FAPE | Special Ed Justice | Connecticut Special Education Lawyer

10 Special Ed “Back To School” Readiness Questions

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 [...]

Phoebe Prince, Bullying, Disabilities, and the Eggshell Skull

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

The Calm Before The Storm

Published on June 29, 2010 by Jennifer Laviano

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 left [...]

Filed Under Parents Tags: 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, 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

The “Dream” Program

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 to [...]

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

First They Ignore You…

Published on April 17, 2010 by Jennifer Laviano

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 [...]

Filed Under Occasional Rants Tags: Add new tag, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, Eligibility determinations, evaluations, FAPE, IDEA claims, IEP Meetings, IEP Team meetings, Meaningful Parental participation, special education, special education attorneys, Special Education Law and Advocacy, special education lawyers

Side Effects May Include Dry-Mouth

Published on December 27, 2009 by Jennifer Laviano

Am I the only one who yearns for the days before drug companies had ads on television? Remember, back when, if your doctor thought you needed a medication, she would prescribe it? Today, you are practically begged to self-diagnose, and only then ask your doctor “if it’s right for you.” Serious psychiatric conditions are reduced [...]

Filed Under Occasional Rants Tags: Civil Rights in special education, Connecticut Special Education Law, enforcement of IDEA, FAPE, IDEA compliance, reimbursement of special education services, special education, special education as a Civil Right, Special Education Law

I’m Not Buying It

Published on August 30, 2009 by Jennifer Laviano

When I talk to parents whose children are in middle or high school who have not yet been identified for special education services, most of the time they will tell me that they have had concerns for years. Many times, there are also teachers or other educators in the school district who have shared similar [...]

Filed Under Occasional Rants Tags: Connecticut Special Education, disabilities, eligibility, Eligibility determinations, Eligibility under IDEA, FAPE, identification, identification under IDEA, prejudices in special education, special education, Special Education Law, stigma and special education

The Sudden Blossoming of the Represented Child

Published on July 31, 2009 by Jennifer Laviano

When parents of children with disabilities have reached the point that they have called me, they are incredibly frustrated and overwhelmed with their school district. Yes, sometimes they are angry, but far more often than that, they are worried, upset, and fearful about their child’s future. In addition, they are often conflicted about whether to [...]

Filed Under Occasional Rants Tags: Connecticut Special Education Law, Educational Progress under IDEA, FAPE, IDEA, legal representation of children with disabilities, Meaningful educational progress, progress in special education, report cards, special education, Special Education Law

Special Education Munchausen’s?

Published on May 10, 2009 by Jennifer Laviano

I simply do not understand the attempt by so many school districts, and their counsel, to portray the genuine concern of parents of children with special education needs as exaggerated, or worse, fabricated. Having practiced special education law in Connecticut for many years, and represented hundreds of families in that time, I am just [...]

Filed Under Occasional Rants Tags: Connecticut Special Education, FAPE, IDEA, Meaningful Parental participation, Private placements, special education, Special Education Law

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