 |
| The Culbertson Building |
Special Education Lawyers Helping Parents and Special Needs Children
Welcome! Raising any child is a challenge. Parents of a special education student or other special needs child face unique challenges in raising and educating their child ... at home, in the community, and, of course, at school. It can seem overwhelming. You worry about your child's future. Will she learn to read? Will he finish high school and go to college? Will she be able to take care of herself when you are no longer able to care for her? Will he stay out of trouble? Will she have a full, happy and independent life?
| Special Education News and Ideas for Parents 1. It's a Fork, it's a Spoon, it's a Weapon, Ian Urbina, N.Y. Times, 10/12/09. 2. Life After a Child's Diagnosis, Lisa Belkin, N.Y. Times, 9/25/09. 3. Advice on Including Parent Input in Child's IEP, Wrightslaw, 8/31/09. 4. Can We Increase Our Intelligence (through working memory training), Sam Wang and Sandra Aamodt, N.Y. Times, 2/11/09. 5. The Parent-Teacher Talk Gains a New Participant, Karen Ann Cullotta, N.Y. Times, 12/27/08. 6. A New Face for A.D.H.D. and a Debate, Tara Parker-Pope, N.Y. Times, 11/24/08. 7. An Estate Plan Built for Special Needs, WSJ, 10/09/08. 8. The new ADA Amendments Act that became law on 9/28/08 will affect "Section 504" cases. 9. Special education in Chester County, Daily Local, 9/28/08. |
You recognize that an education is essential to your child's future. But your dealings with the school sometimes are confusing and intimidating. Twenty-page IEPs that you cannot understand. Meetings with administrators and teachers where you feel outnumbered and "outgunned." Requests for help from the school that sometimes are met with responses like "We know whatwe are doing." You may feel that your child is falling farther behind and that time is running out. But you don't know what to do or where to turn. You feel alone.
The Law Is On Your Side!
Help is available! The law is on your side. Federal law states that every child with a disability is entitled to receive a "free appropriate public education" that meets their unique needs and prepares them for "further education, employment and independent living." Check it out for yourself.
The law's promise is simple: Every child counts! Every child is entitled to an education. Every eligible child with a disability is entitled to a "special" education - one that targets each child's unique special needs and employs "specialized instruction" to help each child improve in each area of need. And the school's legal responsibility is not limited to "academics." The school also must help your child with "developmental" and "functional" needs by providing psychological counseling, physical therapy, "occupational" therapy, social skills training, or other services.
The law protects every special needs child. The law protects you as your child's parent. You can make a big difference in the results you get for your child at school. Sometimes, you can do it on your own through self-help. Read. Learn. Take action. There are many resournces that can help you get started. (Here's a list of some websites we like). Sometimes, you may need some help, such as a non-attorney education advocate. (We list some advocates on our "Web Links" page).
And sometimes you may need an attorney.
We Can Help
| Our Services 1. Need a "legal check-up?" How can it help? 2. Get our "e-newsletter." Recent news, events, parent training, and other information for PA parents of special needs kids. Sign up. 3. "Client-centered" legal services. How do they work? Hourly rates. Caps. Flat fees. We explain. 4. Can you save money on attorney fees? Answer: Yes. Here's how. |
The education attorneys at EdLaw are parents, too. (For a photo and a description of our approach, click here). We know what it is like to search for help for a child with special needs. As lawyers - and as parents - we are confident we can help you obtain the special education or other services your child needs and is legally entitled to receive.
How can we help? Our services include:
-
Helping you get clear on what you want and how to get it How confusing it can all seem! Your child's needs and condition, school policies, federal and state rights and regulations, interpreting school and outside evaluations, IEPs and 504 plans, available school "related" and "supplementary" services, "best practices" for educating and helping your child - the list may seem endless! We can help you sort it out. Before we meet with you, we review your child's IEPs, evaluations and other records that you provide to us. At our initial meeting, which usually lasts about two hours, we will go over it with you carefully, discussing what's important, what it means, possible options, and a plan of action.
-
Parent coaching Many parents just want our guidance from time to time, such as reviewing an IEP or an email, advising them on local private school placements, helping them prepare handouts for a school meeting, connecting them with community resources, or helping them develop new strategies for obtaining needed services.
-
School meeting attendance or other more "visible" attorney involvement Sometimes, parents want us to take a more active and visible role. Let's face it. Schools usually will pay more attention when an attorney is involved. In most cases, we still focus on trying to get needed services through informal means.
-
" Due Process" Actions Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you cannot get the services your child needs at school through informal means. The school district may simply believe that your child is not legally entitled to the services you seek. Or there may be other reasons that an informal agreement cannot be worked out. In such cases, we can go over with you the potential risks, benefits, costs and other factors that you need to consider in determining whether to bring a lawsuit against the school district. If you decide to sue, and if we believe that you have a meritorius case, we will represent you each step of the way.
-
Litigation and mediation support Do you want to bring a due process on your own, acting as your own "attorney?" Do you need advice or guidance with an appeal in a due process action? Or do you want help in preparing your case for "mediation" with the school district? We can help in these areas, too. Handling a due process case on your own isn't a walk in the park. But some parents have done it successfully. If that is what you want to do, but you want the security of knowing there is a special education attorney to help you prepare and provide advice, as needed, we are available.
-
Phone support for parents in remote locations Do you live in a remote part of Pennsylvania? Do you want to consult with an education attorney? We list education attorneys in other parts of Pennsylvania on our Web Links page. So check there first to see if there is a special education attorney in your area. You also may be able to locate a special eduction attorney through other resources, such as www.copaa.net (a national organization of special education attorneys, advocates and parents), your county's local bar association, or the Wrightslaw Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities. But if you cannot locate an education attorney in your area and would like to consult with one, we offer phone support, information, guidance, and legal advice. Just call us for the details. There is never a charge for an initial phone consultation of up to fifteen minutes.
So we can help. With information. With advice. With parent "coaching" behind the scenes. With legal representation focused on getting results amicably and "informally." Or, when necessary, with knowledgeable, aggressive legal representation at a "due process" hearing or on appeal to federal or state court. We cover all the bases. And remember: You have options! In most cases, filing a lawsuit is a last resort.
Let our attorneys help you and your child get back on track. We can assess your child's situation. We can advise you on how to take action. An initial phone call lasting 10-15 minutes is free. If you call before or after our business hours (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.), we will get back to you promptly. We know it is important to you - or you wouldn't be calling.
Take control and take action! Call us now at 610.696.5006 or email us now!
| Effective Advocacy 1. Three simple steps to an effective IEP: Prepare! Participate! Monitor the results! 2. Get empowered! Learn more from these top state and national law sites. 3. Get the services your child needs. Take action on the things you alone control. 4. Simple steps to becoming a better advocate. Step 1: Get Organized. |
Want To Know More?
Choosing an education lawyer is an important decision. Want to know more about us? Click on the "Who We Are" button on the right. Want to know more about the approach we take to helping you and your child? Click on the "Our Approach" button. Want to know about our charges? Or where we are located? Or have other questions? Click on the "FAQ" ("Frequently Asked Questions") button. Want to know more about the laws affecting you and your child's right to a special education? Click on the Law Links button. Want to know more about other individuals and organizations that can help? Click on Web Links. Want to know more about IDEA 2004 or the Gaskin settlement in Pennsylvania? Click on What's New.
A Final Word
We invite you to contact us. But whether you contact us or you don't, we sincerely encourage you to never give up in your efforts to obtain the education for your son or daughter that is so important for their future.
Join our FREE Email Mailing List
Education Law Advocates, P.C. skillfully represents parents and their special needs children in southeastern and central Pennsylvania, including West Chester, Lower Merion, Coatesville, Paoli, Downingtown and Upper Darby, and throughout the Philadelphia metro area, including Chester County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, Bucks County, Philadelphia, Lancaster County and Berks County.
Education Law Advocates, P.C.
Special Education Lawyers
The Culbertson Building
590 Snyder Avenue
West Chester, Pennsylvania 19382
Voice: 610.696.5006
Printer Friendly View
Add To Favorites
Send To A Friend
