Spring Issue 2021
Helping Individuals with Disabilities & their Families Achieve & Celebrate Events & Milestones in their Lives
Helping Individuals with Disabilities & their Families Achieve & Celebrate Events & Milestones in their Lives
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In the complex process that follows, having an attorney that knows<br />
the players is an invaluable asset for a family. In addition, a good<br />
special education attorney also knows the other players that matter<br />
in the special education community, and will know what clinicians<br />
write the best reports and who performs best on the stand in a due<br />
process hearing should it come to that.<br />
So how do I find the right special education attorney for my<br />
family? First and foremost, interview more than one attorney to<br />
figure out who you feel most comfortable with. Since you are<br />
going to be spending an inordinate amount of very stressful time<br />
with this person, make sure you communicate well and have a good<br />
level of trust with your legal professional. Word of mouth<br />
recommendations are important, but remember that each<br />
student is different, and each student’s case is different. Just<br />
At the end of the day,<br />
whatever attorney<br />
you decide to hire,<br />
make sure that<br />
1. they have specific<br />
because your neighbor’s attorney was successful with your district<br />
school doesn’t necessarily mean that the same will be true for you<br />
and your child. Ask around – the local bar association will likely<br />
have a list of special education attorneys, and private schools you<br />
are interested in or professionals who have worked with your child<br />
may also have recommendations of attorneys. A great resource<br />
for special education attorneys is the directory of the Council<br />
of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, or COPAA. COPAA is a<br />
national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the rights<br />
of students and their families in matters of special education and<br />
disability rights; they maintain a directory of member attorneys<br />
which can be useful for families beginning the special education<br />
experience in special<br />
education law<br />
2. they have experience<br />
representing students with<br />
your child’s learning profile<br />
as well as the outcome you<br />
are attempting to achieve<br />
legal process. (www.copaa.org).<br />
for your student<br />
3. they have experience with<br />
your school district<br />
4. you understand how they<br />
are charging you for their<br />
services.<br />
Special education attorneys come to this field of law for many<br />
reasons, but in my experience, many of those reasons are personal.<br />
So many of the attorneys that I’ve met in Connecticut who<br />
represent parents in special education matters do so because they<br />
have personal experience as a parent of a child with an IEP. Their<br />
experience advocating for their own child in the special education<br />
system in many cases has acted as inspiration for their professional<br />
legal careers. Other special education attorneys have backgrounds<br />
as special education teachers, administrators, school psychologists,<br />
social workers. An increasing number of special education<br />
attorneys are entering this field of law because of experience they<br />
have had in the special education system themselves. As selfadvocates<br />
and special education attorneys, their experiences both<br />
inside the system and advocating for students within the system<br />
can be particularly compelling.<br />
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