Category Archives: Autism

Extended School Year and COVID-19/Compensatory Education

Posted on June 2, 2020 by Micki Moran

The Extended School Year (ESY) is fast approaching and in the current environment there are few certainties. In Illinois, students who are eligible for extended school year will receive services remotely. There will be no in person instruction. The standards … Continue reading →

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Support For a Non-Minor Child with a Disability

Posted on February 13, 2020 by Micki Moran

1 in 59 children are diagnosed with autism according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 750 ILCS 5/513.5 is the statute that governs the support of an adult child with a disability. This is an increasingly common issue … Continue reading →

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Autism and Police Interaction

Posted on November 18, 2019 by Micki Moran

Over the past several months I have had several cases of young people with autism who have been involved with the police for a variety of reasons. In my practice this is not an uncommon situation. However, I wanted to … Continue reading →

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October is National Bullying Prevention Month – October 23, 2019 is Unity Day

Posted on September 24, 2019 by Micki Moran

Bullying is an issue that our office deals with routinely. Students with disabilities can become the target of bullying as well as neurotypical students. This is a tough issue and one that doesn’t lend itself to simple solutions.  Witnessed Bullying? … Continue reading →

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Pending Legislative Changes Impacting Special Education

Posted on August 21, 2019 by Micki Moran

Illinois House Bill 3586 This bill was supposed to apply only to Chicago Public Schools. However, due to a “drafting error”, the bill reads that the following will apply to every school district in the state. If the bill is … Continue reading →

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Top Twenty Tips for Getting the IEP your Child Needs

Posted on April 3, 2019 by Micki Moran

Start with data. What is your child able to do? Accurate, data driven, present levels of performance are essential. Evaluations. (current and comprehensive) Develop an Agenda for the IEP meeting. Circulate this in advance. Get organized. Be clear and concise … Continue reading →

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Endrew F.-What have we learned?

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Micki Moran

The cases interpreting and applying the Endrew F. standard have continued to grow and expand the definition of what is required of school districts in their effort to provide a free, appropriate education to students. The following are bullet points … Continue reading →

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Summary of Dear Colleague Letter-November 16, 2016, By Attorney Sharon Falen

Posted on June 16, 2016 by Micki Moran

On November 16, 2015, the United States Department of Education issued a “Dear Colleague Letter” in an effort to clarify for states and local educational agencies their obligations under the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In summary, the Letter … Continue reading →

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Equality in Education: The Denial of FAPE as a Result of a Systemic Breakdown

Posted on June 16, 2016 by Micki Moran

I started my practice on the North Shore of Chicago for a number of reasons. The most important one was that I lived in one of the suburbs, was a single mother with no family to count on, and the school … Continue reading →

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Autism Reflections – A Twenty Year Retrospective

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Micki Moran

Twenty-one years ago, I started this practice and the next phase of my life. In the previous decades, it was estimated that 4-5 children in 10,000 suffered from an autism spectrum disorder. My first due process case and appeal involved … Continue reading →

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