A Parent's Guide to Response-to-Intervention:
IDEA 2004 includes a new provision that allows states and school districts to use high quality, research-based instruction in general and special education to provide services and interventions to students who struggle with learning and may be at risk or suspected of having learning disabilities. Written by The Advocacy Institute for the National Center for Learning Disabilities, this guide provides an overview of the RTI process, describe how it is implemented in schools and offer questions that parents can ask. (PDF only) Get it here. Also available in Spanish!

Parent Rights in the Era of Response to Intervention (RTI):
If a school is using an RTI approach, what rights do parents have and what strategies can be used to address identification issues? Written for the National Center for Learning Disabilities, this guide supplies all the answers. Get it here.

Understanding the Standards-based Individualized Education Program (IEP):
This guide provides an overview of a process and document that is framed by the state standards and that contains annual goals aligned with, and chosen to facilitate the student’s achievement of, state gradelevel academic standards. Written by The Advocacy Institute for the National Center for Learning Disabilities. (PDF only) Get it here.

Parent's Guide to Universal Design for Learning (UDL):
This guide provides an overview of universal design for learning, an important movement in education. Written by The Advocacy Institute for the National Center for Learning Disabilities. Get it here.

Understanding the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act:
This guide provides information on the ADA Amendments Act (effective January 1, 2009) and the significant changes the ADAAA has made to Section 504 of the Rehabilitiation Act of 1973 relating to school-age children. Co-authored by The Advocacy Institute and the National Center for Learning Disabilities. (PDF, 11 pages) Get it here.

The State of Learning Disabilities: Facts, Trends and Indicators: This comprehensive report examines the status of individuals with learning disabilities (LD) in the United States and provides a data-based perspective of LD across the lifespan. Get it here.

SLD Identification: An Analysis of State Policies: This article about a survey and analysis of state policies for SLD identification includes an audio interview with the authors and links to state criteria. Get it here.

Suceeding with Learning Disabilities: This 8-page supplement was developed in collaborates with the National Center for Learning Disabilities and distributed in USA Today on May 27, 2011. Get the supplement. (PDF)

IDEA 2004 Close Up:
Information Series for Parents and Advocates

A series of short, parent-friendly articles on key provisions of IDEA 2004 and specific changes that parents and advocates should know and understand. Written by The Advocacy Institute for GreatSchools.org, the IDEA 2004 Close Up series is available FREE of charge:

The Individualized Education Program (IEP)

Aligning the IEP and Academic Content Standards to Improve Academic Achievement

Transition Planning

Disciplining Students with Disabilities

Highly Qualified Teachers

Resolving Disagreements between Parents and Schools

Specific Learning Disabilities Evaluation and Eligibility

Extended School Year (ESY) Services

The Advocacy Institute is working to help parents understand key provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), the latest version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and ways they can use these provisions to help improve the academic achievement of children who struggle to learn.

These products, written by The Advocacy Institute, are available FREE of charge:

ESEA Flexibility: Issues for Students with Disabilities. The Advocacy Institute has identified 7 issues that may have a negative impact on students with disabilities in states that have received ESEA Flexibility (aka "waivers") from the U.S. Dept. of Education. Get it here.

Why Students with Disabilities Need No Child Left Behind. The Advocacy Institute perspective on how NCLB is having positive impact on the nation's 7 million students with disabilities. (PDF, 8 pgs) Get it here.

Alternate Assessments Based on Modified Academic Achievement Standards. This easy-to-understand booklet, produced by the National Center on Educational Outcomes, provides parents with information about alternate assessment options allowable under No Child Left Behind. Get it here. (PDF, 22 pgs)

Webinar Archive: Alternate Assessments Based on Modified Achievement Standards. This 90-minute Webinar covers the regulatory details of the AA-MAS. Available here.

NCLB and IDEA: What Parents of Students with Disabilities Need to Know and Do. This information brief, produced by the National Center on Educational Outcomes, provides parents with an understanding of important provisions of NCLB and IDEA designed to work together to improve academic performance for students with disabilities. Get it here. (PDF, 23 pgs) This publication is also available in Spanish.

Understanding Assessment Options for IDEA-eligible Students
This Parent Advocacy Brief provides an overview of the ways students with IEPs can participate in statewide tests required by NCLB, helps guide parents as the IEP team chooses the right types of assessments and offers questions to ask about the testing options. Get it here. (PDF)

Determining Appropriate Assessment Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
This Parent Advocacy Brief provides an overview of appropriate accommodations for students with IEPs or 504 Plans, serves as a guide to choosing accommodations and suggests questions to ask when making appropriate accommodation decisions. Get it here. (PDF)

Making the Most of Options for IDEA-eligible Students
This Parent Advocacy Brief provides an overview of the school choice and supplemental educational services opportunities that might be available to students, and highlights important points for consideration and questions to ask. Get it here. (PDF)

Rewards and Roadblocks: How Special Education Students are Faring Under No Child Left Behind. The new report, a product of the National Center for Learning Disabilities, provides a compelling look at how several NCLB requirements have affected this important and often controversial student group. Get it here. (PDF, 26 pgs)

Challenging Change: How Schools and Districts are Improving the Performance of Special Education Students. The new report, a product of the National Center for Learning Disabilities, takes a look at how 2 schools and 3 districts are making changes to improve the academic performance of students with disabilities. Get it here. (PDF, 30 pgs)

Webinars presented for the Spina Bifida Association

Difference between 504 plans and IEPs (Presented August 14, 2012)
This presentation covers the background of Section 504, the difference in eligibility criteria, the key obligations of school districts, and the difference between 504 plans and Individualized Education Programs or IEPs. View the archive here.

How to Plan and Prepare for an IEP (Presented August 21, 2012)
This presentation covers the role of parents in IEP meetings, how to prepare for IEP meetings, several key components of IEPs and how to resolve disputes. View the archive here.

International Dyslexia Association Perspectives on Language and Literacy (Volume 34, No. 4, Fall, 2008)
"Meaningful Accountability for Students with Dyslexia"

The issue was developed by guest theme co-editors Candace Cortiella, Director at The Advocacy Institute, and Rachel Quenemoen, Senior Research Fellow and national technical assistance team leader at the National Center on Educational Outcomes. Read the issue summary and list of featured articles here.

A Special Mother: Getting Through the Early Days of a Child's Diagnosis of Learning Disabilities or Related Disorders :: Read an excerpt from this book featuring an interview with Candace Cortiella, Director at The Advocacy Institute.