Category Archives: Learning Disabilities

Special Education and Education Issues

Extended Services to Transition Age Students The pandemic wreaked havoc on educational programs for many students. For students who were transition age and turning 22 the impact was enormous. Recent legislation enacted by the Illinois General Assembly were designed to … Continue reading

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Extended School Year and COVID-19/Compensatory Education

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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Posted in Autism, Current Events, Due Process, Education Law, General Information, IEP Meetings, Learning Disabilities, Mediation, Mental Health / Disability, School Discipline, Special Education / School Law, Transition Planning, Uncategorized | Tagged | Comments Off on Extended School Year and COVID-19/Compensatory Education

Support For a Non-Minor Child with a Disability

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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Apps for Divorcing Parents

It centralizes communication and helps with organization. Even for divorcing or divorced parents it has been my experience that the apps provide a less emotional vehicle for communication. Using an app can also limit the he said, she said phenomenon. … Continue reading

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Autism and Police Interaction

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

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

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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Reading Disputes

The school year is nearly over. I finally have time to catch my breath and look back at what where the main legal issues in the special education area for the 2018-2019 school year that kept me occupied. Reading disputes … Continue reading

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Top Twenty Tips for Getting the IEP your Child Needs

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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Groundhog Day

As February approaches I am reminded of the movie Groundhog Day where Bill Murray plays a weatherman who is sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities. Groundhog Day has become shorthand in popular culture as a … Continue reading

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