Effective Written Communication Techniques in Special Education Advocacy - $149 for COPAA Members and $249 for guests
The Effective Written Communication Techniques in Special Education Advocacy On-Demand Learning Path is designed for people who want to increase their written communication skills in special education and the rights of students with disabilities. Students will learn the why and how of effective written communication through real-life examples in special education and use these situations to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they learn through the course. Students must complete a REQUIRED writing assignment to receive a certificate for this course.
Topics Covered: Critical provisions of federal laws that protect the rights of students with disabilities and promote written communication as the most effective means to advocate; Storytelling through Vision Statements and Parent Input Forms; Day-to-day communication with the local education agency; Documenting a concern through letter writing.
The learning path features 4 webinars, their associated slide decks, and an assignment personally graded by an instructor. The following resources are also included in the learning path: parent input form, vision statement/parent input form template, vision statement example, a one-page bio example, IEP snapshot template, IEP snapshot example, an example email making a request, an example weekly communication log, and an example letter.
Cost is $149 for COPAA Members and $249 for guests.
Courtney Hansen
State & Local Policy Coordinator
COPAA
Courtney Hansen is a passionate special education advocate, educator, and parent based in Northern Colorado. A former journalist, teacher, and military spouse, she’s fought for inclusive education across six states—driven by her experience raising a child with Down syndrome.
Courtney leads COPAA’s SEAT 1.0 advocacy training and serves as its State & Local Policy Coordinator. With a Master’s in Education and years in the classroom, she now champions inclusive IEPs and systemic reform focused on belonging and meaningful inclusion at every level.
Through her blog, Inclusion Evolution, and her advocacy services—offered in Colorado, Wyoming, and nationwide—Courtney empowers families and educators to ensure every child with a disability learns alongside their nondisabled peers.
Shemica Allen
COPAA Instructor and TA, Special Education Advocate
Personalized Learning Solutions and COPAA
Shemica is an instructor for COPAA's SEAT 1.0, SEAT 2.0, The Business of Special Education Advocacy, and also works as a TA. She is also the founder of a Special Education advocacy business called Personalized Learning Solutions. Shemica began her teaching career in 2000 teaching cardiac education classes in two cardiac rehabilitation programs in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. She kept advancing her career in the area of Special Education after she received her Principal certification and later gained experience as a Lead Case Manager/Response to Intervention Coordinator at a middle school in Crowley ISD, Special Education Team Lead at a high school in McKinney ISD, and Vocational Adjustment Coordinator in Garland ISD. She also has experience as a Content Mastery Teacher, Homebound Teacher, and In Home Trainer. Shemica has completed the Special Education Advocate Training (SEAT) 2.0 training through the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) which is a nationally developed and recognized year-long course that will help her better serve current and future clients. She has attended hundreds of ARD/IEP, 504, and Student Support Team (SST) meetings. Shemica also has extensive training in facilitating Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD)/IEP committee meetings which requires effective communication, problem solving, decision making, and conflict resolution.
Lili DuQuette
Advocate and COPAA Instructor
Evanston CASE, COPAA
Elizabeth (Lili) S. Duquette joined Evanston CASE in 2019 as a Parent Partners volunteer and in 2020 as an Associate Advocate. She works with CASE because she believes that all children are entitled to a fair shot at maximizing their potential. Elizabeth is committed to helping parents navigate the complicated path to find the right supports for their child. She is graduate of COPAA’s Special Education Advocate Training (SEAT) programs and is an instructor for SEAT 1.0.
Elizabeth comes from a teaching background. She currently teaches at the University of Chicago Law School. Previously she has taught at Northwestern University School of Law, DePaul University College of Law, Pepperdine University School of Law in London, and Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität-Frankfurt School of Law.
She studied at Stanford University (Bachelor of Arts), the University of Southern California Law Center (Juris Doctor), and the London School of Economics and Political Science (Master of Laws).
Elizabeth is a lawyer, but she no longer practices law; rather, she is an Advocate at CASE.
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