Parents who have negotiated the system successfully - and ensured that their children received the educational services they were entitled to - point to three things that you, as a parent, must know and do. You must:

• Know the Laws
  The better you understand the federal and state laws that govern special education and accessibility, the better equipped you will be to negotiate and, if necessary, challenge the system.
  
  
• Know the Process
  Actively participating in the IFSP and IEP planning processes and understanding their components will ensure that you are prepared to be your child's educational advocate -- someone your child can count on to keep his or her best interests uppermost.
  
  
• Know Your Options
  Over time, you will get better and better at navigating the educational system. However even the most experienced advocates sometimes find they're not getting the services, results or responses that they expected. Knowing how to address these gaps and obstacles before they become full-blown issues will help you keep your child's education on track!