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Special Education Law Blog

A special education legal resource discussing case law, news, practical advocacy advice, and developments in state and federal statutes and regulations. Postings include insight and sometimes humor from Charles P. Fox, an attorney who is also a parent of child with special needs, his law clerk, Suzanne Geller, and other guest authors.

Post Frequency: 5/day

Last Entry: October 31, 2009 at 07:14:00

Sign Language Used In Good Classroom Management

Posted on October 31, 2009
IDEIA requires schools to implement Universal Design in the classroom. Nevertheless, Universal Design is not well defined or widely implemented. CAST, a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting Universal Design for Learning ["UDL"] defines it as "[e]mbedded features that...

Hard Economic Times Creating More Physical Barriers

Posted on October 28, 2009
When you are in a wheelchair (which I experience vicariously through my son everyday) a cracked sidewalk is a major obstacle. On more than one occasion, especially in urban areas, we have been forced into the street to make our...

Moving Children Around A Failure in Chicago

Posted on October 28, 2009
Arne Duncan's, former head of Chicago Public Schools and now U.S. Secretary of Education, strategy in Chicago was to move children out of underperforming schools to other schools. The only problem is that the "other schools" were also underperfoming. No...

Support COPAA's Work

Posted on October 27, 2009
I do not usually use the blog to encourage contributions to an organization but COPAA (described below) is the bulwark that is protecting students' rights on a national and local level. Please read the following and consider donating and joining...

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Hallowhining By Lori Miller Fox

Posted on October 20, 2009
As some of you might remember, I have always found Halloween to be a particularly difficult holiday. Whether it?s having neurotypical kids ring my bell, or just seeing groups of neurotypical peers in the distance, it?s enough to make me...

Student With Autism Saves Teacher

Posted on October 20, 2009
Here is the antidote to the depressing news of students with special needs either being killed or killing staff posted earlier. A student with autism who was a Cub Scout saved his teacher from choking.

Lack of Appropriate Interventions and Training Lead to Tragic Results

Posted on October 19, 2009
In the news today are two stories that spotlight the need for better and more comprehensive services for students and training for staff. In one case a special education student with autism was shot 5 times and killed by the...

School Violence Today is Really About Gun Violence

Posted on October 19, 2009
Violence in schools appears to many to be a recent problem. However, violence in schools did not start with Columbine. Interestingly violence in schools has a long history in the good old fashioned one room school house. Apple for the...

"Where the Wild Things Are" Useful for Students With Autism

Posted on October 19, 2009
I went to see Where the Wild Things this past weekend. The movie is an adaptation of the classic children's book. The director Spike Jonze in an interview on NPR discussed that the main character Max was selected for the...

School Violence Today is Really About Gun Violence

Posted on October 16, 2009
Violence in schools appears to many to be a recent problem. However, violence in schools did not start with Columbine. Interestingly violence in schools has a long history in the good old fashioned one room school house. Apple for the...

Possible Future Research Potential for Autism Treatment from Cord Blood Stem Cells

Posted on October 14, 2009
About 10 years ago my brother and sister-in-law generously allowed us to "bank" their son's (our nephew's) cord blood at the time of his birth, for an indefinite future where the stem cells in the cord blood could have real...

Special Education a Risk Factor for Violence in Chicago Public School's Model

Posted on October 11, 2009
Ron Huberman, the CEO of Chicago Public Schools, has unveiled a plan [Download Students_At_Risk pdf]to address violence in and around schools in the wake of the tragic killing of Derrion Albert, a Chicago Public School student, who is the latest...

New Approach to Reduce Suicide Attempts Among Teens at Risk

Posted on October 10, 2009
A recently published report addresses a new approach to teenage suicide attempts. The report is summarized as follows: "A novel psychotherapy used in the study?cognitive behavioral therapy for suicide prevention (CBT-SP?was developed to address the need for a specific psychotherapy...

School Cop Beats Student With Special Ed Needs Caught on Tape

Posted on October 09, 2009
At a school in Dolton, Illinois, an on campus police officer was caught on videotape beating a special education student for not having his shirt tucked. It would be great if such incidents were uncommon but they are not. The...

Advocates Play A Vital Role in the Sped Process

Posted on October 07, 2009
It is great having Pam on staff as a full-time advocate. She is able to bring her "mom-sense" and special education expertise to the table without making every case a replay of her personal battles with the school. Not every...

New Study Shows One in A Hundred Children Have Autism

Posted on October 06, 2009
A recent Federal study shows that the actual number of children who have autism is not 1 in 150 as previously reported but 1 in 100. It is unclear whether it is an increase in prevalence or an increase in...

October Is National Disability Employment Month

Posted on October 04, 2009
The U.S. Department of Education has issued a proclamation that October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. While I am glad for the greater attention to this essential issue, however, I can not feel that nice proclamations and a special...

Pam Labellarte-An Experienced Advocate To Assist Families

Posted on August 22, 2009
Over this last year I have unfortunately let the blog lay fallow. I have many excuses such as being busy with teaching (that has now ended) and family obligations, but I am back and happy to report that the I...

Twelve Weeks of Special Ed by Lori Miller Fox

Posted on December 25, 2008
School may be on break but here is some humor to prepare for the next term. Ho ho ho....On the first week of Special Ed the teacher sent to meA date for an IEPOn the second week of Special Ed...

Missing the Bus for Many Children in Chicago

Posted on November 20, 2008
I have recently had a number of parents in Chicago Public Schools who have no busing. As a result these children miss days or even months of school. This is a chronic issue, however, CPS officials do not seem to...

Vitamin May Reduce The Effects of Fetal Alcohol by Amanda Windom

Posted on October 28, 2008
Prenatal damage to infants by drinking alcohol while pregnant is a growing problem. Estimates vary from, for every 1000 live births in the U.S. 1-2 infants are born with fetal alcohol syndrome and 3-5 are born with fetal alcohol effects...

IEP Ghoul Statements by Lori Miller Fox

Posted on October 21, 2008
Every year as Halloween approaches, I have to fight the desire to ignore the bell, bolt my door shut, and drown my sorrows in the bags of Milky Ways and M&Ms I pretended to buy for the neurotypical little goblins...

Children with Special Needs Should Not Be Used As Political Emblems

Posted on October 16, 2008
With 19 days before the election, having just watched the final Presidential debate, it is time for me to publicly weigh in on the issues that are most vital to me. Not surprisingly, among the primary issues for me are...

Closing Circles and Opening The World for Children with Autism

Posted on October 13, 2008
DIR which was formerly known as Greenspan/Floortime has worked very well for a number of children with autism that I represent. The following article is from Michele Ricamato, a certified DIR therapist, SLP and a well respected colleague of mine,...

ADA Amendments Passed and Become Law!

Posted on September 26, 2008
The following is a posting from Jess Butler who is an attorney and officer with COPAA.org one of the leading special education advocacy organizations in the U.S. She has summarized and explained the effect of the new amendments for school...

Painful Failure of the Special Education System

Posted on September 07, 2008
The following is a speech given to a local autism support group. The speech is from the parents of a young adult who was diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum in his late 20s, after his time in school...

PART II

Posted on August 25, 2008
You choose your child?s medical specialists by whether or not their waiting room has an accessible outlet for your portable DVD player. You get pulled over by a police officer and automatically pull out your insurance card. You volunteer to...

Robotic "Skin" Is a Significant Advance Towards Artifical Eyes and Assitive Robots

Posted on August 14, 2008
One of the things that up to now has held back robots is the ability to have a pressure sensitive "skin" which feels and moves more naturally. A team of Tokyo University researchers has revealed a break through in material...

Tropic Thunder Protests Grow

Posted on August 13, 2008
The deserved furor is growing against the degrading movie Tropic Thunder. Click here and here for more information and how to participate in the national protest against this movie. Here is a pledge against the use of the 'r' word.

Buzz Words and Lingo in Special Education

Posted on August 08, 2008
Every field has its lingo and jargon. Special education has more than its share and sometimes the language contains coded or veiled meanings that are hard for parents to discern or decipher. The following link is a useful and sometime...

Milwaukee Public Schools Cited for Excessive Use of Suspensions

Posted on August 07, 2008
Milwaukee Public Schools have been cited in a recent report for the overuse of suspensions. Over reliance on suspensions reflect a lack of effective positive behavioral interventions in favor of "remove the child, remove the problem." The reality is that...

Webinar on RTI

Posted on August 07, 2008
Here is a webinar on the every popular topic of RTI from Council for Exceptional Children.

Gaming to Support Childhood Cancer Treatment

Posted on August 06, 2008
Video games are being cast in a different light than simply activities which encourage becoming couch potatoes. A new company has come out with a set of video games to encourage and educate children and young adults as to the...

Good Resource on a Rare Seizure Disorder

Posted on August 06, 2008
I am presenting tomorrow at a conference on Dravet's syndrome which is a rare type of seizure disorder. Here is an excellent resource on this rare disorder. If your child has Dravet's it is important that you work to educate...

Movie "Tropic Thunder" Appears to Cross Lines of Decency for People with Disabilities

Posted on August 05, 2008
I have never been much of a Ben Stiller fan. Now is another reason for me and perhaps others to dim his star as an actor. The Dreamworks movie Tropic Thunder, which stars Ben Stiller who also wrote and directed...

Naperville, Illinois Teacher Injured in Classroom Sues District

Posted on August 04, 2008
Paula Jackson, a special education teacher in Naperville , Illinois is suing her school district because of physical and emotional injuries she suffered during an altercation with a 4th grade student with special needs. This story is unfortunate no matter...

Senate Press Release on ADA Amendments

Posted on August 04, 2008
The following is a press release from Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah who along with Senator Harkin of Iowa have sponsored a bi-partisan bill to overturn the Supreme Court's narrowing of the scope and application of the ADA. Here is...

Majority of Due Process Cases Resolved Without Hearing

Posted on August 03, 2008
A recent study from CADRE, a federally-funded organization that studies and trains interested parties in dispute resolution in special education cases, found that 80% of due process cases that were filed resolved through mediation, resolution sessions or other informal means...

Large Genetic Study for Basis for CP is Underway

Posted on August 02, 2008
The amount of research or advances as to the understanding of the causes and remedies for Cerebral Palsey ("CP") has been pathetically little. Most treatment consist of surgery or bracing which have been around for decades without much change in...

Unusual Gains in NCLB Test Scores

Posted on July 31, 2008
In Maryland there has been an unusual spike in test scores among public school students. Some of the increases are so high that questions are being raised as to whether the scores are valid. In particular an expert in education...

Long Island, N.Y. Service Dog Case Finally Gets to Court

Posted on July 30, 2008
After quite some time the issue of the legality of the service dog a Long Island, N.Y. school district finally came to court before the Federal Court. The court heard presentations of both sides and will make a ruling at...

Candidates Long on Rhetoric and Short on Details

Posted on July 30, 2008
Here is the latest summary from the candidates of their respective positions. They have sharpened their differences on vouchers (Obama-con and McCain-pro) but with precious little that relates to IDEIA or particulars on NCLB. The candidates could take a cue...

Savage Losing Big Advertisers

Posted on July 29, 2008
Home Depot and the insurance company AFLAC (the duck people) have pulled their ads from the Savage Nation radio program in protest over his comments last week regarding children with autism. If a few more major advertisers take a similar...

NCLB Reauthorization

Posted on July 27, 2008
Here is the latest on NCLB reauthorization. Not surprsingly the NEA, teacher's union, would prefer to have the accountability in the Act relaxed. I am hoping for a private righ of action but I suspect that I will continue to...

Broadcaster Syndicate Supports Savage

Posted on July 26, 2008
The broadcast syndicate for Michael Savage's radio show has rejected pleas to fire or censure him accepting his flimsy excuse that he meant no offense. The only way Michael Savage will go off the air is if enough people vote...

You Know You?ve Been a Parent of a Child with Special Needs Too Long When (Part I)?by Lori Miller Fox

Posted on July 25, 2008
As freeing as summer can seem while you?re anxiously anticipating its arrival, once into its unstructured midst, a parent can grow weary. The seemingly endless days, followed by the typical sleep-deprived nights, even if interrupted by a smattering of day...

Illinois Autism Insurance Bill Signed into Law

Posted on July 24, 2008
Today the pending Illinois House bill 4125 was signed into law to provide additional speech services to children with autism.

Illinois Police Joining Other States in Special Training for Working with People With Autism

Posted on July 23, 2008
The Chicago Tribune had a recent article on ongoing training efforts to allow more effective police work with people with autism. Download Illinois police autism training.doc Among the tools being used by local area police departments: "Wilmette officers now carry...

Ultimate Guide To Special Needs Teaching

Posted on July 23, 2008
The following blog has brought to together a very nicely organized set of resources in clearly defined categories as a resource for teachers. As we all know, frequently parents are the ultimate resource for teachers, so share these links liberally...

Congressional Autism Caucus Blasts Savage Attack on Children with Autism

Posted on July 23, 2008
Washington, D.C. ? July 18, 2008 ? U.S. Representatives Mike Doyle (PA-14), Chris Smith (NJ-4), today criticized syndicated talk show host Michael Savage for his recent comments disparaging families with autistic children and questioning cases of autism spectrum disorders as...

Announcing the National Forum on Disability Issues, featuring the 2008 Presidential Candidates/Surrogates

Posted on July 23, 2008
Here is the chance to finally have the candidates directly answer the questions that effect people with disabilities. Our issues generally are ignored or subsumed in other issues so now lets participate and have the candidate's flesh out their positions,...

Guidelines for Better Classroom Acoustics

Posted on July 22, 2008
The U.S. Access Board, a little known Federal agency that facilitates access to public buildings, has published guidelines and presented resources to make public spaces, specifically schools, more acoustically sound for students with disabilities. It is easy to overlook the...

New Gene Discoveries Offer Insights and Promise for Children with Autism

Posted on July 21, 2008
A recent research report from Dr. Christopher Walsh, chief of genetics at Children's Hospital Boston, published in the professional journal Science show that children with autism are not missing whole genes but are missing parts of DNA; the genes which...

Savagely Indifferent to the Truth

Posted on July 20, 2008
Other commentators are firing back with well deserved criticism of of Michael Savage's hurtful drivel that spews forth from him on the subject of autism, and for that matter on other subjects of genuine public concern. Autism News, a blog...

Individualized Therapeutic Approach Helps "Hopeless" Students

Posted on July 20, 2008
Too often the emphasis is on the failures of students especially those with severe emotional and behavioral issues. These students are considered a lost cause. The Foundation School has developed a highly individualized therapeutic approach is turning around the lives...

Special Education Webinars

Posted on July 19, 2008
One of these days I am going to tackle the mechanics of presenting advocacy trainings through a webinar. For me I am still stuck with old fashioned in-person presentations. However the following website is offering a series of webinars on...

Worst System Except for All the Others...

Posted on July 19, 2008
When Winston Churchill was asked about the problems with Democratic systems, he was reported to have said that "it is the worse system except as compared to all the others." Here is an article dealing with the comprehensive issues that...

Lack of Plan to Move Student to LRE Denied FAPE

Posted on July 18, 2008
A very intersting case that I became aware of from the blog of Jeff Marcus, a parents' attorney in New York State is A.Y. and B.Y. v. Cumberland School District case which was decided on July 7, 2008 by District...

A Savage Fool "Speaks Out" On Autism

Posted on July 18, 2008
Hope you are sitting down for this one! Michael Savage, a right-wing radio host has determined that: weak, feminized fathers who do not berate and humiliate their children are the cause of autism. Alternatively, according to this paragon of wisdom,...

Great Epilepsy Legal Resource

Posted on July 17, 2008
Some of the most serious disabilities are those that are unseen like diabetes and epilepsy. I have had more than a few school administrators who have refused to recognize the serious needs of the child and the resulting legal duties...

Discipline: That Delicate Balance

Posted on July 16, 2008
I believe that for many students with special needs that there are many behaviors from speaking out of turn to physical acting out that are not fully cupable and should in no way be treated as criminal or subject to...

Teacher Reassigned For Revealing IDEIA Violations

Posted on July 16, 2008
I always give enormous credit to courageous teachers who take positions against their interests, in favor or children, even at risk of their jobs or job assignments. Here is a recent article regarding a Brooklyn teacher who was apparently reassigned....

Obama Endorsed by Teacher's Union

Posted on July 15, 2008
Senator Barack Obama today was endorsed by the Teacher's Union, an organization that traditionally has been antagonistic to the rights of special needs students. At the same time he was addressing this endorsement, he called for changes to NCLB (specifics?)...

San Francisco Newspaper Lacks Coherent View of Special Education

Posted on July 14, 2008
The school systems in the San Francisco Bay Area lack a coherent approach to teaching children with autism according to Nanette Asimov, the education reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, she defines the problem in terms of the following: "For...

Action Needed: Illinois' Autism Insurance Bill Has a Second Chance

Posted on July 14, 2008
Illinois' autism insurance bill has new life, thanks to the efforts of parents Pete DiCianni, Laura Cellini, Nelly Aguilar, Enrique Abraham, Senator Jim DeLeo, Representative Angelo Saviano, and now Governor Rod Blagojevich. As you may recall, SB1900 was introduced this...

Co-Teaching an Effective Stratgey to Support Inclusion

Posted on July 13, 2008
After three decades of IDEA being the law, in one form or another, the benefits of inclusion should be well known and understood by all. Unfortunately, that is just not the case, and the benefits of educating children in a...

Support for Students with Autism at College

Posted on July 11, 2008
Some colleges and universities around the country are actually taking proactive steps to address the needs of students with autism. For many students academics is not the top issue. Socialization, organization and advocacy top the list for many students...

New Jersey Plaintiffs Win Major LRE Court Battle

Posted on July 11, 2008
The Federal District Court in New Jersey this week ruled that a major suit can go forward against the New Jersey Department of Education. The suit is premised on allegations that New Jersey has systemically excluded special needs student from...

Milwaukee Public Schools Strike Out Again

Posted on July 10, 2008
The common refrain is that schools are short on money largely because of the costs attributable to students with special needs. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin no school official can even remotely make this argument with a straight face. The school officials...

Autism One Radio Interview About the Special Education Law Clinic

Posted on July 10, 2008
Robert and Sandy Waters of Autism One Radio interviewed Nelly Aguilar and I regarding the new clinic. Nelly is the the Executive Director of the Special Education Advocacy Clinic and has been the driving force behind the the clinic. The...

Education Drops as a Campaign Issue

Posted on July 10, 2008
A recent poll revealed that economic issues have overtaken education as the top issue on the minds of voters this Fall presidential election. Education was the number one issue but has dropped to third. There is no break out for...

Praise from Wrightslaw for the Blog

Posted on July 09, 2008
There is no more comprehensive resource on the web on the subject of special education than wrightslaw.com. They have literally published the book(s) on many critical guides to advocacy. I personally use his site and material almost everyday. I feel....

Off Beat Teaching Resources on the Web

Posted on July 08, 2008
I represent lots of students who have difficulties with things like slang and parents who need a ready reference on history and other academic topics. The following post comes to me from Fiona King with references that you might not...

Candidates on NCLB and IDEIA?

Posted on July 03, 2008
Where the candidates stand on IDEIA or NCLB is largely unknown. Here is a guide that offers some minimal guidance on the respective positions of McCain and Obama. Please note that the description of NCLB in this article leaves a...

U.S. House Overwhelming Passed ADA Amendments

Posted on July 02, 2008
There is good news to report that the U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed the ADA amendments. The bill goes to the Senate and if passed and reconciled on to the President for signature. As discussed in an earlier...

Charles P. Fox New Clinical Instructor at the Special Education Clinic at DePaul Law School

Posted on July 02, 2008
DePaul Law School, which has always been known for innovative law school teaching coupled with a mission of caring and compassion, is launching a new Special Education Advocacy Clinic in August 2008 (Download specialedclinic0408.pdf ). This clinic will be the...

Students In New York City Delayed in Receiving Timely Evaluations and Services

Posted on July 01, 2008
A recent audit from New York State reflects that a large percentage of students in New York City are not receiving timely evaluations to determine needs and eligibility. Moreover, a significant number of students are not receiving minutes of speech...

Resources on RTI May Clarify Issues

Posted on June 30, 2008
Response to Therapeutic Intervention (RTI) is frequently mentioned in a variety of contexts and is often misapplied and misunderstood. Here are a collection of free resources that may help clarify the abundant confusion in this area. It is worth looking...

FBA Requires Parent Consent and Are Subject to IEE Request

Posted on June 27, 2008
A question that has come up with some frequency has been whether schools need to get parental consent before doing a Functional Behavioral Assessment ("FBA"). Many school districts have taken the position that an FBA is more an informal assessment,...

Virigina School District Reports Special Education Students and Non-White Minorities Have Lower Character Ratings

Posted on June 26, 2008
A subjective report filed by teachers on the character of students in Fairfax County Virginia has the potential to set off a firestorm in the district. Among the key findings of the report were that: "black and Hispanic students and...

U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Review Rights of Students Regarding Corporal Punishment

Posted on June 25, 2008
The U.S, Supreme Court in the case Serafin v. School of Excellence in Education (Case No. 07-9760) refused to review a case brought by an 18 year old student for injuries she suffered when she was paddled in school for...

Judge Rotenberg School Still Using Shock Treatment

Posted on June 25, 2008
One of the hardest decisions that parents make is to seek residential placement, sometimes at a great distance from home. I regularly have clients who require residential schooling; often it is a matter of life and death. Knowing which school...

Action Needed on ADA Bill Pending in Congress

Posted on June 24, 2008
ADA for parents of children with special needs may not be part of everyday concerns. When our children age out or graduate from IDEIA this will be one of the primary sources of substantive rights in the workplace and in...

Poor Kids Losing Out In City Schools

Posted on June 24, 2008
Recent data from the U.S. Department of Education shows that being poor is directly correlated to educational achievement. This report does not break out students with special education needs but there can not be any question that as awful as...

Psychic Vision Leads to Child Protective Services Call on Parent

Posted on June 18, 2008
I have seen school districts using calls to child protective services agencies as a means of chilling parental advocacy. Of course, these calls are couched under the heading of "doing our jobs", "better safe than sorry", and "we are mandatory...

Illinois Autism Legislative Action Needed on May 29, 2008

Posted on May 28, 2008
Autism Votes... It's time for lawmakers to listen. Dear Illinois Autism Advocate, Thank you for all your hard work thus far to make SB 1900 a reality! WE ARE ALMOST THERE! As you know SB 1900, when passed, will end...

Florida Teacher Needs to be Voted Off the Island

Posted on May 27, 2008
School personnel too often have an unshakable belief in their own inherent virtue and goodness; "we are here for the children after all." I run into the falsity of this belief all too often. A prominent illustration of a total...

IEP Strategy Checklist

Posted on May 23, 2008
Back in March, I presented to a very enthusiastic group of parents and advocates at the COPAA conference. It was a great time and for those of who can attend next year in Washington DC (in early March 2009) I...

How Many IEP Team Members Does It Take To Change A Light Bulb by Lori Miller Fox

Posted on May 22, 2008
Like for many of you, now that my son?s IEP is over I can finally breathe--even if only to hyperventilate. The incredible stress that often leads up to and occurs during an IEP (or Infliction of Excruciating Pain as I?ve...

IDEA Fairness Restoration Act Call Congress on May 6, 2008

Posted on April 24, 2008
It is time that we make our voices heard in C0ngress. The following pending bill is one in a series of measures to overturn ill conceived and damaging Supreme Court decisions that have harmed the rights of parents. PLEASE CALL...

Communication None-0-1 by Lori Miller Fox

Posted on February 21, 2008
When I was in school, I don?t remember parents and teachers talking very much at all, maybe because it took close to five minutes to dial a seven-digit number on a rotary phone. So communication was pretty minimal: a nod...

Service Dog In East Meadow, N.Y. Defeated in Court

Posted on January 24, 2008
This post is a followup to a series of earlier blogs regarding the dispute between the family of a child with special needs and the East Meadow School District in New York over allowing the student to have his service...

Accessible E-Texts

Posted on January 18, 2008
Having access to text that can be readily converted into spoken words can be a critical part of becoming a proficient reader, a student who is meaningfully included in school, and employable in the world outside of school. For my...

Here Is An Issue the Candidates Need to Talk About

Posted on January 17, 2008
The Federal government's employment of people with disabilities is at an all time low according to a Washington Post story. Unemployment generally of people with disabilities is at very high levels of 30% or greater. IDEIA is supposed to produce...

A Teenager with Disabilities Statement of Love and Courgage

Posted on January 17, 2008
The following is a statement from a client of mine who has disabilities. He is a teenager. He was adopted a number of years ago. Over the last year and a half he has been the frequent victim of bullying...

Bipolar Disorder and IEP's by Amanda Windom

Posted on January 15, 2008
Bipolar disorder diagnosis in youth (under 20 years of age) drastically increased in less than ten years. A comprehensive study published by Archives of General Psychiatry found that in 1994-1995 twenty-five per 100,000 office based visits for youth resulted in...

In a Land Called (Im)Perfect by Lori Miller Fox

Posted on January 01, 2008
Now that the holiday season is over, we can all breathe a sigh of relief. Gone (until next year anyway) are the reams of circulars picturing perfect families bonding over perfect games. Off-air are the educational,ly-based, imagination-stimulating, motor-challenging, award-winning toys...

Burden of Proof Proposed to be Put Back on Schools in New Jersey

Posted on December 01, 2007
The New Jersey legislature is considering a bill that would effectively reverse the effect of Shaffer. This law if passed could serve as a ready model for other states to follow to once again put the burden of proof on...

Action Needed on December 3, 2007 For IDEA Fairness Restoration Act

Posted on November 30, 2007
The following is a bulletin from the National Down Syndrome Congress calling for concerted public action on December 3, 2007 to push this bill into becoming law. IDEA Fairness Restoration Act Take Action! Contact Your U.S. Representatives on Monday December...

Good Examples of Parent Input Statements

Posted on November 29, 2007
I have written in the past as to the importance of parent input statements. A friend has sent me examples that have proven to be especially useful for her children, that can serve as a model for future advocacy. These...

How to Cook a Turkey or Baste makes Waste by Lori Miller Fox

Posted on November 22, 2007
As a parent of a child with special needs, I am all too aware of differences. Because of this, I get especially tired of being asked to keep up with other people?s expectations. Finding the time or the patience to...

Time to Reverse Shaffer and Arlington Central: IDEA Fairness Restoration Act

Posted on November 15, 2007
COPAA, one of the leading legal advocacy organization that focuses on special education rights is organizing letter writing parties and a campaign generally to overturn the Supreme Court's decisions in Shaffer (burden of proof on parents in due process) and...

I Did Not Learn All I Really Need to Know in Kindergarten by Lori Miller Fox

Posted on October 23, 2007
You?ll have to excuse me for not having written a timely humorous piece on Halloween, which is in fact half-written and saved on my computer for next year?s October deadline. Instead, after having spent two long days in the hospital...

Stinging Back Over Tom F.

Posted on October 11, 2007
I am glad the folks over at NSBA's BoardBuzz have a good sense of humor over my criticisms of their commentary of the Tom F. case. They 'stung' back today with a response to yesterday's blog. My only responses to...

In the Tom F. Case The Tie Goes for the Parents

Posted on October 10, 2007
In the Tom F. case the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision (see pdf below) which effectively ruled in favor of a parents right to place their child in an out of district placement, sue for reimbursement, even if that...