Published on
January 21, 2012 by
Jennifer Laviano
Do you remember the character Cassandra from Greek mythology? Her curse was that she could accurately predict the future, but nobody would believe her when she warned them about it. Today I feel like Cassandra. In 2009, I wrote a blog post about the impending changes to the definition of “autism” in the DSM-V. I [...]
Filed Under Current Affairs
Tags: Asperger's disorder under IDEA, attorneys fees under IDEA, autism, Autism spectrum disorders, Autism under IDEA, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, DSM-V, eligibility, Eligibility determinations, Eligibility under IDEA, FAPE, IDEA, IDEA claims, New Autism definition, OHI under IDEA, Other Health Impairment, special education, Special Education Law and Advocacy, special education laws
Published on
October 10, 2011 by
Jennifer Laviano
True confession: when I was in junior high and high school I LOVED General Hospital. I admit it. I loved it even though I knew it was ludicrous. It’s an embarrassing but true part of my past. One of the things that I realized about the show as I got older was just how silly [...]
Filed Under Occasional Rants
Tags: connecticut, Connecticut Education, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, IDEA, IDEA claims, IEP Meetings, IEP Team, IEP Team Members, IEPs, special education, Special Education Law, Special Education Law practice, special education testing
Published on
July 15, 2011 by
Jennifer Laviano
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 [...]
Filed Under Truly Funny, Sad, Insightful, or Outrageous Quotes from Parents
Tags: connecticut, Connecticut Education, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, Due Process, due process hearings, IEP Meetings, IEP Teams, IEPs, Meaningful Parental participation, Parental participation, special education, special education attorneys, Special Education Law, Special Education Law and Advocacy
Published on
May 23, 2011 by
Jennifer Laviano
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. It’s enough to make a woman cranky. This isn’t the first year I’ve written about the nauseating experience of hearing the same ridiculous comments [...]
Filed Under Occasional Rants
Tags: connecticut, Connecticut Education, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, FAPE, IDEA, IDEA claims, IEP Meetings, IEP Team, IEP Team Members, IEP Teams, IEPs, special education, special education attorneys, Special Education Law, Special Education Law and Advocacy, special education laws, special education lawyers
Published on
May 11, 2011 by
Jennifer Laviano
Like everybody in the State of Connecticut, and the nation, and it seems the world, I am following the James Tate story. And no, I do not represent him. I will be dating myself with this reference, but not since I was prom-aged myself have I seen such an adorable, romantic gesture as James’ prom [...]
Published on
May 8, 2011 by
Jennifer Laviano
Last night, we took my mother out to dinner to celebrate Mother’s Day. While at at the restaurant, and on cue with the arrival of my own food, both my little ones let me know they had to go to the bathroom. So, off I head to the ladies room, with my 3 and nearly 5 year olds [...]
Filed Under Parents
Tags: connecticut, Connecticut Education, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, Due Process, due process hearings, IDEA, Meaningful Parental participation, Parent networking for disabilities, Parental participation, special education, Special Education Law
Published on
March 31, 2011 by
Jennifer Laviano
For followers of my blog, you know that the bullying of kids with disabilities is a subject that I believe has long been overlooked. I have spoken and written about this topic for years, well before bullying was a fixture on the evening news. Recently, I had the chance to hear a very inspirational story about a [...]
Published on
March 15, 2011 by
Jennifer Laviano
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 to do it, but rather, that they think I won’t notice after all of this time. One of the oldest tactics is when special [...]
Filed Under Occasional Rants
Tags: 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, Present levels of Performance, special education, special education attorneys, Special Education Law, Special Education Law and Advocacy, special education lawyers
Published on
February 14, 2011 by
Jennifer Laviano
As I have covered on several occasions in the past, a parent’s right to an Independent Education Evaluation (IEE) under the IDEA is, in my view, one of the strongest available under the special education laws. This opportunity to get a “second opinion” on the school district’s evaluations is, in many cases, the difference [...]
Filed Under Tips for Parents
Tags: Connecticut Education, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, eligibility, Eligibility determinations, Eligibility under IDEA, evaluations, FAPE, IDEA, IDEA claims, IEE, IEEs, Independent Educational Evaluations, informed consent, Meaningful Parental participation, special education, Special Education Law, Special Education Law and Advocacy, special education laws, special education testing
Twitter
“The Behavior Guy”
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 that passes the realm of outrageous, and crosses into ridiculous. Today’s Ridiculous Comment You really can not make this stuff up. So I am [...]