As your child's most important advocate, you must educate yourself concerning his/her legal rights to a free and appropriate education. It is always in your child's best interest to work with their school in a cooperative spirit of sharing information. Working together as a team with the parents/teachers/therapists having the same goal - that of providing your child with an appropriate education in the least restrictive environment - will usually result in the best educational experience for your child.

However, it isn't always as easy as is sounds. Sometimes, as your child's most important advocate, it will become your duty to educate the educators, or to convince a school psychologist that your child with Asperger's does need support services, even though his needs are not as obvious as other's.

The first step is to KNOW YOUR STATE'S SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW. You can get a copy by calling your state's department of education.  READ IT - LEARN IT.  Your school district is bound by the law to uphold their responsibilities as outlines in that law.

CONTACT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES to get more information about your child's educational rights :

      Amicus For Children, Inc. ...............................................................  www.amicusforchildren.org

      The National Information Center for Children and Youth Disabilities.............  www.nichcy.org

      Wrightslaw Advocacy and Law Libraries................................................   www.wrightslaw.com