Featuring plain language and a conversational style, this guide walks parents through the maze of public and private procedures for gaining special education services for children with disabilities. The authors are the parents of a child with special needs, and the book is based on their personal experiences with the special education system, with special emphasis on legal rights and the often hidden agendas of school culture. After an overview of history and legal issues, chapters are devoted to dealing with school personnel and outside professionals, school evaluations, the IEP, writing effective IEP goals, and team meetings. There is also advice on organizing and using the 'paper trail,' understanding the legal process, and hiring a lawyer. Each chapter ends with action steps and tips for applying the info in the chapter. The guide includes a detailed glossary of terms and an extensive list of special education books and websites on general issues, legal issues, the IEP, testing, tactical advice, parent-focused websites, federal education, and law websites. Annotation ©2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)