Published on
December 15, 2009 by
Jennifer Laviano
How is it that, in disputes between parents and school districts, whenever an IEP Team Member starts to align their recommendations with the parents’ position, they suddenly stop getting invited to that child’s IEP Meetings? In my Connecticut special education law practice, I see this all the time.
Example 1: the parents believe that their child [...]
Filed Under Tips for Parents
Tags: Connecticut Education, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, Duly Constituted IEP Team, IDEA, IEP Team, IEP Team meetings, IEP Team Members, IEP Teams, Invitation to IEP meetings, special education, Special Education Law
Published on
November 9, 2009 by
Jennifer Laviano
One of the more controversial posts I’ve written is this one, encouraging public school teachers and service providers to speak out against violations of the civil rights of children with disabilities when they see it.
Of course, I didn’t think it was controversial when I wrote it; I thought it was common sense.
My goal was to [...]
Published on
August 26, 2009 by
Jennifer Laviano
It’s hard to believe that in the space of just two weeks, the disability rights movement has lost two great warriors: Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Ted Kennedy. And yet, it’s fascinating to consider the very different, and yet essential roles they each played in the movement. As I reflect on their passing, I can’t help [...]
Filed Under Current Affairs
Tags: ADA, Connecticut Special Education, disabilities rights movement, Eunice Kennedy Shriver and special education, IDEA, Parent networking for disabilities, Rights of individuals with disabilities, special education, Special Education Law, special olympics, Ted Kennedy and special education
Published on
August 19, 2009 by
Jennifer Laviano
I have represented hundreds of children with special education needs over the years. You can imagine that, if the parents have decided to hire an attorney, there isn’t a lot of “warm and fuzzy” going on between them and the school. There is frustration. There is disappointment. There is confusion. There is anger, and sometimes [...]
Published on
August 7, 2009 by
Jennifer Laviano
I remember when my father first got into special education law in the 80s, and he would hear about notices posted on the bulletin board in the Teacher’s Lounge in various districts. He was usually told about incriminating ones by other teachers “off the record;” many times they were teachers who happened to be parents [...]
Published on
August 2, 2009 by
Jennifer Laviano
I am by no means a psychiatrist, psychologist, school psychologist, special education teacher, or related service provider. I am not licensed or trained in administering any of the test typically given to students with disabilities in our public schools. However, over the many years I have been representing children with special education needs in my [...]
Filed Under Tips for Parents
Tags: Connecticut Special Education, evaluating all areas of suspected disability, evaluations, Evaluations under IDEA, IDEA, IEEs, informed consent, special education, Special Education Law, special education testing, triennial testing
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 [...]
Published on
July 22, 2009 by
Jennifer Laviano
If you have been spending any time at all in the special education community, whether as a parent, educator, or other professional, you have likely heard the term “least restrictive environment,” commonly referred to as “LRE.” This provision of the IDEA states that: “to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, including children in public [...]
Published on
July 18, 2009 by
Jennifer Laviano
It seems to me that lately, the disagreements within the community of individuals who are concerned about children with disabilities are starting to outnumber the agreements. Which is pretty ludicrous, because when it comes to at least the IDEA (if not a number of other laws), we really have far more common ground than not. [...]
Published on
July 17, 2009 by
Jennifer Laviano
One of the things I discovered early in my career as a special education lawyer is that a good percentage of the parents who contacted me to represent their child with disabilities were referred to me by a teacher or service provider from the child’s school. It is usually “off the record,” and I have [...]
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