NOTE: I know Julie Swanson and Jen Laviano from their dedication to special education rights here in Connecticut. If you've a child on an IEP, you know that districts are often at odds with your goals for your child. Often might even be an understatement. Jen and Julie walk you through the mirror into the real machinations of special ed, where budgets and allocations dictate services, and where the "I" in IEP stands for INTEREST of the district and not the INDIVIDUAL. 

Written in a conversational style, you don't need to be a lawyer to understand how to learn and exercise your child's rights.  Not the traditional summer read, I realize, but you'll be a better advocate and even the playing field after reading this book.  Pre-order a copy today.  It ships mid-August.  Congrats to Jen and Julie and a big thank you to Skyhorse for publishing books so valuable to our community. K

Jennifer Laviano and Julie Swanson, a high-profile special education attorney and a special education advocate, tell parents of students with disabilities how to navigate their school system to get the services they need for their children.

The authors demystify the federal laws that govern the rights of public school children with disabilities and explain how school districts often ignore or circumvent these laws. They explain the often sordid politics of special education, exposing truths like the fact that teachers are under extraordinary pressure not to spend resources on costly services. Most importantly, they show parents how to get the services their children are entitled to and make the system work for them.

Many parents don’t know they can:
Ask the school for an evaluation of their child
Get a second opinion if they disagree with the school’s testing
Request parental counseling and training (to help understand their child’s disability and child development, for example)
And so much more
Complete with checklists and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Your Special Education Rights provides parents with the substantive information they need and the practical strategies that work.