We Help Families Navigate
The System
Caring for a child with special needs can be overwhelming, both emotionally and financially. Many resources exist to support your child. But identifying, obtaining, and maintaining those resources is often a complicated and daunting task that can frustrate even well-informed parents.
Through our special needs attorney representation, we are here to help you navigate the system.
OUR OFFER TO YOU
We Aim to Provide
Quality Legal Representation
Our special education law firm is dedicated to advocating for the rights of children with disabilities and their families. We believe that every child deserves the same floor of opportunity to achieve meaningful educational gains. We represent children and their families in special education matters ranging from IEP meetings to Federal District Court.
We are Committed to Empower Families
We believe that all individuals are entitled to lives of dignity and social engagement. To this end, we are committed to helping families understand their educational rights.
Our goal is to empower families, such as yours, by identifying and working to obtain the educational tools and supports they need for their loved ones with disabilities.
OUR PRACTICE
The firm was founded in 2008 so that Molly Watson, a former teacher, could pursue her interest in providing quality, affordable special education representation to families of children with special needs living in California.
Ours is a small law firm, enabling us to work closely with parents to obtain much needed special education supports for their loved ones.
We are dedicated to helping families, such as yours, by obtaining individualized solutions to your child's educational problems.
The firm is unique in its ability to provide knowledgeable legal representation, usually at no cost to the parents, while also maintaining a personal connection with our clients.
YOUR RIGHTS
We Help Parents Exercise their Right to Challenge a School District Regarding their Child's IEP
Unfortunately, disagreements often arise between parents and schools. When the parents of a student with disabilities and the school district disagree about the student’s eligibility, placement, program needs, or related services, either side can request a special education due process hearing. The request for a due process hearing is made by filing a complaint with the Office of Administrative Hearings.
Prior to the scheduled date for the hearing, the parties will participate in a resolution session unless both parties waive such a meeting. The parties may agree to participate in mediation. During mediation, a mediator will work with both sides in effort to settle the case.
If the case does not settle, it will go to hearing. Hearings are similar to trials in superior court. Often they last more than one day. At the hearing, both sides present evidence by calling witnesses and submitting any reports and evaluations that support their position. An administrative law judge decides whose witnesses and documents are correct and what program is appropriate.
Our law firm has helped many families by representing them in administrative court proceedings. Although most of our cases settle, often with various agreed upon supports for each child we represent, we are prepared fight for a child's special education rights at a hearing.
In order to secure an appropriate education guaranteed under the law, and by the compassionate foresight embodied in the IDEA, parents can turn to help from independent evaluators, advocates, and special education attorneys.
CONTACT US
Get in Touch with Our Firm.
Help starts with a free consultation.