Category Archives: special education lawyers

“The Behavior Guy”

From Jennifer Laviano over on Connecticut Special Education Lawyer. As a parents’ special education attorney in Connecticut, I hear outrageous statements that parents are told by their school districts on an almost daily basis.  But, sometimes, I am told something … Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Autism spectrum disorders, connecticut, Connecticut Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, IDEA, IEP Meetings, IEP Team Members, IEP Teams, IEPs, Ridiculous Comments, Special Education, special education attorneys, special education law, Special Education Law practice, special education lawyers | Comments Off

Weather or Naught

From Jennifer Laviano over on Connecticut Special Education Lawyer.   Okay…I know it’s that time of year again.  IEP Season.  From now through the end of June, I will be in numerous IEP meetings per week, sometimes a few a day.  … Continue reading

Posted in connecticut, Connecticut Education, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, FAPE, IDEA, IDEA claims, IEP Meetings, IEP Team, IEP Team Members, IEP Teams, IEPs, Occasional Rants, Special Education, special education attorneys, special education law, Special Education Law and Advocacy, special education laws, special education lawyers | Comments Off

Cherry Picking IEP Members

From Jennifer Laviano over on Connecticut Special Education Lawyer. Despite nearly 15 years practicing special education law in Connecticut, there are still some old tricks which school districts employ which astound me.  Not that I am surprised that they continue … Continue reading

Posted in connecticut, Connecticut Education, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, Eligibility determinations, Eligibility under IDEA, FAPE, IDEA, IDEA claims, IEP Meetings, IEP Team Members, IEP Teams, IEPs, Inclusion, Occasional Rants, Present levels of Performance, Special Education, special education attorneys, special education law, Special Education Law and Advocacy, special education lawyers | Comments Off

DON’T THROW AWAY ANYTHING!!!

From Jennifer Laviano over on Connecticut Special Education Lawyer. Sometimes it’s difficult to know what to to be happy about as an attorney who represents children with disabilities.  As you can imagine, the facts that support a “really great special … Continue reading

Posted in connecticut, Connecticut Education, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, due process, due process hearings, eligibility, Eligibility determinations, Eligibility under IDEA, FAPE, FERPA, IDEA, IDEA claims, IDEA Due Process Hearings, IEPs, informed consent, Meaningful Parental participation, Parent networking for disabilities, Parental participation, Special Education, special education attorneys, Special Education Due Process Hearings, special education law, Special Education Law and Advocacy, special education laws, special education lawyers, Tips for Parents | Comments Off

Ask for the Email

From Jennifer Laviano over on Connecticut Special Education Lawyer. Whenever parents retain my firm, I ask them to sign a form requesting all of their child’s education records be sent to me as their special education lawyer.  It’s a standard … Continue reading

Posted in Connecticut Education, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, due process, due process hearings, eligibility, Eligibility determinations, Eligibility under IDEA, evaluations, FAPE, FERPA, FERPA issues, IDEA claims, IDEA Due Process Hearings, IEP Meetings, IEP Team, IEP Team meetings, IEPs, informed consent, Meaningful Parental participation, Mediation, Parent networking for disabilities, special ed records, Special Education, special education attorneys, Special Education Due Process Hearings, Special Education Law and Advocacy, Special Education Law practice, special education laws, special education lawyers, special education testing, Tips for Parents | Comments Off

Footprints in the Sand: A Call to Parents of Adults with Disabilities

I while ago, I wrote a tribute to Eunice and Ted Kennedy, and their legendary contributions to special education advocacy.  In that piece I commented that part of why parents of children with disabilities are at a disadvantage in taking on their school districts is that there is a constant learning curve among this group.  [...] Continue reading

Posted in Autism, Autism spectrum disorders, connecticut, Connecticut Education, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, FAPE, IDEA, IDEA claims, informed consent, Meaningful Parental participation, Parent networking for disabilities, Parents, Special Education, special education attorneys, Special Education Law and Advocacy, Special Education Law practice, special education laws, special education lawyers, transition services | Comments Off

The Calm Before The Storm

I feel a little guilty for having neglected my blog most of this month, but the volume of IEP meetings, mediation, and Due Process Hearing commitments has prohibited me from writing much other than responses to Motions to Dismiss, 10 day notice letters, and a whole lot of nasty grams! The month of June has [...] Continue reading

Posted in Connecticut Education, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, due process, FAPE, IDEA, IDEA claims, IDEA Due Process Hearings, IEP Meetings, IEP Team, IEP Team meetings, IEP Team Members, IEPs, Meaningful Parental participation, Mediation, Parents, Special Education, special education attorneys, Special Education Due Process Hearings, Special Education Law and Advocacy, Special Education Law practice, special education laws, special education lawyers | Comments Off

The “Dream” Program

So, I already have a page of Ridiculous Comments made by school district personnel, and their lawyers.  But lately, I’ve decided that my clients have some doozies also…so I’ve created this page:   Truly Funny, Sad, Insightful, or Outrageous Quotes From Parents. My clients inspire me.  They really do.  I can not imagine how they manage [...] Continue reading

Posted in attorneys fees under IDEA, connecticut, Connecticut Education, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, FAPE, IDEA claims, IEP Meetings, Meaningful Parental participation, Special Education, special education attorneys, Special Education Law and Advocacy, special education laws, special education lawyers, Truly Funny, Sad, Insightful, or Outrageous Quotes from Parents | Comments Off

First They Ignore You…

One of the most frustrating aspects of my job as a parents’ side special education attorney is trying to help my clients regain trust in the system.  Sometimes, this is nearly impossible.
As I’ve said before, by the time a parent of a child with special education needs has made the difficult decision to hire a [...] Continue reading

Posted in Add new tag, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, Eligibility determinations, evaluations, FAPE, IDEA claims, IEP Meetings, IEP Team meetings, Meaningful Parental participation, Occasional Rants, Special Education, special education attorneys, Special Education Law and Advocacy, special education lawyers | Comments Off

IDEA Hearings: A Hearing Officer’s View

I have known of BJ Ebenstein for years, but only recently did I have the honor of getting to chat with her about the important legal issues that impact children with special education needs.  Since I have found in my Connecticut special education law practice that most parents have no idea what information is, and [...] Continue reading

Posted in Guest Posts, IDEA Due Process Hearings, IDEA hearings, Special Education, special education attorneys, Special education due process, Special Education Due Process Hearings, special education hearings, special education law, Special Education Law and Advocacy, special education lawyers, testifying in due process hearings | Comments Off