IEP Meetings | Special Ed Justice | Connecticut Special Education Lawyer

Connecticut Enacts Important Autism Legislation

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

“But Quentin Tarantino is VERY Successful!”

Published on April 25, 2010 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. Such statements mislead or misrepresent the school’s legal obligations, and always in a way [...]

Filed Under Ridiculous Comments Tags: Connecticut Special Education, Connecticut Special Education Law, Eligibility under IDEA, IDEA claims, IEP Meetings, IEP Team, IEP Team meetings, IEP Team Members, IEP Teams, IEPs, Meaningful Parental participation, special education, Special Education Law practice, transition services

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 [...]

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

Emotional Disabilities Under the IDEA

Published on September 19, 2009 by Jennifer Laviano

If there is one area of disability which, in my experience, most parents do not realize can fall within the auspices of “special education,” it is mental illness. I can’t tell you how many times in my Connecticut special education law practice parents have called me because their child’s psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, or therapist [...]

Filed Under Tips for Parents Tags: Connecticut Special Education Law, eligibility, Eligibility cateogory, Eligibility under IDEA, emotional disabilities and special education, emotional disturbance, IEP Meetings, mental health issues and special education, special education, special education categories, Special Education Law

Fish Rots from the Head Down

Published on September 3, 2009 by Jennifer Laviano

Well, school has started just about everywhere, and I have spent the last few weeks in a mad-dash scramble of IEP meetings, Mediation and other events trying to finalize programs for several of my clients. It’s always a stressful time for me, and even more so for parents of children with special needs. And just [...]

Filed Under Occasional Rants Tags: Connecticut Special Education Law, IDEA requirements, IEP Meetings, IEP Team, regular educators resisting special education, special education, special education administrators, Special Education Law

Missed Opportunities

Published on August 13, 2009 by Jennifer Laviano

Recently, I attended an IEP Team Meeting that was, well, dare I say it? Lovely. I mean it. About a year ago, the parents had hired me to represent their son, because they just could not convince their school district that their child was really, truly struggling. He is one of those kids that can [...]

Filed Under Occasional Rants Tags: collaborative IEP meetings, Connecticut Special Education, evaluations, IEEs, IEP Meetings, Parental participation, special education, Special Education Law

IDEA’s 10 Day Notice Requirement

Published on August 6, 2009 by Jennifer Laviano

It’s hard to believe, but the new school year is almost upon us. If you have a child with a disability, and you have decided to send him to a private school this year to meet his special education needs, you need to make sure that you have given your school district the proper “notice” [...]

Filed Under Tips for Parents Tags: 10 days' notice, Connecticut Special Education, IDEA cases, IEP Meetings, IEP Meetings at parent request, notice of private placements, private school at public expense, private school reimbursement, reimbursement for unilateral placements, special education, Special Education Law, unilateral placement

“Actually, All of Our Kids Have Low Math Scores”

Published on July 13, 2009 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. Such statements mislead or misrepresent the school’s legal obligations, and always in a way [...]

Filed Under Ridiculous Comments Tags: Connecticut Special Education, Eligibility determinations, Evaluations under the IDEA, IEP Meetings, IEP Team Members, Individual considerations, School district testing, special education, Special Education Law

“STOP the IEP Meeting, I Want to Get Off!”

Published on June 26, 2009 by Jennifer Laviano

As I near the end of a brutal IEP “Season,” I am humbled, once again, by how my clients do it. It is one thing for me, whose job it is to represent them at these meetings and to make sure their rights are being protected, to feel overwhelmed and frustrated by how unfair the [...]

Filed Under Occasional Rants Tags: Connecticut Special Education, IDEA, IEP Meetings, IEP Team Members, Meaningful Parental participation, Parental participation, special education, Special Education Law

Unseemly IEP Team Member: “The Lawless Renegade”

Published on May 13, 2009 by Jennifer Laviano

“The Lawless Renegade” IEP Team Meetings can and should include a wide range of educational professionals. Unfortunately, every once in a while they include a “lawless renegade.” This is a person who either does not know about, or does not care about, the school district’s legal obligations under federal and state special education laws. Scarier [...]

Filed Under Parents, Special Ed - CT specific Tags: Connecticut Special Education, IDEA violations, IEP Meetings, IEP Team, IEP Team Members, special education, special education laws

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