SOS for 2e presents: 

Keeping the Paper Trail: 

Tips and Tools for Maintaining Records

Carol Dimas

Founder and Director of Educational Advocacy & Consulting

SOS for 2e welcomes back Carol Dimas Founder and Director of Educational Advocacy & Consulting. Carol will explore and provide valuable information on the subject of maintaining paper work. The records and data you keep and collect will make an enormous difference in any school dispute. The rule is if it’s not in writing it does not exist.

Educational Advocacy & Consulting have come to find out how important it is for their families to keep an impeccable paper trail so that you can be prepared to defend your requests or concerns with specific data and records. Topics will include how to:

• Make a request for educational records – we will provide the exact language
  
• Keep your child’s data at home
  
• Ensure you receive the ACTUAL data from school
  
• Be aware of the exact timelines for Illinois regarding meeting dates, evaluations and responses
  
• Ensure that your child is not left behind
  
• Use the ISBE complaint form
  
• Access Mediation
  
• Request an ISBE facilitator to attend your child’s meeting

Carol Dimas is an Illinois State-Certified Highly Qualified Teacher in Elementary Education and Special Education K-12. She is a Reading Specialist and Learning Behavior Specialist. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education and a Masters of Science in Special Education.

During her twenty-five plus years experience in education, Carol began teaching children with special needs in the public school system. She helped pilot a program that involved a collaboration between the school district and Loyola University Department of Psychiatry to better serve culturally disadvantaged youth in the area of mental health. She was also the chair of the Special Education committee to develop a district-wide Positive Behavior Intervention Program.

Carol worked as a reading specialist in both public school districts and private practice. She started a private practice as a specialized tutor supporting students with Specific Learning Disabilities, as well as preparing students for ACT and SAT exams, while also supporting families through the Special Education Process.

She then focused her efforts in assisting students and families through her firm, Educational Advocacy and Consulting. This successful practice partners with families, parent groups, clinicians, private therapeutic schools and public school districts to serve families and children by advocating for their needs.

Carol is a member of the Council of Parents, Attorneys and Advocates, the International Dyslexia Association, the International Literacy Association, the Council for Exceptional Children, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and is a listed provider in the Wrightslaw Yellow Pages for Kids.

Please RSVP if you are interested in attending this event.