Your IEP Playbook: A Parent's Guide to Confident Advocacy

An easy-to-understand guide to navigating and implementing your child's individualized education plan (IEP)

In Your IEP Playbook: A Parent's Guide to Confident Advocacy, disability parent and special education advocate Lisa Lightner delivers a practical guide for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities doing their best to navigate their individualized education plans (IEPs). This collection of realistic and implementable advice walks you through how to apply federal and state law in your unique situation, develop an advocacy strategy that works, and collaborate with schools and the professionals involved in your child's education.

You'll learn about common mistakes made by people advocating for a child with special education needs and how to avoid them. You'll also discover how to ensure that your child's needs and priorities aren't overlooked or under-supported. The book also contains:

• Advice on how to break down and understand the different parts of an IEP, including what they mean, how to read one, and what to document
• Guidance and reproducible exercises to determine, reach, and monitor progress of IEP goals
• Strategies for composing advocacy letters to your child's school and how to time them for maximum impact

Perfect for the parents and guardians of pre-K to grade 12 children with special needs, Your IEP Playbook is also a must-read for special education teachers, case workers, and people advocating for children in foster care.

Author: Lisa Lightner
Publisher: Jossey-Bass
Published: 10/14/2025
Pages: 224
Binding Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9781394294466

About the Author

Lisa Lightner, disability parent and special education advocate, is founder of A Day in Our Shoes. A Day in Our Shoes helps parents navigate the individualized education program (IEP) for their kids. She has testified in front of state senate committees and been featured in numerous media publications. Visit https: //adayinourshoes.com to learn more about her work.