Special education teachers and parents of children with special education needs are often unaware of the statutory rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”) and how to enforce them.

The author starts with the premise that one of the most challenging aspects of studying this law is finding a friendly, easy way into the statutes.

For example, the first case in the book is one where the parents forced the school district to pay for their child to attend a fancy private school and pay for meals and transportation to that school.

Another case in this book discusses what happens when a parent refuses to agree to the recommended IEP placement. It also briefly covers section 504 situations and how they tie into IDEA.

Special education teachers need to know the law to protect themselves and meet their legal requirements. Conversely, parents need to understand the law to know how broad and all-encompassing the rights are for their children who are not getting all the attention they need.