Attorney for Education Issues
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March 2010
I have a child in Special Education with ADD and some
language processing issues. We have been in an ongoing
disagreement with our school district (Albany USD) over
his IEP and are at the point that I think we need an
attorney to help us, as we are heading toward filing a
suit (due process complaint) against the district for
failing to provide appropriate services, and several other
issues. Any suggestions?
Unhappy Albany parent
Catherine Doble is a great attorney from what I have heard. Unfortunately I do
not have her number.
I am also an Albany parent and unhappy. Would be interested to know which
school your child attends and what grade he/she is in. Also are you a member
of the Yahoo groups put on by an Albany Parent for families who have children
with special needs?
My child has processing issues and I would have to agree that I don't think they
are addressing the issues appropriately. Frankly, I don't think they know what to
do.
Good luck.
anonymous
DREDF will be able to provide some legal advice.
They may also be able to refer you to an attorney.
http://www.dredf.org/
Good Luck
Dec 2009
My teen-age daughter has been wrongfully expelled from a private
high school in the East Bay. We are wondering if there are lawyers
in the area who can represent us and our daughter in bringing a
civil suit against the school.
Outraged Parent
Try calling DREDF, the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund. Located in Berkeley, it
is charged with protecting the civil rights of the disabled. Even though your daughter does
not have a disability, they may be able to put you in touch with a civil rights lawyer who
can help you. I worked with Ann McDonald-Cacho but I imagine any of the counselors
would be able to help identify resources.
Nancy
March 2008
Looking for a referal for a special education attorney, for
my child who has Autism. Is there anyone that you can suggest
to be good or if you know of an attorny you would not suggest,
I would like to know as well; If you could share your
experience.
Thank you.
Mary
This is for Mary, who was looking for a special ed attorney
for her child who has autism. I would recommend LaJoyce
Porter, 1814 Franklin St., Suite 800, Oakland, CA 94612.
(510) 444-9543
lporter[at]porterlawfirm.net.
I worked with Ms. Porter at an inhouse law firm, and she
cared passionately about children's rights. She has special
needs children, and she decided to put her passion and the
expertise she had gained working on behalf of her children
into her law practice. So she left the corporate world for
her own practice emphasizing education law.
Pat
Tamara Loughrey. She's taken on the special ed system as a
parent and a lawyer.
tamara[at]spedattorneys.com
Anon
March 2007
We are looking for a special education lawyer or advocate who is familiar with working with
Oakland School District. Our son is almost three years old and was diagnosed as being on
the autism spectrum about a year ago.
We need a good attorney / advocate to guide us through his first IEP with Oakland because
this is the transition IEP from services funded by the Regional Center to services funded by
the school district. Thank you in advance.
Thank
you!
John
You may begin by contacting CASE (Community Alliance for Special
Education). They are located in San Francisco. They do good
work, mainly advocating for those needing special education
services. They should be able to locate resources for this
purpose. Their website is www.caseadvocacy.org.
cindy
Feb 2006
WE are looking to hire a legal advocate familiar with the
IEP process to be an advocate for our son who has special
ed needs and is in the Accalanes School District. Our son
was diagnosed with comprehensive ADHD and emotional
problems and is classified as AB 3632. However, we are
finding it difficult for the district to meet his needs
and are looking for an advocate in the East Bay area to
help us with the IEP process.
If you want an attorney, I highly recommend Kathryn Dobel in Berkeley, tel.no.
(510) 548-2004. She helped me twice with my special ed kid, back in 1994 and
2000, when I had to fight against the school district's recommendations. We
reached an agreement before we went to court and both times my son got what
he needed. She's extremely knowledgeable and a fantastic advocate. The only
problem is that she's extremely busy and may be working part-time now. But it
wouldn't hurt to call and see what kind of help she can provide. Good luck.
nj
Jan 2006
Can anybody recommend an attorney who works on special education
issues? I'm anticipating an IEP-related fight with the school
district. Somebody other than Katherine Dobel, who doesn't
return phone calls. I'm also already familiar with DREDF.
Thanks
Roberta Savage
221 G Street, Suite 207
Davis, CA 95616
She just had a baby so I don't know if she is working. If she
isn't, however, any referral she would provide would be
excellent. Another way to go would be to get an educational
advocate, who attends meetings with you and helps structure the
IEP, but is more collaborative and less hardball. Ask other
IEP parents or attorneys for referrals.
Hang in there
June 2005
Can anyone recommend a good attorney to help with an IEP, or
relate your experiences, good, bad or mixed, with special ed
attorneys? There have been great recommendations for Sarah
Clarke, but her number is disconnected, and I don't think
Catherine Dobel is taking new clients.
Thanks
anon
Not all special ed attorneys will attend IEPs, but some do, or work with local special
education advocates.
Attorneys in the Bay Area include Elizabeth Aaronson 650-322-6387, Dave Sherman
of Sherman & Zieglar, Valerie Montague 415-789-5693, Mike Zatopa of San
Francisco.
Also check the Council of Parents Attorneys Advocate website: http://
www.copaa.org/find/index.asp
and select ''California''
B.
We got past advice from Sarah Clarke but she decided to get out
of special ed law Spring '05. What a loss to parents as she was
very good. She referred us to Jonathan Quint in Oakland. We used
him in what we felt was a successful mediation with our school
district. His number is 510-595-9130 x120. We came with our
paperwork organized for review and he was very straightforward
about what would happen. He knew the various parties that would
be involved with our case. He was good in the mediation. Good luck.
lr
July 2004
Does anyone know an attorney who specializes in educational
issues? We're looking for some legal opinions and help dealing
with school officals ignoring requests for public information and
non-compliance with the education code regarding gifted
education. The archived information and previous questions deal
specifically with special ed and the American Disabilities Act.
Thanks!
anonymous for this one
There are two good websites that have lots of info about special
education, IDEA and ADA.
www.wrightslaw.com
www.reedmartin.com
There is, for obvious reasons, more info about getting help for
kids who are struggling but there is info about gifted education.
Ellen
Sept 2003
Anybody out there able to recommend an attorney who deals with
education issues? Is there such a genre of attorney? The
situation is, roughly, wanting an attorney to help prevail on the
board of a private school to impliment/consider changes regarding
curriculum (trying to meet Cal. state standards as put forth by
the Dept. of Edu., for one). The ideal attorney would also try
to effect that an independent consultant come in and evaluate an
existing teacher and class.
We are trying to bring about change constructively in our school,
so we would appreciate someone expert in matters regarding
enforcing and evaluating education standards from a legalistic
point of view.
Thank you
Optimist
I sent a message out to my association on your post and the
following person was suggested:
Jane Reid (in Sebastopol) and her associates Sherman & Ziegler
(in S.F.) while engaged in a public school battle w/ our
daughter's district. They specialize in education law and
should be able to help.
Jane's # is 707-874-9539
Sherman & Ziegler are @ 415-924-1300
Good luck.
Juliette
I do not believe that private schools in CA are under any
legal mandate to follow state academic guidelines. Many schools do, but to
varying degrees and with modifications to suit their particular philosophies
and approaches--hence the ''independence'' of independent schools. anon
I think if you want your school to closely follow California Standards, then
you need to go to public school... I think the whole point of independent
schools is that they DON'T have to follow California standards. I think
getting a lawyer to try and get them implemented will only set up an
adversarial relationship with the school, and not\ lead to any change.
Anon.
February 2003
Hi,
I am the mother of an 8 year old boy who was expelled from a
private oakland school. I believe he was discriminated against
because of his learning disabilities and that the school breached
our contract by expelling him without allowing me to be involved,
having never been put on probation or suspended before and not
having allowed me to get a physicians diagnosis or psychological
evaluation. He was also in the middle of an IEP. I am looking for
a lawyer who has experience with ADA civil rights in the private
realm, learning disabilities and contract law. Any help or
suggestions would be app
darlene
There is an organization called DREDF, Disability Rights
Education and Defense Fund, that may be able to help you. Their
main office is in Berkeley:
2212 Sixth Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
510.644.2555 V/TTY
510.841.8645 fax
Their web site is:
http://www.dredf.org/
Good luck.
Cynthia
You probably have these resources, but I would call Community
Alliance for Special Ed (CASE) at 415-928-2273, Protection
and Advocacy (510-839-0811) or Disabilty Rights Education and
Defense Fund (DREDF) at 510-644-2555. I would think they could
counsel you and/or refer you to an attorney. Good luck!!
peggy
I have heard that Katherine Dobel in Berkeley is a lawyer for
ADA education related issues. You might also try CASE which is
an advocacy group. I am sure they would have recommendations
for this kind of situation. I believe they have an office in
Marin. If I can get my hands on their contact information, I
will send it in. Also, Marjorie Kaplan, who is an educational
therapist in Orinda, has worked with advocacy cases and would
likely know some lawyers to contact. Good Luck.
an educator
I believe you might want to speak to a lawyer by the name of
Rhoda Benedetti. Not sure exactly where she is located, but
I believe in the Walnut Creek area. She has a disabled
daughter herself and is now an advocate for children with
disabilities who are maneuvering through the school
system. She is a rel go-getter! Sorry I cannot give you her
phone #, but imagine you could find her out here without too
much difficulty. Good luck!
falconcrest
2001
I need recommendations for attorneys who have been successful in suits
against the Berkeley Unified School District. I have a child in Special
Education and I believe she is being inappropriately place and underserved.
This message is forwarded from the ADA coordinator for the City of
Oakland
There are two excellent national disability rights firms located in the East
Bay. The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) is located in
Berkeley and Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) is located in Oakland.
Either firm might take your case.
Christine Calabrese
Oakland City Manager/ADA Programs
ccalabrese AT oaklandnet.com
Are you in need of an attorney or an advocate? We have an
autistic child (13 yrs old) who is being tossed about in the Berkeley
Special Ed Nightmare Machine. So, I know your travail, here.
I can give you the name of an advocate, or I can ask our advocate
for the name of an attorney he trusts. There is a big difference in the
process and outcome. Our advocate is so skilled in these things that he
has the bearing and expertise of a lawyer, but his expertise is in
educational programs for the handicapped, physically, developmentally,
learning disabled, etc. He has never lost a case. Sharp as a tack.
Sweet and funny, too. His non-combative nature during IEPs is all ordered
and part of a plan. He can get you what you need. Please contact me and
I'd be happy to discuss this with you.
Tobie
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