The Complete IEP Guide: How to Advocate for Your Special Ed Child (Complete Iep Guide)

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Summary: The Complete IEP Guide: How to Advocate for Your Special Ed
Review: ...we had this book ten years ago. Our daughter was diagnosed with ADD in 1991 and it has taken us 10 years to get our school district to put her in a program that they refused to even tell us existed. We have fought tooth and nail over that time to put her in a program that would truly address her needs. It took her getting in trouble and put on probation for us to even find out what resources truly existed for her. Once we had the key words (thanks to a caring Probation Officer), the doors opened wide. Meanwhile, we wasted all of middle school and her freshman year of high school, as very little was done for her. This book has all you need to start getting answers and solutions. If you even suspect your child needs special accomodations or special education, you will find this the best $24.00 you could ever spend.

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Summary: IEP for the layperson
Review: Finally a book that really spells out the IEP process in layman's terms. I had bought legal books from Nolo years ago and was NOT impressed (they were too simplistic or didn't give enough information). However, I've been pleasantly surprised to find this book helpful. It lays out every step simply and also gives references at every turn so that you can go elsewhere for information on your particular circumstance. It is also very good about warning for situations that may be different state-to-state. It doesn't answer every question, but when you're just starting out in the myriad of IEPs, 502s and 766s, it's a sanity-saver!

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Summary: The Dummy proof IEP
Review: I found this book to be the MOST informative book on the market for writing an IEP. It gives examples, details and actual pull out pages of the forms necessary for writing a complete and accurate IEP. I reviewed MANY books and none were as informative as this book. I am going to my sons IEP with a complete and thorough knowledge and understanding of the process. I highly recommend this book to any parent who has or is having a child in Special Education or mainstreaming into regular classes.

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Summary: The Dummy proof IEP
Review: I found this book to be the MOST informative book on the market for writing an IEP. It gives examples, details and actual pull out pages of the forms necessary for writing a complete and accurate IEP. I reviewed MANY books and none were as informative as this book. I am going to my sons IEP with a complete and thorough knowledge and understanding of the process. I highly recommend this book to any parent who has or is having a child in Special Education or mainstreaming into regular classes.

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Summary: Wonderfurl Resource
Review: This book has been a wonderful resource as we have journied through the special education system. I bought this book because we were struggling to get our school system to recognize the many difficulties of having a child with bipolar disorder and severe learning difficulties. I really like the forms and easy to use charts.

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Summary: A Must Have Book
Review: This book is the most complete resource that I have found. I recommend it to anyone who is entering the Special Education arena. I am a parent of a 10 year-old boy who was recently diagnosed with ADD and Dyslexia. This book helped me prepare for my IEP meeting. I especially enjoyed using the forms in the back of the book. These forms can be copied for use as letters and check lists. This book is very thorough and will walk you through the entire IEP process. This is definately a "Must Have Book"!

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Summary: A "must have" for parents of Special Education Children.
Review: This book will become the "bible" for parents of Special Education children. The book is wirtten with the lay person in mind in a clear and concise manner. The whole IEP process is spelled out in easy to follow steps that gently glides one through the process. The letters and forms which can be copied or added to are invaluable, and take a giant step toward helping parents become effective advocates for their children. A copy of the law IDEA 1997 is included, giving full disclosure to the general public. The information included in this book can save a parent thousands of dollars in attorney's fees. If you buy just one book about Special Education this year, this should be the one!

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Summary: Good overview, but doesn't replace having an advocate/lawyer
Review: This guide provides a good overview of the special education and IEP process, as well as some sample forms and letters. It also usefully collects the relevant federal statutes and regulations. But I found the descriptions of the process to be quite different from what happens here in D.C., so that ultimately its utility was somewhat limited. There is, perhaps, no solution to this -- the book can't be written for every school district in the country. So while the book is useful, in many areas you will be well served to hire a special ed consultant and/or attorney.

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Summary: Good overview, but doesn't replace having an advocate/lawyer
Review: THIS IS AN EXCELLENT RESOUCE BOOK FOR THE PERSON WHO IS A FIRST TIMER FOR IEP MEETINGS AS WELL AS FOR THE SEASONES VETERANS. I REVIEW IT FOR EACH IEP MEETING. IT IS ONE OF THOSE MUST HAVE BOOKS.

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Summary: From a mom with a son with Tourette Syndrome
Review: Whether you are new to the world of "special ed" or you are a seasoned veteran, attorney, Lawrence M. Siegel's book will guide you through the advocacy maze with ease. It is a valuable resource of information, including, but not limited to: an overview of special ed and the IEP process; sample IEP forms and letters; organization and planning tips; a listing of support groups, advocacy organizations and federal and state departments of education. Laws and procedures change frequently, and regulations can be different from state to state, so new editions are printed periodically. You can even take advantage of an "update service" that offers a 35% discount on any future purchases.
This is quite possibly the best resource available for assistance in navigating the path of the IEP process, so that you feel more in control of the situation. Although no published material can completely replace a knowledgeable expert or lawyer, I am now confident that I have sufficient knowledge of the IEP process to be able to be an effective advocate for my child.