A concise, step-by-step blueprint for parents and caregivers to understand and maximize special education services, and the accommodations children need for full inclusion in the classroom.

Using simple, straightforward language, author Kat McGrady walks readers through every stage of the special education process. From the types of disorders that qualify for specialized services, including options for testing and evaluation, to the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved in a child’s educational treatment plan, this guide outlines how to ensure every child enjoys a rewarding and successful schoolyear.

Each chapter addresses key elements of the special education process, including the most common types of interventions, such as 504 and individualized education plans. Insights into how to collect relevant data, share information, and collaborate with school staff so appropriate accommodations can be made are highlighted, along with strategies to enhance the treatment planning process. The author also explores cultural factors that can influence treatment planning and offers guidance on what parents can do if a treatment plan is not being followed or their child is not receiving the supports, modifications, and access they are entitled to by law.

Special emphasis is given to helping parents acknowledge and accept their child’s diagnosis, understand their responsibilities on the treatment planning team, and advocate forcefully but fairly on their child’s behalf.

The book’s appendix features a helpful glossary of commonly used terms, as well as at-a-glance summaries of key legal cases, agencies, departments, and organizations responsible for special education programs and services.

In a tone that is encouraging and reassuring, parents are given the information, tools, and confidence they need to actively participate in their child’s learning while also helping them reach their full potential.

Author Kat McGrady, EdD, LCPC, NCC has experience as an educator, school counselor, and mental health therapist. She currently works in private practice as a therapist and parent coach. Kat also serves as an adjunct professor for the Johns Hopkins University Master’s in Education program, as well as a doctoral advisor for the Johns Hopkins University School of Education. She is the author of Mental Health from Diagnosis to Delivery and Building Resiliency in Youth: A trauma-informed guide for working with youth in schools, as well as the guide’s corresponding teen workbook and children’s activity guide.