Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 82 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Michela Laverty, a seasoned special education consultant and the founder of Oly Able Special Education Consulting, based in Denver, CO. With a background in implementing inclusive practices and building successful programs for students with learning and intellectual disabilities, […]
Does Connecticut’s Expanded Paid Sick Leave Law Apply to Public-Sector Employers? : Pullman & Comley
Does Connecticut’s Expanded Paid Sick Leave Law Apply to Public-Sector Employers? Statutory definition does not reference municipalities, boards of education or political subdivisions, leaving room for interpretation under Public Act 24-8 Arguably the most significant labor and employment development arising out of the 2024 session of the Connecticut General Assembly was the dramatic expansion of […]
Will Lack of Social Distancing Or Threats To Touch Someone Be Suspendable and Expellable Offenses When Students Return To School?
By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 Schools and students are in turmoil in California, with all pushed to distance education for fear of the “invisible enemy” aka Coronavirus. But what about the upcoming fall and the 2020-21 schoolyear? How will students return to school in the Coronavirus “new normal” and how […]
Executive Functioning in Special Education, ADHD, and Autism
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. Executive functioning helps people plan, organize, initiate and complete tasks. Theseskills are important in school, home, and everyday life. For students with ADHD, autism,or learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, executive functioning can be more challenging.Understanding the challenges that these students face and coming up with a plan tosupport them is […]
College Discipline: Initial Contact And Investigation Meeting
By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 College discipline hearings can be difficult matters, and they all start with the allegation and investigation. Due to the potential for severe punishment, it is important the initial steps are not mishandled. Usually the first notice of a discipline issue arrives via the student’s […]
Overcoming the Challenges Faced by Education Lawyers with Randi Johnson
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 81 Introduction: In this episode, Frances Shefter welcomes Randi Johnson, Principal Attorney and Chief Engagement Officer at Gravis Law. Together, they discuss the unique challenges and responsibilities of being education attorneys and how their collaborative approach helps families navigate the special education process. The Role of Attorneys vs. Advocates: […]
Special Education After Coronavirus- Steps To Take To Try To Recoup Services And Regain Lost Skills
By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 As the months of Coronavirus destruction of life as we know it roll on, it is clear that not only have lives been destroyed, but also that the educational lives of our children have been crushed. This is especially true for special needs kids, who have been […]
Do You Want Your Kids To Go Back To In-Person Education This Fall? Call, Write, Email, Contact Your District And School To Express Your Opinion
By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 Have you been on edge not knowing if your kids will actually get an in-person education this fall due to the Coronavirus fears? The not knowing is difficult. Parents need to get back to work, but how can they work if their kids are at […]
Trauma-Informed Teaching in Special Education
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. In today’s society, there are numerous factors that can cause trauma. Some studentswere traumatized by the Covid pandemic. They may have lost a close relative or startedto go astray without the eyes of caring adults, such as teachers, coaches, andcommunity leaders watching out for them. Add to that, there is […]
School Suspension Or Expulsion For Bullying
By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 Do you remember the school bully? Or, maybe you have seen movie depictions such as the red haired youth with his raccoon fur hat who terrorizes the main character, Ralphie, in A Christmas Story. Bullying can occur anywhere in schools: in the classroom, in the bathroom, in […]