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Education > Special Education
How to Find an IEP Advocate or Special Education Attorney
...navigate the system, but they don't have formal legal training. They can attend meetings with you, help...They can't represent you in due process or provide legal advice. Educational advocate: A trained professional...can't represent you in due process or provide legal advice. Educational advocate: A trained professional...
Financial > Loans
Navigating Financial Resources for the Special Needs Community
Plan finances for special needs individuals, considering expenses, benefits, and legal protections. Seek expert advice.
Legal > Housing
The Law and Special Needs Housing: What You Need to Know
...understanding, it's something you can successfully navigate. This article provides in-depth insights into the laws surrounding special needs housing and helpful advice on how you can find your way through the application process efficiently and painlessly. First, it's crucial to understand that the Fair Housing Act...
Education > Accommodations
The IEP Process Explained by an Attorney
Christopher Knauf is the founder of Knauf Associates in Santa Monica, CA. His law firm specializes in disability rights and education-related legal disputes. He has also served as an independent hearing officer for Section 504 special education disputes. Mr. Knauf was kind enough to speak with SpecialNeeds.com...
Financial > Financial Planning
A Special Needs Planning Timeline: 9 Steps to a Sound Family Plan
...guidance through the process. Step 1 — Understand the Process is Different The initial step should be a full understanding that traditional planning advice will not work for your family. You should not engage the corner financial advisor, a...
Legal > Advocacy
How a Special Needs Attorney Can Help You
...A special needs attorney can help your case in two ways. First, a good attorney can act as your advisory or counsel. They can provide you with the advice and assistance you need. A good attorney can tell you whether your case is a valid one and tell you how complex of a case it is. They can also provide...
Education > Accommodations
Preparing for the First IEP Meeting
...sure way to establish yourself as the key role on your child's IEP team. The first meeting may be the most important meeting because it in essence a legal meeting to write up the IEP for your child. This meeting will include all of the necessary accommodations, tools, and help the school promises to provide....
Special Needs > Dyslexia
How to Request a School Evaluation for Dyslexia: Your Rights and the Step-by-Step Process
...under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), you have the legal right to request a comprehensive evaluation at no cost. The school has specific...Verbal requests can be forgotten or misinterpreted. Written requests trigger legal timelines and provide documentation that protects both you and your child....
Global Insights > Employment
When (and How) to Tell an Employer About Your Disability: A Decision Guide
...exposes you to bias that antidiscrimination laws don't always prevent in practice. The right timing depends on what you need, where you work, and what legal framework governs your employment. Here's how to make that call. When Disclosure Is Legally Required. In the United States, you're not required to disclose...
Education > K-12
FAPE and LRE Explained: A Parent's Guide to Your Child's Rights Under IDEA
...does not mean best possible. This distinction matters because many parents assume FAPE obligates schools to maximize their child's potential, but the legal standard sets a lower bar. The standard, established in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District (2017), requires education "reasonably calculated...
Legal > Government Benefits
Maryland Is Cutting $250 Million in Disability Services. Families Have Days to Push Back.
Maryland Senate passed $126M in DDA cuts affecting 19,100 people. Conference committee meets Friday. Here's what to do now.
Global Insights > Advocacy
Beyond the IEP: Legal Rights Parents of Children with Disabilities Should Know
...timelines, know what FAPE means, and understand procedural safeguards. But the legal framework doesn't stop at the school door. The Americans with Disabilities...accommodations, and state services. Many parents don't realize the same legal structure that governs their child's education also covers discrimination...