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Fictitious Thinking: The “New” Definition of Autism

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 [...]

Social-Pathologist-Behavior-Worker-Therapist-Type Person

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

“The Behavior Guy”

Published on June 10, 2011 by Jennifer Laviano

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 [...]

Filed Under Ridiculous Comments Tags: autism, Autism spectrum disorders, connecticut, Connecticut Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, IDEA, IEP Meetings, IEP Team Members, IEP Teams, IEPs, special education, special education attorneys, Special Education Law, Special Education Law practice, special education lawyers

Weather or Naught

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

A Mother’s Day

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

Cherry Picking IEP Members

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

IEEs: Do You Have to Explain Why You Disagree?

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

DON’T THROW AWAY ANYTHING!!!

Published on December 22, 2010 by Jennifer Laviano

Sometimes it’s difficult to know what to to be happy about as an attorney who represents children with disabilities. As you can imagine, the facts that support a “really great special education case” are, by definition, at best unpleasant, and at worst horrific. It’s an odd feeling, reviewing a child’s special education records. When I [...]

Filed Under Tips for Parents Tags: connecticut, Connecticut Education, Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, Due Process, due process hearings, eligibility, Eligibility determinations, Eligibility under IDEA, FAPE, FERPA, IDEA, IDEA claims, IDEA Due Process Hearings, IEPs, informed consent, Meaningful Parental participation, Parent networking for disabilities, Parental participation, special education, special education attorneys, Special Education Due Process Hearings, Special Education Law, Special Education Law and Advocacy, special education laws, special education lawyers

Footprints in the Sand: A Call to Parents of Adults with Disabilities

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

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 [...]

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

Tag Archives: IDEA

Fictitious Thinking: The “New” Definition of Autism

Social-Pathologist-Behavior-Worker-Therapist-Type Person

“The Behavior Guy”

Weather or Naught

A Mother’s Day

Cherry Picking IEP Members

The Calm Before The Storm

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