Advocacy Depot Books:
Tools to Become a Better Advocate Negotiation and Mediation

The Complete IEP Guide: How to Advocate for Your Special Ed Child

by Lawrence M. Siegel

Synopsis from Amazon: "The Individualized Education Program, or IEP, determines the nuts and bolts of your child's special education. But it's easy to get lost in the paperwork and bureaucracy.

The Complete IEP Guide is your map through the IEP process. The book provides all the instructions, suggestions, strategies, resources and forms you need to proceed from when you first suspect a problem to when your child completes school. Learn to:

*understand special education law
*untangle eligibility rules and the role of assessments
*collect all school records
*become an expert on your child's educational needs
*pinpoint specific goals in school
*develop a clear blueprint of program and services
*research school programs and alternatives
*prepare for IEP meetings
*resolve disputes with your school district

The Complete IEP Guide provides up-to-date, federal special-education laws and extensive appendices, including a list of over 125 groups and organizations. The 3rd edition is completely updated, and provides new information on disciplinary issues, and making the jump from high school to college or work.

Whether you're new to the IEP process or entering it once again, this user-friendly guide is your outline for an effective educational experience for your child. "

From Emotions to Advocacy: The Special Educatoin Survival Guide

by Peter W. D. Wright and Pamela Darr Wright

Synopsis from Amazon: " In Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, Pete and Pam Wright teach you how to plan, prepare, organize -- and get quality special education services. In this comprehensive, easy-to-read book, you learn about
* Your child's disability and educational needs
* Creating a simple method for organizing your child's file
* Devising a master plan for your child's special education
* Roles of experts: consultants and evaluators
* Writing SMART IEP goals and objectives
* Using test scores to monitor your child's progress
* Understanding parent-school conflict - why it is inevitable and how to resolve it
* Creating paper trails; writing effective letters
* Using worksheets, agendas and thank-you letters
* Strategies to improve meeting outcomes
* Negotiating for special education services

This practical user-friendly book includes hundreds of strategies, tips, references, warnings, and Internet resources. Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy includes dozens of worksheets, forms, and sample letters that you can tailor to your needs."

Getting Past No : Negotiating Your Way from Confrontation to Cooperation
by William Ury

Synopsis from Amazon: "A guide to successful negotiation shows readers how to stay cool under pressure, stand up for themselves without provoking opposition, deal with underhanded tactics, find mutually agreeable options, and more."


Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In
by Roger Fisher, William Ury, Bruce Patton (Editor)

Synopsis from Amazon: "...Two negotiation experts from Harvard offer a universally applicable method for negotiating personal and professional disputes without getting taken -- and without getting nasty. Concise, step-by-step, proven strategies aid the reader in coming to mutually acceptable agreements in any type of conflict."


Getting Together: Building Relationships As We Negotiate
by Roger Fisher, Scott Brown (Contributor)

Synopsis from Amazon: "Fisher offers a practical, straightforward approach to the long-range problem of sustaining relationships that can deal with difficulties as they arise."


Mediator's Handbook
by Jennifer E. Beer, Eileen Stief

From Midwest Book Review: "Mediation is a respected and effective alternative to courtroom litigation. Completely revised and expanded from previous editions, The Mediator's Handbook is an invaluable resource for people working in corporations, government agencies, community organizations, schools, or any other situation where there is a need to build bridges between diverse perspectives. ...Highly recommended."

Speaking and Writing Well:


Gregg Reference Manual: Indexed
by William A. Sabin

Description from Amazon: "The best reference manual for business professionals and students. Offers the most comprehensive, up-to-date guidance on grammar, usage, style, and format for a wide variety of business and academic documents."


Words Fail Me: What Everyone Who Writes Should Know About Writing
by Patricia T. O'Conner

Description from Amazon: "...like many such books, Words Fail Me advocates the use of small words, fresh verbs, and only well-chosen modifiers--but rarely is a primer so amusing."


Shocked, Appalled, and Dismayed! How to Write Letters of Complaint That Get Results
by Ellen Phillips

Description from Amazon: "...Phillips shares the secrets of writing letters of complaint that get results. The first few chapters cover the general dos and don'ts of writing effective letters of complaint (remain calm, use polite language), along with useful advice from legal experts (don't embellish, stick to the facts). The chapters that follow target specific problems we all face at some time in our lives, ranging from getting bumped from a flight to the secrets of successfully dealing with your HMO. Each chapter contains bullet points, illustrative anecdotes, and a number of example letters, most of which were based on actual letters sent on behalf of Phillips's clients..."


Secrets of Successful Speakers: How You Can Motivate, Captivate, and Persuade
by Lilly Walters, Lillet Walters, Norman Vincent Peale

Description from Amazon: "How do highly paid professional speakers put magic and motivation into every talk? Lilly Walters, Executive Director of Walters International Speakers Bureau, reveals their secrets and strategies in this practical, conversational guide. ...This book spells out the rules in 11 easy-to-follow steps, each accompanied by interactive exercises. Readers will learn to: set objectives before writing; customize the talk for each audience; conquer stage fright; cultivate a reputation as an expert; develop themes for each presentation; organize material in memorable manner; edit for best effect; project a professional 'platform image' through personality, voice, and clothes; motivate audiences to change their actions and attitudes; involve listeners by using humor, heart, and audience participation exercises; deal with problems and pitfalls ranging from poor staging and faulty audio-visual equipment to hecklers and questions of ethics. This authoritative and accessible guide also contains fascinating anecdotes of well-known personalities and how they mastered the art of public speaking. It will quickly become the reference of choice for trainers, lawyers, doctors, managers, and everyone who makes presentations or gives talks."


7 Steps to Fearless Speaking
by Lilyan Wilder

From Amazon, the author, Lilyan Wilder, June 18, 1999, says: "...I designed the program so that you can 'be your own coach' either alone or in a group. The steps are simple but the results are powerful. Many of my students have started the program with one aim - to merely survive the next time they have to talk to their boss, or stand up in class, or pitch a client, or give a toast at a wedding. Many end up actually seeking out speaking opportunities. I wanted to share what they and I have learned over the years. This is the age of communication, and we all spend our days talking. You may be a homemaker or a heart surgeon - or both! You deserve to speak without fear, whether you're talking to the PTA or a packed convention hall. I wrote 7 Steps to Fearless Speaking to help you do that, and to help you discover your hidden talents. Experience has taught me that everyone has an important contribution to make to this dialogue we call life!"

Meetings, How to Hold Them:


Running a Meeting That Works (Business Success Series)
by Robert F. Miller, Marilyn Pincus

Knowing how a meeting should be run, you will be better prepared for meetings at which you are advocating for your child, whether they're meetings with insurance company representatives, school administrators, or others.

Chapters subjects in this book include preparing what, who, when, where, and for how long; prepare yourself; prepare others; who's in charge?; do's and don'ts of leading; dealing with difficult situations; and more.

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