Extended School Year: Qualifying and Requesting
A guide to Extended School Year services — what regression and recoupment actually mean, how to build a strong ESY case with data, and what to do if a request gets denied.
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Guardianship, Supported Decision-Making, and Turning 18
A breakdown of what happens legally when a young adult with disabilities turns eighteen, and how families can weigh guardianship against supported decision-making and other less restrictive alternatives before that birthday arrives.
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Post-Secondary Rights: How Protections Shift Once IDEA Ends
A clear breakdown of how legal protections change once IDEA ends — from FAPE to reasonable accommodation, from child find to self-disclosure — and what families and students need to do before that shift happens.
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Transition Planning at 14/16: What Should Be in the IEP
A breakdown of what a real IEP transition plan at 14 or 16 should include — measurable goals, aligned coursework, agency referrals — and how to spot the difference between a compliant plan and a useful one.
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Building a Paper Trail Before You Ever Need One
A practical guide to building thorough, ongoing documentation of your child’s IEP and services before a dispute ever arises, and why every dispute resolution process depends on it.
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Due Process Hearings: What to Expect if It Gets That Far
A clear walkthrough of what actually happens during an IDEA due process hearing, from filing through decision, and how families and staff should prepare.
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Mediation: What It Is and How to Prepare
A practical guide to IEP mediation — what actually happens in the room, how it differs from due process, and how parents can prepare to negotiate on equal footing.
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State Complaint vs. Due Process: Which Route Fits Your Situation
A clear breakdown of when to file a state complaint versus a due process complaint under IDEA, and how to tell which one actually fits your family’s situation.
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Restraint and Seclusion: What’s Legal, What’s Not, What to Document
A clear look at the legal standards governing restraint and seclusion in schools, what documentation parents should request and build themselves, and how to recognize euphemistic language that obscures policy violations.
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Suspension and Expulsion Rights for Students With IEPs
A breakdown of suspension and expulsion protections for students with IEPs, covering the ten-day threshold, continuation of services, stay-put rights, and due process, with guidance for both families and school staff.