Wrightslaw From Emotions to Advocacy Conference

Thursday, September 4, 2025 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

In From Emotions to Advocacy training programs (one day, 6 hours), you learn how to take an active role in managing your child's special education. You'll learn about the five key sections in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), what our child's test scores mean, and how to develop SMART IEPs. Pat will teach you how to prepare for meetings, the gentle art of disagreeing, and how to maintain healthy working relationships with the school.

Wrightslaw programs are designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providers, advocates and attorneys who represent children with disabilities regarding special education. The program is not disability specific.

Conference registration includes a light breakfast, lunch, a Wrightslaw highlighter pen, three Wrightslaw books- Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 3rd Edition, Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition and Wrightslaw: All About IEPs provided the morning of the conference. Wrightslaw will provide the three books to each attendee in the adobe.pdf format as well. The three print and pdf books retail for $113.60.

$45 registration

• School Districts may use district level Project 615 funds to cover costs
• Parents may apply for a scholarship to cover the cost of registration

It is important to note that tickets are on a first-come, first-serve basis. The best option to secure your ticket is online via Eventbrite. Space is limited!

Refund Policy: Although there are no refunds you can make arrangements for someone to attend in your place. You need to email [email protected] with that update.

Special Accommodations: Please specify in registration if you need Spanish translation

Agenda

8:30-9:00am Registration

9:00-10:30

Introductions

• Section 1: Getting Started

• Creating the Advocate's I EP, the Master Plan

• Taming the Paper Trail

• Goals and Strategies for the Advocate

• The Parent as Project Manager

• Advocacy 101: Learning the Rules of the Game

10:30-10:45 Break

10:45-12:00

• Obstacles to Success, Resolving Parent/ School

• Conflicts, Emergency, Crisis, Help

• Evaluations and Your Child's Disability

• Tests and Measurements 101

12:00-1:00 Lunch

1:00-2:30

• The Bell Curve

• Charting Test Scores

• Smart IEPs

• Overview of IDEA - Findings, Purposes and Definitions

• Section 504 of the Rehabilitiom Act of 1973

• ESSA

2:30-2:45 Break

2:45-4:00

• Rule of Adverse Assumptions

• Taming the Paper Trail - Documenting and Writing Letters and using the "Letter to a Stranger" Strategy

• IEP Meeti ng Strategies and Common Problems

•Putting it all together

4:00-4:30 Questions and Answers

Special Thanks to Partners:

Sooner SUCCESS

Children's Health Foundation

Oklahoma City Community Foundation

Oklahoma City Innovation District

*Parent Scholarships provided in partnership with Pervasive Parenting Center C.P.R.C.

How Can I Apply For A Scholarship?

A limited number of scholarships are available for Oklahoma parents of children with disabilities with financial need. The scholarship will waive the registration fee for selected recipients. Please apply at this link: 2025 Wrightslaw Scholarship Application - Jotform Form Builder

We will notify you by email or phone if you receive scholarship.

The deadline to apply for a Scholarship is Friday, August 29, 2025.

For more information: Call 405-271-2710 or email [email protected]

Limited parent scholarships are provided in partnership with Pervasive Parenting Center C.P.R.C.

Will Childcare Be Provided?

No. There will not be any accommodations for children at the conference.

However, Caregivers planning to attend the Conference may be eligible to receive an Educational Voucher.

$50 for a half day or $100 for a full day. Limited availability.

Guidelines for Caregivers to receive Lifespan Respite Grant Vouchers for Educational Events:

• Caregivers are fulltime, unpaid caregivers providing care 8 or more hours in a 24 hour period;

• Care recipients need alternative caregiving during the educational event;
• Caregivers must be registered for the event; and
• Caregivers must complete an application prior to the educational event.
• Vouchers are not a stipend.
• Vouchers are not available for children /adults who are attending school, on waivered services or receiving DDS Adult Day Services.

For more information and questions on Educational Vouchers please contact: [email protected] or call 405-271-2710

Registration or Scholarship questions: Contact Lori Wathen at 405-698-6970 or [email protected]

Host or Publisher Sooner SUCCESS