Partners for Special Needs

Douglas J. Fiore is the author of eight books for educators, including School-Community Relations and Dealing with Difficult Parents, written with Todd Whitaker. Doug has served as a teacher, a principal, a professor, and a consultant, and he most recently served as a provost and vice president for academic affairs.Julie Anne Fiore has been an educator for thirteen years, spending her most recent year as an Inclusion Intervention Specialist for middle school students. A proponent of partnerships, she insists that teachers engage students, parents, guardians, and those they hire in ensuring student success.

• About the AuthorsPrefacePART I THE PRACTICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATIONChapter 1 The Development of Special Education PracticesThe Legal EnvironmentConsiderations to PonderIf It’s Not Legal, Consider It IllegalConclusionChapter 2 The Evolution of InstructionFoundational Perspective of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)ConclusionConsiderations to PonderReflection Activity WorksheetChapter 3 The Individualized Education Plan (IEP) ProcessThe Exceptional LearnerThe Instructional Team: Changing "Me" to "We" Gathering Evidence: Who, What, When, and WhereDiscussing the Data: Who and WhatReviewing the Environment: Where and WhenAnalyzing the Problem: Why and HowThe Eight Components of an IEPConsiderations to PonderConclusionPART II COLLABORATING AND COMMUNICATINGChapter 4 Effective Communication and Meeting StrategiesThe Communication ProcessNonverbal CommunicationLanguage BarriersCulture Barriers Physical BarriersPerception CheckingCommunication Strategies for MeetingsConsiderations to PonderConclusionChapter 5 "Rule of Three": Working with Professional AdvocatesEnvisioning the 21st-Century ClassroomInstructional ImplicationsConsiderations to Ponder"Rule of Three"Parents: Partners in Language, Communication, and Data CollectionAdvocate: Mediator, Negotiator, and Objective Third Party"Rule of Three": Teacher, Parent, and AdvocateConclusionChapter 6 Advocating as a ParentConsiderations to PonderParent–Teacher Partnering TipsAdvocacy SupportKnow the LingoConclusionChapter 7 How to Keep Parent Relationships PositiveRule #1Pay Attention to the F WordThe Importance of Being ProactiveParent Involvement at School and at HomeConsiderations to PonderConclusionAfterwordReferencesAppendix