Negotiated for funds in lieu of transportation for a student district-placed in a private school.

Led an efficient, pro-active IEP team meeting focused on next steps for a student who required a change of placement. Supported my client to help focus on her child's current needs, prevented continued unproductive discussion about staff failures and left the meeting with an agreement for the district to cover the cost and place the student in a full-day, therapeutic support program.

Reviewed records for student and advised a new client to attempt to resolve issues amicably with his child's head of school, before involving attorneys. The private school was agreeable to the client's requests, and a resolution has been reached with satisfies both parties.

Gathered the school team in support of a student struggling with school avoidance and developed a plan to support his gradual re-engagement with a smaller team to help avoid a truancy filing, recover lost credits, build trusting relationships with staff, and reintegrate with his peers.

Secured a manifestation determination for a student whose behavioral support plan was not followed. The student returned to school with more robust support.

Avoided a 3 day out-of-school suspension for a kindergarten special education client.

After many reasonable parent requests for an IEP evaluation had been denied by a district, we presented evidence of the student's need for special education support, and an IEP evaluation was initiated. 

Assisted a student to avoid expulsion for her role in a disciplinary matter, which arose when she defended herself against another student's physical aggression. Advocated for her safe return to school, when she faced bullying, intimidation and threats in the aftermath of the original incident.

Supported a private, parochial student and her family, through the evaluation and eligibility determination process. Advocated for appropriate special education support and advised on accessing Jon Peterson Scholarship funding.

After an initial denial of eligibility, advocated for a student in a private parochial school who required extensive interventions to address dyslexia, to obtain a determination of eligibility from the district the private school was located in.

Negotiating a resolution of a special education Due Process matter on behalf of a student with ADHD who has faced exclusionary discipline without being granted his due process rights for many years.

Represented a student attending a vocational program through a manifestation determination review and expulsion hearing; continued advocacy in a follow-up meeting to ensure appropriate supports for the student while serving the partial expulsion.

Successfully negotiated a settlement on behalf of a student facing a lengthy expulsion. The agreement lessened the expulsion term from 80 days to 38 days; returned the student to online school during the remaining expulsion time under abeyance; moved the records of the expulsion outside his main cumulative file; and reimbursed the family for attorney's fees.

Advocated for a family whose child was severely injured at school due to negligence and disregard of the child's safety plan; reached a settlement that compensated the family for medical expenses, parent's lost wages, and future medical costs.

Negotiated an alternative to an 80-day expulsion and abeyance for a student-client, which allowed him to return to school after a shortened time, kept the expulsion out of his cumulative educational record, and allowed him to attend extra-curricular activities during the pendency of the abeyance.

Helped a family get one more year of special education services after the district previously denied continued eligibility. My client will remain in his placement through his 22nd birthday.

My client's parents were rushed to attend a deficient MDR without the full IEP team or the benefit of counsel. The outcome was clearly erroneous, leading to an expulsion hearing where parents were given an 80-day abeyance agreement and the student was sent to an alternative learning environment. I successfully petitioned for a new MDR to assert critical details not considered initially, where a manifestation was found. The discipline was therefore removed and the student was able to continue his education in a more supportive environment, with more informed administrators and teachers.

Negotiated a settlement for a family with multiple children who were dismissed from a private, parochial school.

Successfully petitioned a middle school to offer a reduced number of days of suspension on behalf of a student.

Over the course of 8 months, worked with our firm advocate to support an elementary school student and her family, as we attempted to resolve disputes as to the adequacy of the services the student was receiving in her home district. After weeks of negotiations, we settled the matter on behalf of the student, securing the services she is entitled to and looking ahead to her successful future. In the process, the family learned critical advocacy skills and has built a network of professionals who are committed to supporting other students.

Successfully advocated in a suspension appeal for a lessor code of conduct violation following a school’s documented overreach in their initial charge.

Successfully represented a k12 student in an emergency removal hearing; no disciplinary action was taken and the student returned to school with helpful and needed support from school administrators.

Represented two separate families in order to advocate for their non-verbal, special needs children who were accidently left on school buses.

Reached a positive consensual outcome in a manifestation determination hearing, resulting in additional protections for the student and limited out-of-school time for the student accused of code of conduct violations.

Researched and provided advice on a school’s responsibility to gain parental consent for student use of technology.

Advocated for a student-client facing expulsion; worked with a school team (school superintendent, vice principal, parents, student and therapist) to avoid expulsion and set the student up for success in a new placement.

Assisted client in advocating for updated language for the Ohio High School Athletic Association Guidelines to provide protections for her son who is a student athlete with diabetes. OSHAA rules now allow diabetic students to wear their medically necessary blood sugar monitoring devices and insulin pumps while participating in sporting events, without fear of disqualification based on equipment placement.

Accompanied clients to view a video of an incident that happened to their child on a school bus following school being resistant to maintaining the video and showing it to the parents.

Together with our special education advocate, acheived greatly enhanced interventions for our client, a 7-year-old child with suspected autism. Had a collaborative and productive IEP meeting as well. 

With the help of Danielle (our advocate), we successfully advocated for a student previously serviced by a 504 plan to be evaluated for additional services. The student now has a robust IEP with goals to address his executive functioning needs, develop his social skills, encourage and incentivize appropriate behavior, and provide the academic support he needs to be successful.

Worked with a college student who faced dismissal from his college program to craft an argument for reconsideration. Supported client as a self-advocate in drafting statements in response to departmental policy.

Worked with a public university's Assistant General Counsel to advocate for a disabled freshman student and her service dog's return to campus housing following some adjustments to the nuances of rules/expectations of collegiate life.

Resolved a sorority member’s pending investigation and possible discipline through a private agreement with the sorority.

Helped identify and eliminate a college’s discriminatory application process.

Worked with a college student and his family to put safeguards in place that ensure his privacy related to a medical leave of absence. The safeguards implemented were designed by the student himself.

Assisted a college student with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder, who sought to transfer from a community college to a 4-year university, to advocate for and successfully receive supports from the college's office of disability services.

Represented siblings following a fight at school that had educational and juvenile criminal consequences; supported clients with academic transitions and sought leniency based on clients' record and character; criminal charges reduced with both cases held open pending resolution.

Supported a student through school discipline and the concurrent criminal charges, to which he entered an admission to lesser charges of a felony and two misdemeanors. After securing a dismissal of the 3 charges, petitioned the court to expunge his record, which the court agreed to, enabling him to pursue future educational and job opportunities with a clean record.

Successfully argued for a student's criminal file to be sealed and expunged in Franklin County Juvenile Court.

Appeared in juvenile court with my client and his family to address truancy charges; worked with diversion officer to explain the student's mental health issues driving the school avoidance; Charges dismissed following my student's enrollment in an online school that better supported his needs. 

Successfully got charges dropped against parents who faced contributing to the delinquency of a minor allegations related to their daughter's school attendance issues. The truancy matter was related to ongoing health issues, of which the school district was aware, however the school failed to properly support the child prior to initiating the charges against the parents.

Successfully advocated for the dismissal of truancy charges filed against my high school client, with proof of her successful enrollment and attendance in a virtual school.

Advocated and got a misdemeanor charge against my 10-year-old client dismissed!

Achieved ultimate dismissal of felony and misdemeanor charges for a minor after the minor complied with magistrate orders regarding community service, letters of apology, and compliance with school rules.

Advocated for my client with a prosecutor to continue a truancy matter so the school district could undertake a long-overdue special education evaluation.

Successfully advocated for a student and family facing a potential truancy filing with the juvenile criminal courts; worked with school district to create a supportive plan to avoid future truancy issues.

Successfully moved the juvenile court to evaluate the competency of a juvenile client who could not appreciate the charges, nor assist in his own defense; case ultimately dismissed.

Negotiated a criminal charge reduction for a student charged with a 2nd degree felony, down to a 1st degree misdemeanor, that included a court-ordered behavioral health assessment. After the behavioral health assessment, the misdemeanor charge was dismissed entirely.

Successfully argued for a juvenile criminal matter to be handled via Juvenile Rule 29(F)(2)(C) hold open.

Successfully argued for a 13-year-old's criminal file to be sealed a year and a half after the disposition of his M1 adjudication. Set expectations for how the hearing would be handled, helped client feel comfortable (even getting permission from the Judge to allow him to wear his special hat and have fidgets in court) and advocated strongly on his behalf.

Represented client in juvenile court and successfully argued a Motion for a Competency Evaluation, due to the client’s age (9 y/o) and disabilities (ADHA, Autism, ODD).

Obtained a reduction in charge from an F3 to an M4 for a juvenile client. Worked with judge, probation officer and prosecutor to help the client put the incident behind him and focus on providing supports to prevent future delinquency.