by Bonnie Landau | Oct 13, 2018 | Advocacy, Blog, Interview
I feel really fortunate to be interviewed by Michael Boll at California Special Needs Law Group. Michael is working on putting together a network of special education advocates so we can get to know advocates in different regions of California. Since we each work in... 
by Bonnie Landau | Sep 16, 2018 | Advocacy, IEP, Printable
Getting ready for an IEP meeting can be really nerve wracking, but it doesn’t have to be. If you know how to prepare and how to plan, the process can be easier than expected. I created the attached IEP Preparation Checklist with 20 different tasks you need to... 
by Bonnie Landau | Sep 4, 2018 | Advocacy, Blog
We all know that in the world of special education, if it isn’t in writing, it may not have happened. As Special Ed Parents, we need to remember that all requests and responses need to be done via email or printed letter. Optimally, multiple people will be... 
by James Lambka | Aug 25, 2018 | Advocacy, Therapy
Guest Post by James Lambka You know that public schools just aren’t equipped to give every child exactly what she needs; and, while you’d desperately like to, you just can’t do it all at home on your own either. There are, however, some proven... 
by Bonnie Landau | Jul 25, 2018 | Advocacy, Back to School, Blog, Classroom Help
Starting a new school year is a big chore for many teachers. They often have to create new curriculum and schools introduce new methodologies, and then of course all teachers get a new group of students. They may hear about your student from other teachers, but they... 
by Bonnie Landau | Jul 1, 2018 | Advocacy, IEP, Infographic, Special Ed Law
The IEP Team is suppose to help support your child, but sometimes their approach can be misleading. Knowing the law is key when advocating for your child. In my book, Special Ed Mom Survival Guide, I spend considerable time helping you learn about the law and how to... 
by Bonnie Landau | Jun 15, 2018 | Advocacy, IDEA, IEP, Infographic, Special Ed Law
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by Bonnie Landau | Jun 8, 2018 | Advocacy, Blog, IEP, Infographic
One of the most important things you can do when advocating for your child is to organize IEP paperwork! That is why I created the Ultimate IEP Binder Tool Kit, so parents like you can get all the information in one place. Why organize IEP paperwork? In chapter 33 of... 
by Bonnie Landau | May 29, 2018 | 504, Advocacy, Blog, IDEA, IEP, Special Ed Law
There seems to be a lot of confusion about IEP vs 504 plans. While both are covered within special education, only IEPs (individualized education programs) are covered under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). IDEA is the federal law that governs how... 
by Bonnie Landau | May 24, 2018 | 504, Advocacy, Blog, IDEA, IEP
Has your child been denied an IEP or 504? It is so common for schools to say that a child is not eligible for special education because the child has good grades or is too smart. The truth is, this is not a valid excuse for denying special education support. Sec.... 
by Bonnie Landau | May 13, 2018 | 504, Accommodations, Advocacy, Blog, IEP
A lot of time and effort goes into choosing the exact right accommodations to help your child in the classroom. Sometimes you even have to fight for them, even though they usually don’t cost the school any money. Even with all this careful consideration, they... 
by Bonnie Landau | May 6, 2018 | Advocacy, Blog, IDEA, IEP
When providing an IEP, least restrictive environment (LRE) is an important concept for parents to understand. It relates to where they put your child for the daily classroom, and how much structure there is in your child’s educational day. IDEA defines the LRE... 
by Bonnie Landau | Feb 22, 2018 | Advocacy, Blog, IEP
I know how overwhelming and IEP meeting can be, and it is very difficult to know if they are covering everything they are suppose to. This is especially true if you do not have a special education advocate to help ensure everything is done properly. Not all IEP... 
by Bonnie Landau | Feb 21, 2018 | 504, Advocacy, Blog, IEP
I so wish I had a magic wand to get schools to say yes when the child clearly needs services but the schools are obviously manipulating the situation to make sure they can say no. Special education advocates know that the law is the way to get schools to change their... 
by Bonnie Landau | Jan 18, 2018 | Advocacy, Blog
It is hard to stay on top of all the social media information, but it is important to keep abreast of what is going on in special education. These are the people I follow to help me learn new strategies for kids as well as information on changes in government policy.... 
by Bonnie Landau | Jan 5, 2018 | Advocacy, Printable
How do you know when you need a special education advocate? In Chapter 12 of Special Ed Mom Survival Guide, I emphasize the need to ask for help when you feel overwhelmed. Sometimes it takes an advocate to help you find your way out of the stress, especially when you... 