A volume in Family-School-Community Partnership Series Editor Diana B. Hiatt-Michael, Pepperdine University (sponsored by the Family School Community Partnership Issues SIG) Promising Practices to Empower Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families of Children with Disabilities offers research-supported school practices to empower families from diverse cultural backgrounds to make informed decisions regarding their children with diverse disabilities. In order to insure that every child is receiving the most appropriate educational program, these practices should be included in teacher and administrator preparation program throughout every county, state, and province. Every site administrator, school counselor and special education teacher should have a copy of this book at one's fingertips for ready reference. Suggested practices include activities for parent organizing, parent education, ways to provide co-mentoring of families, and formal support at Individualized Education Program meetings.

This book presents a collection of research-based, effective, and culturally responsive practices that are used in schools and communities to support and empower families of students with disabilities to be equal partners for schools. As the demographics of the U.S. population become increasingly diverse, the U.S. Census Bureau projects that, by 2044, more than half of the U.S. population will belong to a minority group. Currently, students from diverse backgrounds comprise over 53% of the special education student population. While their parents are the key decision makers and advocates who ensure that they receive services and support that address their individual needs, research consistently indicates that families from diverse backgrounds face many challenges that prevent them from taking on these active roles. Along with the improvements in the U.S. since the enactment of its first special education law in 1975, other parts of the world are also making changes to their special education systems in terms of responding to the diverse needs of children and students with disabilities and their families. This book also shares research-based and effective practices from other countries. The studies presented employ both qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate family-school-community partnerships.

This book presents a collection of research-based, effective, and culturally responsive practices that are used in schools and communities to support and empower families of students with disabilities to be equal partners for schools. As the demographics of the U.S. population become increasingly diverse, the U.S. Census Bureau projects that, by 2044, more than half of the U.S. population will belong to a minority group. Currently, students from diverse backgrounds comprise over 53% of the special education student population. While their parents are the key decision makers and advocates who ensure that they receive services and support that address their individual needs, research consistently indicates that families from diverse backgrounds face many challenges that prevent them from taking on these active roles. Along with the improvements in the U.S. since the enactment of its first special education law in 1975, other parts of the world are also making changes to their special education systems in terms of responding to the diverse needs of children and students with disabilities and their families. This book also shares research-based and effective practices from other countries. The studies presented employ both qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate family-school-community partnerships.

A volume in Family-School-Community Partnership Series Editor Diana B. Hiatt-Michael, Pepperdine University (sponsored by the Family School Community Partnership Issues SIG) Promising Practices to Empower Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families of Children with Disabilities offers research-supported school practices to empower families from diverse cultural backgrounds to make informed decisions regarding their children with diverse disabilities. In order to insure that every child is receiving the most appropriate educational program, these practices should be included in teacher and administrator preparation program throughout every county, state, and province. Every site administrator, school counselor and special education teacher should have a copy of this book at one's fingertips for ready reference. Suggested practices include activities for parent organizing, parent education, ways to provide co-mentoring of families, and formal support at Individualized Education Program meetings.