Are you paying attention to the calendar? As we find ourselves in the last few weeks of the school year, this is your friendly reminder to act fast for the annual transition IEP meetings that should be happening. In today’s episode, we are discussing the power of “stay put” as it applies to keeping things the same in IEP accommodations and services while being in disagreement with a proposed change. Join us for a closer look! Show Highlights: “Stay put” is not just for due process cases but is one of the most important parental legal rights. The federal law is consistent but state-to-state nu ..read more

Today's show is a replay of a very popular and informative episode that we hope you'll enjoy. Today’s topic has popped up recently in some of our cases, and it’s an important one to cover because it is under-supported and often overlooked in the IEP world. We are discussing the ELL designation, which stands for “English Language Learner.” Join us to learn when a child should be designated as an ELL, how things should progress from there, and what the school district’s obligations are when that designation is given.  Show Highlights: A student’s ethnicity can prompt false assumptions that ..read more

Welcome to a very special episode! Karen Odell-Barber with Neurologics was a recent guest on our show, so we returned the favor by appearing on her podcast,  Tackling Brain Health. We are excited to share that episode today. You’ll learn more about our journeys, the origins of our law firm and podcast, and the important work that calls to us on behalf of students and families. Join us! Show Highlights: The varied paths that led Amanda and Vickie to be special education attorneys after meeting in law school Special education law: “The wild, wild west” Karen’s personal experience in being ..read more

We are in the season of Spring Break and Easter, which means transition IEP meetings should be happening. If you have procrastinated, it’s not too late! If your child is transitioning from preschool to kindergarten, from sixth grade to middle school, from middle school to high school, or even beyond high school into a vocational program, you’ll learn valuable information in today’s episode. Join us! Show Highlights: Be proactive in scheduling transition IEPs and annual/triennial meetings. The importance of assessing your student’s current accommodations for proper implementation and effective ..read more

We are learning more and more all the time about how our brains function and what it means to be neurodiverse. In this episode, we explore cutting-edge technologies in the field of brain optimization, which has huge implications in special education. Join us to learn more! We are joined by Karen Odell-Barber, the founder and CEO of Neurologics, a technology company that does brain mapping and optimization of the brain producing permanent cognitive repair. This optimization leads to an additional 15 functional IQ points for every person who does optimization, regardless of age, along with a wil ..read more

Today’s topic has popped up recently in some of our cases, and it’s an important one to cover because it is under-supported and often overlooked in the IEP world. We are discussing the ELL designation, which stands for “English Language Learner.” Join us to learn when a child should be designated as an ELL, how things should progress from there, and what the school district’s obligations are when that designation is given.  Show Highlights: A student’s ethnicity can prompt false assumptions that come with an ELL designation (which can mean different things in different cases). Understand ..read more

On our very first episode of 2024, we were joined by Dan Jordan to discuss the transition to college and accommodations for students with IEPs and 504 Plans. Dan joins us for Part 2 to that conversation to educate us on the student’s responsibility. We are taking a close look at the actual steps students need to take as they transition past high school and what we should realistically expect college freshmen to do on their own. Join us to learn more! Dan Jordan worked for ten years as a therapist on a college campus, providing information about accommodations for students with disabilities, an ..read more

Today’s topic is interesting and timely as California joins 22 other states in requiring public schools to teach cursive writing. This has been a hotly debated issue, and today’s guest has a lot to share about the benefits of cursive writing.  Dr. Christina Bretz is an Occupational Therapist from Lexington, KY, who is passionate about how handwriting skills help students across all academic areas. She is currently the Senior Internal Learning Manager at Learning Without Tears, where she has worked for 25 years.  Show Highlights: How cursive faded from the curriculum when states adop ..read more

In this episode, we delve into the details of a landmark settlement in California, where a $2 billion fund has been allocated to address the learning loss experienced by students during the COVID-19 pandemic. This historic agreement, known as the Kala J. settlement, aims not only to recoup the losses suffered by students but also to narrow the opportunity gaps that existed even before the pandemic, particularly for Black and Latino communities. Led by the Public Council and other organizations, this settlement is poised to bring about significant changes in the education landscape, focusing on ..read more

In this episode, we delve into the details of a landmark settlement in California, where a $2 billion fund has been allocated to address the learning loss experienced by students during the COVID-19 pandemic. This historic agreement, known as the Kala J. settlement, aims not only to recoup the losses suffered by students but also to narrow the opportunity gaps that existed even before the pandemic, particularly for Black and Latino communities. Led by the Public Council and other organizations, this settlement is poised to bring about significant changes in the education landscape, focusing on ..read more