Attorneys with Special Needs Experience

Their practice includes special education attorneys and a special education paralegal who advocates for their clients. Representing clients in New Jersey and New York, they understand the complexities of obtaining special education services from both personal and professional experience. They provide advice and counsel from infancy through adulthood and provide parents with knowledge of their procedural and substantive rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA), and the New Jersey regulations implementing IDEA's provisions in both public and private schools. Additionally, they review each child's individual records, evaluation reports, planning reports, eligibility conference statements, and Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to provide parents with an accurate assessment of the services available to their child under these special education laws. The goal is to help parents become more effective advocates for their children in addition to ensuring their rights are protected. They also provide parents, students, college students and adults in the workplace with advice and counsel regarding their rights under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (“Section 504”). Section 504 is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. This law applies to public schools, colleges and the work place and we assist parents, students and adults with obtaining rights under Section 504 in all these forums.

In connection with representation of clients with special education needs their professionals:

• Evaluate a student’s eligibility for special education and related services under IDEA
• Explain the rights of parents and students under IDEA
• Prepare parents for meetings with school districts, e.g., Planning Conference, Eligibility meetings & IEP meetings 
• Review initial evaluation and reevaluation reports
• Explain the right to an independent educational evaluation (IEE)
• Represent parents at school district meetings
• Conduct an annual review of student’s IEP 
• Handle claims regarding failing to implement an IEP
• Obtain compensatory education services
• Negotiate resolution of programming and placement issues
• Handle disputes regarding related services, e.g. speech and language, occupational therapy, physical therapy, transportation, 1:1 aide, etc.
• Evaluate legal right to appropriate placement in public, private or residential out of district settings
• Issue Unilateral Placement Notices in appropriate cases
• Enforce legal rights under IDEA through mediation and due process
• Assistance with Individual Services Plans (ISP)
• Evaluate an individual’s eligibility for a Section 504 Plan 
• Explain an individual’s rights pursuant to Section 504 Plan
• Review Section 504 Plans and recommend revisions
• Review Individualized Healthcare Plans (IHP)
• Attend Section 504 meetings
• Negotiate resolution of issues with accommodations and services
• Seek legal redress for violations of Section 504 Plans 
• Advocate for free, appropriate, public education (“FAPE”)

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