Special Education Attorneys in New York City

If you believe your child isn’t receiving accommodations for his or her disability or exceptional needs through public school, a special education lawyer at the Law Offices of Lloyd Donders in New York may be able to help you. While many parents are happy with the services their special needs child may be receiving through public education, some parents find that they face difficulty requesting an evaluation for their special needs child which is required to obtain an individualized education program (IEP). In some cases, parents may find that the school isn’t able to provide services in accordance with the IEP or fails to deliver services appropriate to the child’s needs. While many parents are able to advocate for their children on their own, some families face unique legal challenges, complex cases, or other difficulties when navigating issues with public school teachers, administrators, and school districts.

There are several important laws in the U.S. that protect students with disabilities, guaranteeing them the right to access appropriate public education services. These laws include the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) . Under this law, all public schools are required to provide equal access to children with physical or mental disabilities. Prior to its predecessor which was enacted in 1975, children could be turned away from public schooling. Under the IDEA, public schools are required to evaluate students who may have special needs and develop an individualized education program to best match the educational services non-disabled students receive. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, public schools must develop an IEP or individualized education program for students who meet eligibility requirements for special education programs. Students should be provided education in the least restrictive environment possible, meaning they should be educated in as inclusive an educational environment that is possible given their needs. Under the law, there are also protections in place to ensure that special needs students enjoy privacy, and provisions that also ensure that parents have the right to review their child’s educational records if requested. Parents can also request an independent educational evaluation. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a civil rights law meant to protect children and individuals with disabilities from being discriminated against because of their disabilities. Under the Assistive Technology Act, schools must provide assistive technology and services that allow children and persons with disabilities to more fully participate in society. Finally, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) also protects the privacy of student education records.

Special ed law is a specialized area of the law that protects the rights of special needs children and helps their families navigate difficult or challenging legal issues with school districts, teachers, administrators, and more. The special ed attorney in New York at the Law Offices of Lloyd Donders works with families who have questions about their rights. Whether you wonder whether your child is eligible for special education, need help getting an evaluation for an IEP, need help ensuring that teachers and schools follow your child’s IEP, or need help resolving a dispute involving your child’s educational needs, the Law Offices of Lloyd Donders, a special ed law firm in New York, may be able to help you.

How Can a Special Education Law Firm Help Me in New York?

The Law Offices of Lloyd Donders is a special education law firm that can help you with various aspects of helping your child gain access to the free appropriate public education he or she is entitled to receive under the law. In many cases, parents are able to advocate for their children on their own, ensure that their children receive an IEP, and ensure that their child’s unique needs are met. However, sometimes parents face roadblocks. Schools should be able to provide a parent with the child’s educational records, and should evaluate the child for an IEP if the parent requests it.

The Law Offices of Lloyd Donders is a special education law firm that can assist you with getting your child’s educational records and reviewing them. Our special ed lawyer can help you with requesting an IEP meeting and evaluation, and can also assist you in preparing for this meeting and evaluation. The special ed lawyer at the Law Offices of Lloyd Donders can review IEP documents to help you understand what they mean for your child and his or her education.

The special education lawyer at the Law Offices of Lloyd Donders can also help you resolve disputes and complaints you might have with the school or school district if you think that either may not be meeting your child’s needs. These cases can sometimes get complex, but your child has a right to receive a free appropriate public education to meet his or her unique needs. The Law Offices of Lloyd Donders is a special education law firm in New York that may be able to help you.

Is My Child Eligible for Special Education in New York?

In order to determine whether your child qualifies for special education and an IEP in New York, he or she must first be evaluated. If you request that your child be evaluated, the school should provide these assessments for you. But parents may also want to speak to their child’s pediatrician. Your doctor can also guide you and refer you to appropriate specialists as well. Students who are in Kindergarten and under age 21 may qualify to receive an IEP. The IEP is a special learning plan uniquely tailored to your child’s special needs. It is a plan that helps the school and teacher deliver a free appropriate public education to your child.

One of the first steps in determining whether your child is eligible for special education is to speak to your doctor, request your child’s education records, and request that your child be evaluated for an IEP through his or her school. In many cases, parents can often get these processes started on their own. However, there are times where having a special education law firm like the Law Offices of Lloyd Donders on your side can be helpful. If the school is refusing to test your child. If your child has behavioral issues, but your child is being punished and not tested for special needs or if the school offers an IEP, but you believe the IEP doesn’t meet your child’s needs, you may want to speak to the Law Offices of Lloyd Donders in New York. Our special education lawyer can help you.

When Should I Hire a Special Education Attorney? 

Parents can hire a special education attorney at any point they feel it would help them in advocating for their child. However, a special education attorney may not be needed in all cases. If you are unsure about whether your child qualifies for special education, your first step should be to speak to your child’s doctors, teachers, and the school. The school can provide testing to determine what your child’s needs may be. In many cases, with advocacy, parents can get their child the appropriate educational accommodations they need and deserve.

If your child’s school refuses to offer an evaluation, refuses to release your child’s educational records, or if you feel that your child has special needs and these special needs haven’t been identified, and discussions with the school have failed, a special education attorney in New York may be able to assist you. The Law Offices of Lloyd Donders in New York can help you get your child’s educational records, review the records, request appropriate testing, and assist you with all steps of the IEP process, including meetings, follow ups, and review of the IEP itself. Children in New York are entitled to a free appropriate public education. The free appropriate public education lawyer at the Law Offices of Lloyd Donders in New York may be able to help you.

Children with special needs sometimes fall through the cracks. Sometimes an IEP is in place, but it doesn’t get followed. Sometimes parents even have to make the additional sacrifice of putting their children in private school because public school fails to provide their children with the free appropriate public education their child is entitled to receive. If you have questions about your rights in this case, reach out to a FAPE lawyer at the Law Offices of Lloyd Donders in New York. Our FAPE lawyer can review your case, review your child’s IEP, and review your situation to determine what options you have and what your next steps should be. We are here to help you. You are not alone.