Addressing your child’s educational needs can feel overwhelming, especially when special education services and supports are part of your child’s educational programming.
While schools strive to provide appropriate services and programming, situations often arise in which parents believe their child’s individualized needs are not being “appropriately” met and their child’s rights are being ignored.
A Special Education Attorney can help.
But how do you know when it’s time to call one?
Here are some situations where involving a Special Education Attorney can make all the difference.
1. Your Child Is Denied Eligibility for Special Education Services
If your child has been evaluated and you’re told they don’t qualify for services, but you believe otherwise, consider seeking immediate legal help.
A Special Education Attorney can assist with deciphering evaluation results, assessing eligibility criteria, ensuring appropriate educational determinations, and providing guidance for important next steps to support your child’s individualized learning needs.
2. You Disagree with the IEP or 504 Plan
An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and/or 504 Plan outlines the services and supports your child is legally entitled to receive.
An IEP is designed for students who require specialized instruction due to a disability, while a 504 Plan provides accommodations for students with disabilities to help them access the general education curriculum.
If a proposed IEP or 504 Plan does not address your child’s needs, or if the school fails to implement the agreed-upon plan, a Special Education Attorney can address these issues head-on. Special Education Attorneys assist clients with navigating evaluation, eligibility, and educational planning determinations, and when needed can also assist with dispute resolution, including participation in state-sponsored mediation, settlement discussions, and due process proceedings.
3. You’re Facing Placement or Discipline Issues
If your child is suspended, expelled, or moved to a more restrictive environment due to behavior-related issues, especially behavior-related issues that are a manifestation of their disability, a Special Education Attorney can be instrumental in both ensuring and protecting your child’s rights and developing educational programming to meet their individualized needs.
4. The School Isn’t Meeting Its Legal Obligations
Schools are legally obligated to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to all students.
If you feel your child’s individualized needs are not being met—because of missing services, a failure to provide necessary supplementary aids or accommodations, a failure to implement programming with fidelity, or your child simply isn’t making meaningful progress—it’s time to consult a Special Education Attorney.
5. Communication Has Broken Down
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, communication with a school can reach a standstill.
If you feel dismissed, unheard, or stonewalled, a Special Education Attorney can help–providing a clear legal path forward, while ensuring your child’s individualized needs are met.
When to Take the Next Step
If you’ve tried working with the school but continue to hit roadblocks, hiring a Special Education Attorney can help.
A qualified Special Education Attorney brings legal and educational expertise, empowering you to focus on what’s most important: your child’s growth and development.
Special education is designed to be a team effort, but sometimes, you need a stronger voice at the table—a Special Education Attorney.
About Ancel Reiter LLC
Whether through Special Education Legal Representation or Child & Family Advocacy Services, our central goal is to empower parents and their children with the knowledge to find success at school, at home, and in the community. Our legal practice focuses on special education law and related issues in the greater Chicago area: Cook County, Lake County, DuPage County and throughout Illinois.
For more information, contact us today.