Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference

Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference, a Wrightslaw training program featuring Pete Wright, is being sponsored by Williams Syndrome Association. The Wrightslaw training program is part of the WSA Convention of 2026. 

NOTE: If you're also attending the 2026 WSA International Convention, you can register for this training during your convention registration.

Program Description

One-day special education law and advocacy programs focus on four areas:

• special education law, rights and responsibilities
• tests and measurements to measure progress & regression
• SMART IEPs
• introduction to tactics & strategies for effective advocacy

Wrightslaw programs are designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providers, advocates and attorneys who represent children with disabilities regarding special education. The program is not disability specific.

REGISTRATION FEE

• Wrightslaw Training ONLY: $125 for one attendee, $75 for additional attendee
• WSA Convention Attendees: $75 for one attendee, $35 for additional attendee

 

Fee includes:

• 3 books valued at $65 (retail) Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd edition Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy Wrightslaw: All About IEPs
• Wrightslaw highlighter pen
• NOTE: if registering an additional attendee, you will share a single set of books & pen

 

AGENDA

8:00 AM: Program check-in

9:00-10:30: Introductions

• IDEA History and Overview
• Section 1400 Findings, Purpose
• Section 1401 Definitions: Special Education, Related Services, LD, etc.

10:30-10:45: Break

10:45-12:00:

• Section 1412 Extended School Year, Child Find, Least Restrictive Environment/Mainstreaming/Inclusion, Private Placements, Statewide Assessments
• Understanding Tests and Measurements, and the Bell Curve, Standard Scores, Scale Scores, % ranks, Grade Equivalent, Age Equivalent

12:00-1:00: Lunch on your own

1:00-2:30:

• Section 1414 Evaluations and IEPs
• Section 1415 Prior Written Notice, Procedural Safeguards Notice, Mediation, Due Process Hearing, Appeal, Discipline, Age of Majority
• Section 504, ADA, FERPA
• NCLB No Child Left Behind
• Litigation: Special Ed Caselaw
• S.M.A.R.T. IEPs
• Special Ed Advocacy for the Parent, Advocate, and Parent’s Attorney
• Legal, systemic and “school culture” obstacles to compliance with IDEA-04

The Parent as the Special Ed Manager and Expert

• Developing the Master Plan
• Knowing the Rules of the Game
• Recognizing and Avoiding the Fatal Obstacles
• How to Deal with Conflict, a Healthy and Normal event
• Crisis, Emergency, Help
• Organization of the Child’s File

2:30-2:45: Break

2:45-4:00: 

• Tactics and Strategies
• Rule of Adverse Assumptions
• Private Evaluations
• Paper Trails
• The Letter to the Stranger
• 5 Ws + H + E
• Preparation for Meetings
• Meeting Strategies

4:00-4:30: Questions and Answers

NOTE: No childcare is available for this session.