Special Education Advocacy

Littman Krooks LLP is a member of the Special Needs Alliance (SNA), a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting families with special needs planning.

New York Special Education Advocacy for Children with Special Needs

Children with special needs are entitled to a “free and appropriate” education under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (“IDEA”).  There are several other statutes that protect children’s rights such as Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act; No Child Left Behind, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act; the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other New York State and Federal Laws. Understanding what these statutes and regulations mean for your child, is complex and time-consuming.  The special education process is a complex maze.

At Littman Krooks, we understand that each child’s needs are unique.  We serve clients throughout New York State and have offices in Manhattan, White Plains, and Fishkill. Our attorneys and special education advocates have been highly successful in obtaining the services which our young clients require and deserve. Importantly, the focus is on those services that make a critical difference in building a foundation for self-esteem and optimal independence.

Several members of our firm have children with special needs, enabling them to bring personal experience and insight to the work we do for families. Prior to attending law school, one of our attorneys was a service coordinator for an agency supporting children with disabilities. Another staff member has chaired the New York State Commissioner’s Advisory Panel for Special Education for the past decade. Still another is the former president of the Special Needs Alliance, a national organization.  We frequently speak throughout the community about special education issues in an effort to build awareness among parents, service providers and the legal community.

We believe in collaborating with parents, educators, and social service agencies to obtain an appropriate education for as many children as possible.  And because parents are a child’s most effective advocates, we believe in empowering them by providing the information necessary for success.

We provide a range of educational advocacy—ranging from guidance to parents, to attendance and negotiations at meetings of the Committee on Special Education (CSE), to representation at impartial hearings, disciplinary proceedings or the filing of State Complaints. We also counsel educators, medical professionals and advocacy groups on the various laws protecting the educational rights of children.

A Littman Krooks New York City, Westchester or Dutchess special education attorney can assist you in:

• Developing an appropriate Individualized Education Plan (“IEP”) for your child
• Reviewing all educational records in order to advocate for appropriate services for your child
• Developing an appropriate transition plan
• Identifying and securing placement in an appropriate educational setting
• Securing appropriate educational services for your child
• Locating educational resources for their child with special needs

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