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Special Education Advocacy

Special Education Advocacy

What Services are Available through the Office of Mental Health?

By Sandi Rosenbaum and Marion Walsh, Esq. According to new CDC data (https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p0331-youth-mental-health-covid-19.html), in 2021, more than a third (37%) of high school students reported they experienced poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 44% reported they persistently felt sad or hopeless during the past year. Undoubtedly, mental health needs for all increased in…

Special Education Advocacy

Students with Disabilities are Granted Extended School Year Services

By Arshi Pal, Esq. Now that summer has started, parents may have questions about the purpose of Extended School Year  (ESY) Services and whether your child is eligible.   ESY services are services and programming provided to students with disabilities during July and August for approximately six weeks. CSE Determines Eligibility for ESY Services The Committee…

If your child requires significant supervision and support beyond the school day, they may be eligible for services from the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).
Special Education Advocacy

New Law Extending Special Education Eligibility in New York

By Marion M. Walsh, Esq. This June, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill into law https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/S7866) that allows school districts to extend the eligibility of students with disabilities to receive special education services and programming past the current age of 21 in New York.  This law essentially mirrors the law the Governor signed in 2021…

Special Education Advocacy

Aging Out of Special Education in New York

By Marion M. Walsh, Esq. In the past few years, there has been a lot of confusion as to when students with disabilities age out of public education with their school district.  Students with disabilities have been among the hardest-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, whether they have missed crucial opportunities to fulfill  academic or vocational…

Special Education Advocacy

Questions and Answers about a Student’s Right to Special Education Law and How to Proceed 

By Marion M. Walsh, Esq. After two years of living in a pandemic, many parents may wonder if their child has a learning or emotional disability or special needs.  For some children, parents know about the challenges at birth or in early childhood.   For other parents, they may not suspect a disability until a child…

If your child requires significant supervision and support beyond the school day, they may be eligible for services from the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).
Guide to Being a Parent of a Special Needs Child

Should You Refer Your Child with a Disability for OPWDD Services?

By Sandi Rosenbaum, Special Education/Special Needs Advocate Some students who receive special education services are indistinguishable from their typical peers once the school day is over. Others have physical, medical, or neurodevelopmental differences that affect their lives, and those of their families, every day. They require far more supervision and support than their same-aged peers,…

Special Education Advocacy

Office for Civil Rights Reminds School Districts of Important Obligations in Ongoing Pandemic

by Marion M. Walsh, Esq. The Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education (“OCR”) has delivered a Report on the disparate impacts of COVID-19 on students in K-12 and in higher education, Education in a Pandemic: The Disparate Impacts of COVID-19 on America’s Students (“Report”). Not surprisingly the Report concludes that the…

GIrl lying on stomach using tablet
Special Education Advocacy

Initial Referrals to the Committee on Special Education

by Arshi Pal, Esq. The pandemic has been a real eye-opener for many parents. As we transitioned to remote learning, many parents became part-time instructors to ensure that their children engaged in instruction and completed assignments. Many parents witnessed firsthand the struggles their children were having with paying attention, completing assignments, understanding concepts and communicating…

Special Education Advocacy

Recognizing Mental Illness Awareness Week

by Marion M. Walsh, Esq. In 1990, Congress officially established the first full week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week.  The week runs through Sunday, October 10, which is World Mental Health Day. Mental Illness Awareness Week assumes more relevance today than ever, due to challenges raised by the pandemic and increased isolation and…

Special Education Advocacy

What Parents Need to Know About New York State’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy

By Marion M. Walsh, Esq., Littman Krooks LLP As the school year begins, school districts in New York State will be examining new policies on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and parents should be aware of these policies.  As a first step, in April 2021, the Board of Regents released a draft Framework on Diversity,…