The purpose of a FETA Group is to teach information and skills and provide members with support, guidance, and practical help. This group will help parents gain knowledge and skills to be effective advocates for their children. Instead of showing their emotions to school officials, parents can bring their concerns to the group and receive guidance about how to handle specific problems.
The FETA Group is based on the Wrightslaw Book From Emotions To Advocacy .
FETA MEETINGS are held every 2nd Tuesday of each month (except May, July and December)
Crossroads Christian Church
THE INSTITUTE ROOM
2331 Kellogg Avenue
Corona, CA 92881-3535
tel 951-737-4664 / fax 951-278-3176
The FETA Group will cover the following:
Week One and Two: Getting Started
In Getting Started, you will learn:
Basic advocacy skills
Supplies you need to get started
How to develop a master plan for your child's education
Week Three: Advocacy 101
In "Advocacy lOl" you will learn about:
Schools as bureaucracies and the rules of the game
Obstades to success - school culture, myths, gatekeepers, and emotions
Common causes of conflict
Steps you can take to prevent or resolve problems
Events that trigger parent-school crises
Week Four: The Parent as Expert
In "The Parent as Expert," you will learn:
Why you must become an expert about your child's disability and educational needs
How to organize your child's file, step by step
How to use information from evaluations to understand your child/s disability
How to use test scores to monitor and measure your child's progress
How to write SMART IEP goats and objectives
Week Five and Six: Special Education Law
In "Special Education law," you will learn about:
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004)
Findings and purposes of the IDEA
Definitions in the IDEA
Extended school year (ESY), child find, least restrictive environment (lRE), private placements, statewide assessments
Requirements for identifying children with Specific learning disabilities Discrepancy
Formulas and Response to Intervention (RTI)
Evaluations, eligibility, IEPs, and placement
Prior written notice, procedural safeguards, mediation, due process hearings, appeals, discipline, and age of majority
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
The No Child Left Behind Act and implications for children with disabilities
Week: Seven: Tactics and Strategies
In ''Tactics and Strategies," you will learn about:
"The Rules of Adverse Assumptions;" first impressions; image and presentation
How to use logs, calendars, and journals to create paper trails
How to write effective letters (includes sample letters)
How to write a persuasive "Letter to the Stranger" (includes sample letters)
How to use IEP worksheets, parent agendas, visual aids & graphs of progress or lack of progress (includes sample worksheets and agendas)
Roles of experts; how to use an expert to help develop an appropriate educational program
Pros and cons of recording meetings; strategies
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