How to Advocate Successfully for Your Child: What Every Parent Should Know About Special Education Law - Paperback

by Greer M. Gurland Esq (Author)

***Winner of 5 National Book Awards, including 2016 Outstanding Human Relations Advocacy Indie Book*** In this new book, Greer M. Gurland, Esq., Harvard Law School, '94, delivers a mega-dose of power for parents with passion and insight. Greer is a seasoned special education attorney--and a mom of five special needs children--who clearly works hard to level the playing field for parents. On each page, she demystifies special education law and answers the most troubling questions parents face. Enjoyable to read and loaded with direct, strategic, and practical advice and guidance--all delivered with empathy and passion, and a clear desire to make a difference. This book is written without "legalese," and from the perspective of someone who has been there. Greer's warm personality comes through. You will think of her as a confident and a friend well before the last page. Appropriate for parents of children with special needs from mild to severe, including autism, ADD/ADHD, learning differences and learning disorders, auditory processing disorders, expressive and receptive language disorders, dyslexia, emotional, social and behavioral challenges, anxiety and "twice-exceptional" children (children who are both gifted and have special needs). Relevant for parents in all fifty United States. Topics include: how to qualify for special education, what a parent needs to look at in an Individualized Education Plan or IEP, the difference between IEPs and 504s, the possible placements and programs available, lists of possible modifications and accommodations, negotiating strategy that works, organizing your child's file, the nuts and bolts of how to file for mediation including sample completed form, due process, sample letters to the school and additional model forms for parents to use right away to be their child's best advocate. Also available in a complete Spanish edition, made possible due to a generous gift from Children's Specialized Hospital.

Author Biography

Greer Gurland graduated from Harvard College in 1991 with a degree in English and American Literature and Language, and from Harvard Law School in 1994. In addition to practicing as a special education attorney, Greer presents frequently to parent groups, educators and other attorneys, including at Children's Specialized Hospital, CHADD and through Volunteer Lawyers for Justice. She has been voted one of New Jersey's Best Lawyers for Families, 2017 and 2018 (New Jersey Family magazine). Greer hopes to connect with parents who have yet to discover all that is available today, by law, to help children with learning differences and other challenges thrive in school. Readers may recognize Greer's voice from her creative non-fiction and her poetry. Greer writes about raising her own five children, ages six to thirteen, who happen to have special needs--and about growing up along side them. Her forthcoming collection of personal essays is tentatively titled: Parenting: A Manual (tongue in cheek of course!)