By Marion M. Walsh As the new school year begins, parents must be vigilant to report and advocate against any bullying of their child. Student bullying and harassment can be a health risk to students and can impact their education. Bullying has increased in the past years and can have devastating and tragic consequences. For…

The Special Needs Alliance’s new issue of The Voice® is written by fellow SNA member. Nicola Melby of McCarthy Summers Wood Norman Melby & Schultz, PA in Stuart, FL. The firm serves Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Okeechobee and Palm Beach counties in Florida in the areas of elder & special needs law, estate planning, guardianship, and wills…

By: Nicholas N. Khayumov In today’s rapidly evolving legal landscape, navigating the intricacies of Medicaid benefits can be particularly challenging, especially for working individuals with disabilities. As attorneys licensed in New York and experienced in Elder Law and Special Needs Planning, our firm strives to provide clarity and guidance to empower individuals with disabilities to…

By: Arshi Pal, Esq. When a school district fails to provide a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to students with disabilities, parents can file a request for an impartial hearing. Through the hearing, the parents can seek a variety of remedies, including but not limited to; tuition reimbursement, compensatory education, compensatory related services, assistive technology…

By: Jessica A. Saio Starting this month, you can add new movies to your watchlist from a brand-new streaming service. ReelAbilities Stream is launching a new platform for viewers to watch movies and documentaries that celebrate the lives and stories of individuals with disabilities. The ReelAbilities Film Festival originated in New York in 2007 and…

By Brian L. Miller, Esq. What is Supplemental Security Income? Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program through the Social Security Administration (SSA) that provides financial assistance to individuals with disabilities, low-income individuals over the age of 65, and certain blind individuals. To be eligible for SSI benefits, one must meet the following requirements:…

By Joel Krooks, Esq. Prior to March 2020, Medicaid recipients had to recertify for Medicaid every year. However, from March 2020 to March 2023, Medicaid cases were automatically extended because of COVID-19 and the public health emergency. The public health emergency ended on May 11, 2023, and as recently as March 2023, Medicaid has been…

By: Amy C. O’Hara, CELA Special needs attorneys are important because they provide legal assistance and guidance to individuals with disabilities and their families. They have skilled knowledge and experience in disability law, which includes a complex set of federal and state laws, regulations, and court decisions that govern the rights of people with disabilities.…

By Marion M. Walsh, Esq. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) protects the rights of students with disabilities and requires the appropriate local agencies to identify, evaluate and refer children suspected of having a disability to determine eligibility for services. The IDEA protects students up to age 21 and in some cases, older. Transition to Committee…

By Marion M. Walsh, Esq. May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Littman Krooks is proud to be a Bronze sponsor of NAMIWalks Westchester. The walk will be held on Saturday, May 20th at 9:00 a.m., at Ridge Road Park, Hartsdale, New York, the future site of the Westchester Healing Garden. NAMI is a grassroots organization…