Question: How can I get the very best services for my child?
Answer: Start by changing your terminology. The law entitles your child to a “free and appropriate public education,” not a superlative one. That doesn’t mean you have to settle for less than you feel is necessary; it just means you have to phrase your requests in a way the system can recognize. The magic word is “appropriate.” If you’ve decided what you think would be best for your child, figure out how to word it as appropriate instead. For example, you may feel that a highly structured classroom is the best place for your child and the only place he can reach his full potential. But what you’ll want to say is that a highly structured classroom is the appropriate placement for someone with your child’s particular disabilities, and a looser classroom structure is inappropriate. And look at you -- you’re talking like a Child Study Team member!
