proof that loving parents can craft a better
program than a state offers does not, alone, entitle them to prevail under the
[Individuals with Disabilities Education] Act."
In this decision, the Court addresses placement decisions, methodology disputes,
individualization and educational benefit.
Why did the Court conclude that the IEP development process was "dysfunctional"?
Why do IEP teams need to be creative and dedicated?
Why did the Judge say, "The problem with this approach is that it required T's
parents to gamble with his future"?
How did the Judge analyze educational benefit, the "floor" of opportunity, and
how much progress is enough?
The excellent decision in "T. H. v. Palatine" is at
http://www.wrightslaw.com/law/caselaw/case_ABA_IL_TH_9905.pdf
We were pleased to see that in his discussion of reimbursement, the Judge heavily on
"Florence County School District IV v. Shannon Carter."
http://www.wrightslaw.com/law/caselaw/Carter_Links_Page.html
Check the LEGAL NEWS at
http://www.wrightslaw.com//main_lawlibrary.htm
==========================
2. NEWS FLASH: IDEA COMPLIANCE REPORT DELAYED
Last month, we asked "Did Your state Pass IDEA Compliance Test?"
We explained that your state Department of Education has many responsibilities under IDEA.
The state Department of Education is responsible for supervising local school districts.
Your state education department should have a comprehensive system of personnel
development
that is designed to ensure that there is an adequate supply of properly trained teachers.
Your state should have policies and procedures that ensure that all children with
disabilities receive a free appropriate education.
Your state is responsible for implementing a comprehensive Child Find Program where all
children with disabilities (including children who attend private schools) are identified,
located and evaluated.
Did your state pass the IDEA Compliance Test? Probably not.
The National Council on Disability found that:
"Based on the U.S. Department of Education's monitoring of state compliance with IDEA
from 1994 to 1998, 90 percent of states and territories fail to adequately supervise local
education agencies' education of students with disabilities."
On November 20, 1999, we received an update about the IDEA Compliance Report.
To read this update, go to
http://www.wrightslaw.com/news/1999/IDEA_Compliance_Report_Delayed_991123.html
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3. NEWS FROM THE ADVOCATE'S BOOKSTORE
Every week, we receive dozens of letters from parents, teachers, and others asking how
they can tactics and strategy to get better services for children with disabilities.
To address some of your questions, we added a Tactics and Strategy section to the
Advocate's Bookstore.
If you are stumped about how to write letters to the school, check out EVERYDAY LETTERS
FOR BUSY PEOPLE.
In EVERYDAY LETTERS, you learn how to write letters that get action, build relationships,
and get your point across. The book includes hundreds of sample letters that you can use
or adapt to your situation.
If you dread another frustrating IEP meeting, check out GETTING IT DONE: HOW TO LEAD WHEN
YOU'RE NOT IN CHARGE.
For these and other books, go to the NEW Tactics and Strategy section at
http://www.wrightslaw.com/bkstore/bks_tactics.htm
While you're at the Advocate's Bookstore, check out the new books in the Legal section
http://www.wrightslaw.com/bkstore/bks_law.htm
The "front door" of the bookstore is at
http://www.wrightslaw.com/bkstore/bks_index.htm
======================
4. WEST VIRGINIA -- YOU MADE OUR DAY!
Today a letter containing a large check and nothing else arrived at the office. Our office
manager placed phone call to the sender. A West Virginia advocacy group had just returned
from a conference where they
saw WRIGHTSLAW: SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW.
When this group got home, they sent a check so each staff member could have a copy of
WRIGHTSLAW: SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW. This story made our day!
Thanks again to all of you who ordered WRIGHTSLAW: SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW.
For those who missed the news releases about the book, here is the link to the information
page. Follow this link to read early reviews. You can also order on our secure online
store.
http://www.wrightslaw.com/bkstore/ourbooks/Law_Book_Announce_99_0712.htm
======================
5. AN UPDATE ON WRIGHTSLAW PROJECTS
* * NEW BOOKS * *
Now that WRIGHTSLAW: SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW is launched, we're working on two books. One
book is about IEPs. The other book, FROM EMOTIONS TO ADVOCACY, teaches parents how to use
tactics and strategy to get better services for children with disabilities.
When we sent WRIGHTSLAW to the printer, newsletter subscribers received a pre-publication
discount by placing their order before a specific date. We will offer pre-publication
discounts on our subsequent books to
subscribers.
* * INTRODUCING PRINT ON DEMAND (POD) * *
We are gearing up to use "print on demand" technology. With POD, we can print
short runs of books and other publications "in house." This will allow us to
tailor publications to specific interests, while keep the
cost of our publications low. We'll keep you posted about this exciting new technology.
* * ADVOCACY PAK * *
The Advocacy Pak is being completely revised. Stay tuned for more about the Advocacy Pak
soon!
=====================
6. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
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http://www.wrightslaw.com/approve.htm
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===========
CONTACT INFORMATION
Pete and Pam Wright
c/o The Special Ed Advocate
P. O. Box 1008
Deltaville, VA 23043
Phone: 804-257-0857
Website: http://www.wrightslaw.com
Email: webmaster@wrightslaw.com
The resources at this website are copyrighted by the authors. They may be used for
non-commercial purposes only. They may not be redistributed for commercial purposes
without the express written consent of Peter W.
D. Wright.
It is not necessary to obtain our consent to link to our website or copy, print and
distribute our articles and newsletters for nonprofit purposes so long as the material is
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"wrightslaw" including the URL - http://www.wrightslaw.com
Copyright 1999, Peter W. D. Wright and Pamela Darr Wright. All rights reserved.
END