Review of The Everyday Guide to Special Education Law in the US Review of Books

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  The Everyday Guide to Special Education Law Second Edition

by Randy Chapman, Esq. The Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People reviewed by Judee L. Spargur

"I wrote this book primarily to help students, parents, advocates, and other professionals better understand the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). The book is meant to be an everyday guide to special education law to help parents, advocates, students with disabilities and educators to understand the basic requirements of the IDEA."

Parents, teachers, and other professionals who work with children with disabilities will greatly appreciate this helpful resource. It isn't easy to find a book that helps you navigate special education law. A wide range of topics are covered, including how to understand a free and appropriate public education, identify the least restrictive environment, evaluate the needs of students with disabilities and their individualized education programs, and resolve disputes under IDEA (the Individuals with Disability Education Act). Also covered is the difficult subject of discipline and disability, children in private schools, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and The Americans with Disabilities Act. Another informative section is "Back to The Beginning: Part C Early Intervention Services." Overall, this book is rich in information about "Special Education Law" delivered in a well-written narrative.

Since 1980, attorney Randy Chapman has had a passion for his work as Director of Legal Services in Colorado, working toward the development of disability law and implementing special education law and, thus, significantly improving the quality of life for the physically challenged. In this essential guide, Chapman makes the pages come alive with his knowledge and research, and his work is not finished: "While the Education for All Handicapped Children Act may not have fulfilled all our dreams, for most it ended the nightmare of days without school. While the IDEA may not have answered all our prayers, it delivered on many of its promises."