Personal Message

Brown v. Board of Education marked the beginning of a new era in public education in which the principle of equal educational opportunity replaced the so-called legal doctrine of “separate but equal” which had been used by courts to allow states to impose segregated education on the basis of race.

At the time Brown was decided, school districts frequently misidentified children with learning disabilities. More often than not, children with very different needs were placed together in the same classroom where they did not receive the sort of individual attention that they needed and deserved. In effect, school districts had their own version of “separate but equal” that applied to children with special educational needs. For years, many children were left behind.

Although Brown was about racial discrimination, its principle of equal educational opportunity extends to all children. In 1975, Congress passed The Education for All Handicapped Children Act. This act, which has been amended numerous times since, is now titled the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA).   

The IDEA of 2004 focuses on school accountability and improved outcomes for children with special needs. One purpose of the IDEA is to protect both the rights of children with disabilities and their families. The IDEA also requires school districts to meet a child’s unique needs and to prepare the child for further education, employment, and independent living.

An important part of my job in representing families of children with special educational needs is to make sure that the rights created by both federal and state laws are carefully observed and implemented by school districts. In many cases, disputes about these rights require expert legal interpretation and aggressive advocacy to ensure that a child’s unique needs are being met.

I have been practicing law for over 15 years. Prior to representing children with special needs, I was a partner at Emmer & Snowden, a prominent insurance defense firm, where I successfully tried numerous administrative hearings. After gaining experience as a litigator, I transitioned into Special Education Law to help families with special needs children. As Marian Wright Edelman, the founder and President of the Children’s Defense Fund, observed: “If we don’t stand up for children, then we don’t stand for much.”  I have dedicated my career to representing children with disabilities and their families.

If your child has special needs, I will take the necessary legal action to ensure that your child receives a free and appropriate public education.