The Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting is an important part of the special education process. For parents, to be feel strong and confident it is essential to have a plan ahead of the meeting.

A child or an adult has a disability under the ADAAA if she or he has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment. 28 CFR 35.108 (a)(1) Substantially limits" is not intended to be a demanding standard. An impairment does not need to prevent or significantly or severely restrict an individual from performing a major life activity to be substantially limiting; the question is how the impairment limits the individual's ability to perform the major life activity as compared to most people in the general population. 28 CFR 35.108 (d)(1).

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that ensures all children with disabilities have access to a free and appropriate public education. One of the key components of IDEA is the Child Find mandate, which requires schools to actively identify, locate, and evaluate children with disabilities who may need special education services. This mandate places affirmative obligations on schools to proactively seek out and identify students who may be in need of special education services.

Are you considering recording an IEP meeting with your school? It’s a great way to ensure that you have a record of the meeting and can refer to it if needed. It can be a good help for parents who want to reflect on discussions or if one parent can’t attend and wants to understand the meeting.

Raising children, especially if they are facing some challenges, can provide some of the most overwhelming, exciting, scary, frustrating, and wondrous times of your life. However, you might not feel so filled with loving wonder when your kids are going through phases that are disappointing, frustrating, and challenging on several levels.

In an unanimous decision today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a deaf student who sued his public school system for providing an inadequate education. The school district had argued that since Perez had settled his special education due process case under IDEA that he could not move forward to pursue damages under the ADA. The Court disagreed.

I am often asked how we should advocate to be successful in creating change. My answer? Be like water.

An "individual health plan," is an affirmative obligation of the school and should focus exclusively on addressing a student's medical needs.

The U.S. Supreme Court's October 2022 term starts in just a week. While there are many pending cases, the Court has an upcoming docket of several special education cases.

Whether your child has a Section 504 plan or an IEP, your School district must evaluate your child on a periodic basis, including when it is clear that their needs may have changed.

It all begins with an idea.

It’s not all about collaboration.