Book Review: IDEA 2004 - Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act

By Shelley Smith; 97 pages. Subtitle: A Parent Handbook for School Age Children with Learning Disabilities

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act puts a high premium on parents' involvement in the special education process, but that doesn't mean that the school personnel who actually do the planning are going to make that easy. Knowing the law is a good place to start in making sure your child's -- and your -- rights are recognized and respected. This book lays it out.

About the Guide Rating

"I feel that you are violating my parental rights and in doing so you are also infringing upon my child's right to her federally mandated free and appropriate publication."

The fact that this declaration is repeated at the end of nearly every chapter in IDEA 2004 gives you a good idea of where the book is coming from: a pretty darn fed-up place. If you're lucky enough to have your child educated in a school district that actually respects you and listens to your concerns, this book will give you some solid, comprehensible information about special education law. If your district requires a little extra muscle and advocacy to keep services coming, this book will provide you with some ammunition for that. And if your district treats you like a doorstop to be kicked on the way to giving your child whatever paltry assistance they feel like doling out, you'll get some understanding and sympathy and provocation to kick back.

With its small size and limited scope, IDEA 2004 can't give you all the answers to getting the most appropriate program for your child; given the amount of interpretation special education law is open to, it's doubtful any book could. But it's worth reading for a sense of what the law does say. And it's worth toting to any school meetings you attend. With its bright yellow cover and straightforward title, it will serve as an alarm to school personnel that you know your rights. And that might get you more respect than anything else.

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