Rev. ed. of: A parent's guide to special education. c2005.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Different disabilities, common goals -- What are the different disabilities, and how are they classified? -- Specifics about specific disabilities -- Specific learning disabilities and a response to intervention approach -- Evaluating children's difficulties: what, why, and how? -- Introduction to assessment: what's it all about? -- The assessment of intelligence -- Evaluation of academic and processing problems -- Assessment of emotional difficulties and behavioral problems -- Executive functions: what they are, why they're important, and how they're assessed -- A sample assessment and psychological report -- Interventions and supports to address executive function problems -- Interventions to boost self-esteem, social competence, and social skills -- Interventions to improve behavior and discipline -- Guidelines for boosting homework, studying, and organizational skills -- The IEP and beyond: tips for successful parent-teacher collaboration -- Transitions: moving, changing schools, or transitioning from elementary to secondary school -- An overview of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 -- 504 plans: an alternative to special education placement -- A comparison of IDEA 2004 and Section 504, and a brief look at No Child Left Behind.

"Provides an insider's view of the special education process for parents and teachers This book explores the special education process-from testing and diagnosis to IEP meetings and advocating for special needs children. Step by step the authors reveal the stages of identification, assessment, and intervention, and help readers to better understand special needs children's legal rights and how to become an active, effective member of a child's educational team. Grounded in more than twenty-five years of working with parents and educators, the authors provide significant insight into what they have learned about the special education. This book fills the gap in the literature for the millions of children receiving special education services and the parents who are clamoring for information on this topic. Includes valuable tools, checklists, sample forms, and advice for working with special education students. Demystifies the special education process, from testing and diagnosis to IEP meetings and advocating for children. New editions covers Response-to-Intervention (RTI), a new approach to diagnosing learning disabilities in the classroom; expanded coverage of autism spectrum disorders and bipolar disorder; and a revamped Resources section."--