Published on
September 24, 2010 by
Jennifer Laviano
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. [...]
Filed Under Parents
Tags: 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, special education, special education attorneys, Special Education Law and Advocacy, Special Education Law practice, special education laws, special education lawyers, transition services
Published on
August 30, 2010 by
Jennifer Laviano
It’s “back to school” time! While many of my clients receive Extended School Year (ESY) services over the summer, I have learned over the years in my special education law practice that, regardless of whether your child receives ESY services, a number of things can occur over a summer that might impact his or her [...]
Filed Under Tips for Parents
Tags: attorneys fees under IDEA, connecticut, Connecticut Education, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, eligibility, Eligibility determinations, Eligibility under IDEA, ESY, extended sc, FAPE, IDEA claims, IEP Meetings, IEP Team, IEP Team meetings, IEP Teams, IEPs, Meaningful Parental participation, special education, Special Education Law and Advocacy, Special Education Law practice, special education laws, transition services
Published on
August 10, 2010 by
Jennifer Laviano
There is a theory in the law known as the “eggshell skull principle”, which, in essence, means that a person who commits a wrongful act takes their victim as they find them. For example, Person A hits Person B over the head with a baseball bat. Of course it’s an assault, but you’d also assume [...]
Filed Under Occasional Rants
Tags: Add new tag, attorneys fees under IDEA, bullying, bullying of kids with disabilities, connecticut, Connecticut Education, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, eligibility, Eligibility determinations, Eligibility under IDEA, emotional disabilities under IDEA, emotional disability, evaluations, FAPE, special education, Special Education Law and Advocacy, Special Education Law practice, special education laws, special education testing
Published on
May 29, 2010 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: 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
Published on
May 6, 2010 by
Jennifer Laviano
Another late night at the Capitol last night, showing support for the passage of HB 5425. Around midnight, just before the legislative session ended, the Senate voted by consent (unanimously) to pass HB 5425. Yes, this is the same bill that previously included very concerning language regarding Connecticut’s Burden of Proof in special education due [...]
Filed Under Special Ed - CT specific
Tags: ABA services, ABA services and BCBA credentials, ABA services in IEP, autism, Autism spectrum disorders, connecticut, Connecticut autism legislation, Connecticut Education, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, CT autism laws, Due Process, due process hearings, IDEA, IDEA claims, IEP Meetings, IEP Team, IEP Team meetings, IEP Team Members, IEP Teams, Parent networking for disabilities, special education, special education attorneys, Special Education Due Process Hearings, Special Education Law and Advocacy, special education laws
Published on
October 27, 2009 by
Jennifer Laviano
If you have been a resident of Connecticut for a while, you might be confused when you hear references to “DDS.” What is this? Is this a new State agency? In Connecticut, DDS is the Department of Developmental Services; it is the agency formerly known as “DMR,” or the “Department of Mental Retardation.” Many in [...]
Published on
May 20, 2009 by
Jennifer Laviano
The IDEA requires States to provide Mediation opportunities to parents of children with special education needs to resolve disputes with their school districts. In addition to Mediation, States can elect to offer other types of dispute resolution procedures as alternatives to litigating a Due Process Hearing, and Connecticut has incorporated a procedure called “Advisory Opinions” [...]
Filed Under Special Ed - CT specific
Tags: Advisory Opinion Hearings, Advisory Opinion Process, Alternative dispute resolution in special education, connecticut, Connecticut Advisory Opinions, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, due process hearings, Hearing Officers, IDEA claims, Mediation, special education
Published on
April 26, 2009 by
Jennifer Laviano
Part six in the Series: Unfortunately, prevailing in a legal dispute against your school district is very difficult, so if you can avoid some common traps, why not just avoid them? If you’ve already done one of these things, don’t give up hope, but do try to rectify the situation. If you haven’t done any [...]
Published on
April 21, 2009 by
Jennifer Laviano
Part five in the Series: Unfortunately, prevailing in a legal dispute against your school district is very difficult, so if you can avoid some common traps, why not just avoid them? If you’ve already done one of these things, don’t give up hope, but do try to rectify the situation. If you haven’t done any [...]
Published on
by
Jennifer Laviano
Maybe it’s just because it’s the time of year when I am attending several IEP meetings on behalf of my clients every week, but I am really getting fed up with school districts failing to identify children for special education services, just because they happen to be intelligent. It is insulting, illogical, patently unfair, pedagogically [...]
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