by Marion M. Walsh Assistive Technology can be important for all individuals with disabilities. This January, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) released important guidance on the importance of assistive technology (AT) devices and services for students’ meaningful access and engagement in education. AT means any item, piece of equipment,…

By Marion M. Walsh, Esq. Last month, a New York state court ruled that students with disabilities in New York are not legally entitled to extended eligibility until age 22 under state law. This decision has created confusion as it goes against a July 2023 formal opinion from the Office of Counsel of New York…

By Marion M. Walsh, Esq. The New York State Education Department provided an opinion this summer on extending eligibility for students with disabilities until age 22. NYSED has finally acknowledged that a 2021 Second Circuit decision, A.R. v. Connecticut Board of Education, requires that public schools in New York provide special education and related services…

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…

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 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. When parents suspect that their child may have a disability, the process can be daunting and filled with many emotions. Some parents learn that their child has a disability at or near birth. Others suspect a disability when their child does not meet early developmental milestones. If you or a…

by Marion M. Walsh, Esq. Preparing for back to school in September always brings hope and a sense of expectation for both students and parents.  For the 2022-2023 school year, this remains true.  However, it has been a difficult two years for students, who are still recovering from isolation during the pandemic, the adjustment to…

By Marion M. Walsh, Esq. It’s that wonderful time of year, when parents are helping their children prepare for college and sending them off.  It is also the time to adjust to a new type of parenting and advocacy.  By taking careful steps, you can ensure that you remain an effective advocate in your new capacity,…

by Sandi Rosenbaum, Special Education / Special Needs Advocate New York’s Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) will release its long-overdue new Statewide Comprehensive 2023-2027 Strategic plan in November 2022, following feedback and discussion.  The draft Strategic Plan has been available since Spring 2022. A plain language version is also available.  While OPWDD’s in-person public forums have…