When the Record Becomes the Reckoning: A Case Study in Strategic Advocacy
Written By: Dr. J. Henderson, Ed.D., SPED Advocate A Family Three Days From the Edge There is a particular kind of exhaustion that settles into families who have been fighting school districts for too long. It is not loud. It is not dramatic. It is quiet, and it smells faintly of conference rooms, unanswered emails, […]
How Do I Get My Child Tested for Autism? Who to Contact, and What to Write
Author: Advocate-Paralegal Ted Scott-Smith You’ve got a little one, and you’ve got a worry. Maybe he doesn’t turn around when you call his name, or it’s the trope everyone’s heard by now, that he doesn’t make eye contact. So you do what we all do. You Google it, you ChatGPT it, and you get a […]
School Not Following an IEP in Nevada? A Parent’s Legal Options
If a Nevada school is not following your child’s IEP, learn how to document the failure, request corrective action, and evaluate state complaint, mediation, due process, and compensatory education options.
Early Intervention Matters: When Waiting Costs a Child More Than Time
Author: Kathleen Ireland, Esq. At Lex Tecnica, we are guided by principles of fairness, accountability, and the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. Recently, I encountered a case that serves as a powerful reminder of why early identification of learning disabilities is so critical, both for children and for […]
Where to File a Special Education Complaint: IDEA, OCR, and State Complaints
Author: David Gardner, Esq. Where to File a Special Education Complaint: Understanding Your Options Under Federal Law When a student’s rights are violated at school, the most important question is not just what went wrong, but where to file the complaint. Federal law provides multiple enforcement paths, and the correct forum depends on the type […]
When Must a Public School Pay for Private School Under the IDEA?
Author: David Gardner, Esq. When Can a Public School Be Required to Pay for Private School Under the IDEA? Parents of children with disabilities sometimes reach a point where the public school program is not working. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”) allows for private school placement at public expense in limited circumstances. The […]
Transition Services Under the IDEA: Preparing Students for Life After High School
Written by David Gardner, Esq. Graduation should feel exciting. But for many parents, it also brings a new wave of questions: What happens after high school? Will my child be ready for college, work, or greater independence? The good news is that you do not have to figure this out alone. Transition services are a […]
Evaluations 101: Special Education Evaluations Under the IDEA
Author: David Gardner, Esq. Evaluations are the foundation of special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”). They determine whether a child is eligible for services, what those services should include, and whether those services remain appropriate over time. School districts have an ongoing obligation to identify, locate, and evaluate children who may […]
Your Child’s IEP Says More Than How Many Minutes. Here’s the Part Most Parents Skim.
Author: Advocate-Paralegal Ted Scott-Smith Most parents, reading their child’s IEP, go straight to the narrative sections and skip past the drier ones. They read present levels, goals, and the paragraphs describing strengths and needs. Those pages are in plain language and they’re about your child, so that’s where the attention goes. Then there’s a small […]
Prior Written Notice: The Most Important Special Education Document You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
Author: Bonnie Klein Parents spend countless hours preparing for IEP meetings, gathering evaluations, and advocating for their child’s educational needs. Yet one of the most powerful protections under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a document many families have never heard of: Prior Written Notice (PWN). Whether you’re requesting additional services, asking for […]