This book provides a comprehensive examination of advocacy by special education professionals, with information from related fields integrated in order to identify essential advocacy competencies for special educators. Unique features of the book include advocacy vignettes integrated throughout the book, as well as "advocacy anecdotes" and "advocacy actions" separated in boxes within chapters to provide quick reference pointers. Part 1 is an introductory chapter that discusses the need for professional advocacy in special education. Three chapters in Part 2 identify essential personal dispositions, specifically an advocacy disposition, an ethical disposition, and a family support and empowerment disposition. Part 3's three chapters on essential knowledge bases stress the importance of knowledge of special education law, knowledge of dispute resolution mechanisms in special education, and knowledge of school change issues and strategies. Part 4 identifies essential skills in five chapters on interpersonal communication skills, collaboration skills, conflict resolution skills, advocacy skills and strategies, and ethical analysis skills. The concluding chapter discusses special education advocacy outcomes. (Contains approximately 450 references.) (DB)