GAO's PLSP vs. Partners in Policymaking
Response to question on GA Advocates Network. May forward to other lists.......
-Is PLSP GA a version of Partners in Policy Making???-
No, PLSP is very different from Partners. PLSP (Parent Leadership Support Project) is the GA Advocacy Office's (GAO) 10/12 week special education (IDEA)/ADA legal training program free to parents in GA. It was developed and is run by Leslie Lipson, who is a special education attorney for GAO.
This course teaches parents about the laws that apply to special needs children and the whole special education, SST, 504, ADA, school process. Leslie has professional speakers come in and teach on various aspects, such as an Attorney may speak on Due Process, Nancy O'Hare will speak on the GA Complaint Process, a Psychologist may speak on Evaluations and testing, a Reading Specialist may speak on reading disabilities and dyslexia, there are sessions on the whole process of IEP's, Assistive Technology, requesting records, Related Services, Mediation, FBA/BIP's, Manifestation Hearings, Transition, Standardized Testing, Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL), etc. Graduated advocates, like myself come back and run Mock IEP meetings with role play for training. You meet and network with some of the States leading disability professionals and advocates.
GAO provides participants with two of Pete Wright's books for free, and gives participants a copy of the GA Special Education Rules and Regulations, and many many other supplemental materials. GAO runs a networking list serv for PLSP participants and graduates, where they post requests from other parents for parent advocates. We also share experiences and information to help us all be successful Advocates. They provide subsequent legal training as necessary, for example, they had a follow up training course for the new IDEA. PLSP graduates are always welcome to come back to any PLSP session for additional training as well, or refresher.....
PLSP is exactly what several parents of disabled children, including myself, envisioned and reported to Leslie what we needed here in GA, 4 years ago. We recognized that there were too few special education attorneys in GA, disability organizations, and people helping and representing parents of disabled children. We knew we needed "experienced" legal help in the "actual" IEP school meetings, not just people giving us advice and information on the phone because schools tended to use legal/school jargon and twist information around, either intentionally or unintentionally, which confused parents. So this is what Leslie set out to do, train parents of special needs children to be Advocates (and not just for advocates for their own children, but for others as well).
She has done a fabulous job. They have graduated 7 classes, and trained around 200 Parent Advocates in the State of GA. They have held PLSP classes in metro Atlanta, Macon, and Athens. PLSP graduating Lay Parent Advocates, like myself, have attended hundreds of IEP meetings for parents of special needs children. PLSP has created another tier of help here in GA, before parents need actual attorneys. We are leveling the playing field in school meetings, and reducing the cost and frustration of the special education process for parents.
PLSP is a phenomenal program, and I would certainly advise any parent of a special needs child to participate. I might add that GA is one of the ONLY states doing this, we are quite fortunate!!
For more information on GAO's PLSP, go to http://thegao.org./training.htm or call the GAO at 404-885-1234 or 800-537-2329.
AADD's Partners In Policymaking is very different from GAO's PLSP legal training. Partner teaches participants to become more involved in public policy and the laws that effect disabled people on a State and National level. PLSP teaches legal training specific to special education (IDEA), 504, SST, and ADA.
AADD's Partners In Policymaking is also a wonderful program, and you can get more info. about it at http://www.aadd.org/html/gap.html
Carol Sadler
Special Education Consultant/Advocate
GA Advocacy Office PLSP I Graduate
770-442-8357
1105 Rock Pointe Look
Woodstock, GA 30188
CarolSadler@bellsouth.net
http://www.iepadvocate4you.com/
CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVILEGED - Information contained in this communication is confidential and privileged. It is not meant to represent legal or medical advice, but rather advice given based on my knowledge as a trained Parent Advocate by the GA Advocacy Office, Council of Parent Advocates & Attorneys, CHADD, LDA, and the GA DOE Parent Mentor program as an invited guest. Please do not forward without my permission.
-Is PLSP GA a version of Partners in Policy Making???-
No, PLSP is very different from Partners. PLSP (Parent Leadership Support Project) is the GA Advocacy Office's (GAO) 10/12 week special education (IDEA)/ADA legal training program free to parents in GA. It was developed and is run by Leslie Lipson, who is a special education attorney for GAO.
This course teaches parents about the laws that apply to special needs children and the whole special education, SST, 504, ADA, school process. Leslie has professional speakers come in and teach on various aspects, such as an Attorney may speak on Due Process, Nancy O'Hare will speak on the GA Complaint Process, a Psychologist may speak on Evaluations and testing, a Reading Specialist may speak on reading disabilities and dyslexia, there are sessions on the whole process of IEP's, Assistive Technology, requesting records, Related Services, Mediation, FBA/BIP's, Manifestation Hearings, Transition, Standardized Testing, Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL), etc. Graduated advocates, like myself come back and run Mock IEP meetings with role play for training. You meet and network with some of the States leading disability professionals and advocates.
GAO provides participants with two of Pete Wright's books for free, and gives participants a copy of the GA Special Education Rules and Regulations, and many many other supplemental materials. GAO runs a networking list serv for PLSP participants and graduates, where they post requests from other parents for parent advocates. We also share experiences and information to help us all be successful Advocates. They provide subsequent legal training as necessary, for example, they had a follow up training course for the new IDEA. PLSP graduates are always welcome to come back to any PLSP session for additional training as well, or refresher.....
PLSP is exactly what several parents of disabled children, including myself, envisioned and reported to Leslie what we needed here in GA, 4 years ago. We recognized that there were too few special education attorneys in GA, disability organizations, and people helping and representing parents of disabled children. We knew we needed "experienced" legal help in the "actual" IEP school meetings, not just people giving us advice and information on the phone because schools tended to use legal/school jargon and twist information around, either intentionally or unintentionally, which confused parents. So this is what Leslie set out to do, train parents of special needs children to be Advocates (and not just for advocates for their own children, but for others as well).
She has done a fabulous job. They have graduated 7 classes, and trained around 200 Parent Advocates in the State of GA. They have held PLSP classes in metro Atlanta, Macon, and Athens. PLSP graduating Lay Parent Advocates, like myself, have attended hundreds of IEP meetings for parents of special needs children. PLSP has created another tier of help here in GA, before parents need actual attorneys. We are leveling the playing field in school meetings, and reducing the cost and frustration of the special education process for parents.
PLSP is a phenomenal program, and I would certainly advise any parent of a special needs child to participate. I might add that GA is one of the ONLY states doing this, we are quite fortunate!!
For more information on GAO's PLSP, go to http://thegao.org./training.htm or call the GAO at 404-885-1234 or 800-537-2329.
AADD's Partners In Policymaking is very different from GAO's PLSP legal training. Partner teaches participants to become more involved in public policy and the laws that effect disabled people on a State and National level. PLSP teaches legal training specific to special education (IDEA), 504, SST, and ADA.
AADD's Partners In Policymaking is also a wonderful program, and you can get more info. about it at http://www.aadd.org/html/gap.html
Carol Sadler
Special Education Consultant/Advocate
GA Advocacy Office PLSP I Graduate
770-442-8357
1105 Rock Pointe Look
Woodstock, GA 30188
CarolSadler@bellsouth.net
http://www.iepadvocate4you.com/
CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVILEGED - Information contained in this communication is confidential and privileged. It is not meant to represent legal or medical advice, but rather advice given based on my knowledge as a trained Parent Advocate by the GA Advocacy Office, Council of Parent Advocates & Attorneys, CHADD, LDA, and the GA DOE Parent Mentor program as an invited guest. Please do not forward without my permission.
posted by Carol Sadler @ 12:57 PM
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