Special Ed Mom Survival Guide (eBook)

Table of Contents viiHow to Use This Book xiPrologue 1Section 1: Create the Right Mindset 5

Believe in Yourself: You DO Have the Ability to Help Your Child! 7
Accept That This is Hard 13
You Did Not Cause Your Child’s Difficulties 19
Don’t Allow the Diagnosis to Handicap You 25
Cry Over Assessments 35
Mourn the Child You Dreamed About 41
Get Over Your Stuff 47
Visualize Healing 53
Ignore the Naysayers 59
Find Your Tribe 63


Section 2: Take Care of Yourself 71


You Are a Caregiver – Treat Yourself Like One! 73
Ask for Help! 79
Manage Your Stress 91
Be Okay With Your Breakdowns 97
Find the Blessings in the Journey 103
The Power of Prayer 109


Section 3: Take Care of Your Child 113


Follow Your Gut 117
Knowledge is Your Strength 125
Get to the Root Cause of the Challenges 131
Schools Can’t Share Medical Concerns 141
Choose Alternatives Beyond the Schools 147
Help Your Child Understand His Disability 153
Foster Your Child’s Strengths 159
Do Not Compare Your Child 163
Teach Your Child to Self Advocate 169
Teach Your Child to be Resilient 175
Babysit the Teachers 185
Convincing Dad That This is Real 195
Do Not Ignore the Neurotypical Siblings 205


Section 4: Take Charge of the Special Ed Process 213


You Are the Team Captain! 215
Discover Your District’s Special Ed Profile 221
Question Everybody! 225
Track Everything and Stay Organized! 229
The School is Not Your Enemy 235
Letter Writing Tips 239
How to Foster a Positive Special Ed Meeting 241
Recognize and Report School Retaliation 247
It’s Not Your Job to Work at School 251


Section 5: Understand the Special Ed Process 255


A Roadmap of the Special Ed Process 257
Know Your Rights and the Law 259
Learn the Lingo! 267
Request an Evaluation 279
The Mystery Behind Qualification
for Special Education Services 283
Reasons the Schools Say No 291
Parent Concerns:
An Invaluable Contribution to the IEP 301
Write Stellar IEP Goals 305
Accommodations vs. Modifications 313
When Not to Sign at the IEP Meeting 317
Your Right to Prior Written Notice 321
Request an Independent Educational Evaluation 323
Mediation or Due Process 327


Summing Up and How to Reach Me 331
Acknowledgments 333
About the Author 335
References 336