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If you live in Alameda, Contra Costa or Yolo Counties, an Education Advocate can talk to you about special education and give you resources so you can make informed decisions about your child's education and other individual needs.
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Special Education Resources
NEW! Updated Guide to Due Process in California
In light of changes made to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) by Congress in 2004, and changes in California's mediation process, DREDF's "A Guide for California Parents: Special Education Due Process and the Resolution Session, 2ed." offers guidance through the California special education due process procedure.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004)
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Special Education Rights and Responsibilities (SERR) (Disability Rights California) (Note: specific to California)
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Law: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (Library of Congress)
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IDEA Regulations: 34 CFR Parts 300 and 301; Assistance to States for the Education of Children With Disabilities and Preschool Grants for Children With Disabilities; Final Rule (US Dept of Education)
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Six Principles of IDEA (Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA)
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Summary of Changes in IDEA 2004 (FAPE Project)
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Understanding the Special Education Process (FAPE Project)
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IDEA Guide (National Center for Learning Disabilities)
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Special Education: A Guide for Parents and Advocates (Oregon Advocacy Center)
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Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
What is FAPE and What Can it Mean to My Child (National Center for Learning Disabilities) -
Least Restrictive Environment (Protection & Advocacy & CASE)
Inclusion
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Special Education Inclusion (Wisconsin Education Association Council)
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Students Perceptions of Instruction in Inclusion Classrooms: Implications for Students with Learning Disabilities (TA Alliance)
Individual Education Program (IEP)
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IEP Overview (Schwab Learning)
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IEP Team Members and Meetings (US Dept of Education)
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IEP Contents (US Dept of Education)
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IEP Goals: The Basics (Schwab Learning)
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US Dept of Education Model IEP Form (US Dept of Education)
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California IEP Form (Sonoma SELPA)
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The Pop-Up IEP (National Center on Severe and Sensory Disabilities)
Assessments / Evaluations
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Evaluation: What Does it Mean for Your Child (TA Alliance)
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Evaluación: ¿Qué significa para su niño? (TA Alliance)
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Evaluation (TA Alliance)
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Educación Especial Evaluacion (TA Alliance)
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Assessment: An Overview (Schwab Learning)
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Your Child's Evaluation (NICHCY)
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Special Education: A Guide for Parents and Advocates (Oregon Advocacy)
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Educaci�n Especial: Una Gu�a para Padres y Defensores - Espa�ol (Oregon Advocacy)
Related Services
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Determining Related Services for Students with Disabilities Under the IDEA (Mountain Plains RRC)
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Special Education Rights and Responsibilities (SERR), Chapter 5 (Protection & Advocacy and CASE)
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Related Services Fact Sheet (TA Alliance)
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Related Services (NICHCY)
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Servicios Relacionados (NICHY)
Transportation
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An Overview of Special Education Transportation: A Primer for Parents and Educators (Mountain Plains RRC)
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Use of Transportation (NICHCY)
Assistive Technology
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Assistive Technology 101 (FCTD)
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La Tecnología Asistencial (FCTD)
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Simple, Inexpensive Devices can Assist in Communication (TA Alliance)
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Aparatos Simples y Baratos Pueden Ayudar en la Comunicación (TA Alliance)
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Transitioning Your Technology from High School to Adulthood - Power Point Training (Oct. 2008 - Disability Rights California)
Behavior
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Functional Behavioral Assessments: What, Why, When, Where, and Who? (Wrights Law)
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IEPs for Behavior Problems, Assessments & Interventions (Wrights Law)
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Special Education in Plain Language: Special Education Behavior and Discipline (Wisconsin Dept of Public Instruction)
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Functional Behavioral Assessment and Positive Interventions: What Parents Need to Know (PACER Center)
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Evaluación de Conducta Funcional e Intervenciones Positivas: Lo que los padres necesitan saber (PACER Center)
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Facilitator's Guide to Positive Behavioral Supports (Florida Dept of Education)
Discipline
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Behavior Problems & Discipline (Wrights Law)
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US Dept of Education Questions and Answers on Discipline Procedures
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IDEA 2004 Changes in Discipline Provisions (Wrights Law)
Response to Intervention
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Response-to-Intervention. An Emerging Method for LD Identification (Schwab Learning)
Transition
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Transition to Adult Living: An Information and Resource Guide (CalSTAT)
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Parent Tips for Transition Planning (TA Alliance)
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Consejos a Padres para Planeamiento de Transición (TA Alliance)
Procedural Safeguards and Due Process
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Procedural Safeguards: (Understanding and Exercising Your Legal Rights (NCLD)
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Information on Due Process Hearings/Complaints (SERR, Chapter 6 - PAI and CASE)
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IDEA 2004 Close Up: Resolving Disagreements between Parents and Schools (Schwab Learning)
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Procedural Safeguards: (Resolution Meetings and Due Process Hearings (US Dept of Education)
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Questions and Answers on Procedural Safeguards and Due Process Procedures For Parents and Children With Disabilities (US Dept of Education)
Resolution Meetings
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Resolution Meetings: A Guide for Parents (CADRE and TA Alliance)
A Guide for California Parents: Special Education Due Process and the Resolution Session (DREDF)
Alternative Dispute Resolution
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Mediation + Options to Resolve Problems Underlying Disputes (Lyn Beekman via CADRE)
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Steps to Success: Communicating with Your Child's School (CADRE)
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Dispute Resolution in Special Education Through Mediation (Bureau of Indian Education)
Learning Disabilities and ADHD
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LD Basics (LD Online)
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Dyslexia (LD Online)
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Dyscalculia (LD Online)
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Dysgraphia (LD Online)
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Visual and Auditory Processing Disorders (LD Online)
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Nonverbal Learning Disorders (LD Online)
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Basics (LD Online)
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ADHD and Education (LD Online)
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Identifying and Treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Resource for School and Home 2006 (US Dept of Education)
Resources for Military Families
STOMP (Specialized Training of Military Parents)
More Resources
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Acronyms in Special Education (FAPE Project)
Service Animals



