"Making a Difference: Advocacy Competencies for Special Education Professionals" is the only single comprehensive source on the role and responsibility of special education professionals as advocates for children with disabilities. Most pre-service educational programs only cursorily cover the topic of advocacy, leaving many to enter the field without the knowledge and skills necessary for effective advocacy." This highly specialized book fills this training void by presenting the competencies, dispositions, knowledge, and skills necessary to become an effective advocate. Pre-service and in-service educators are introduced to topics such as ethical disposition, special education law, dispute resolution mechanisms, interpersonal communication skills, collaboration skills, and conflict resolution skills. In addition, numerous vignettes and case studies throughout help readers connect text concepts to real-life issues. Compassionate and informative, this book helps special education professionals learn how to make a difference in the educational lives of children with disabilities." For special education teachers and administrators.