Tag: special education

Parenting the Twice Exceptional Student: Advocacy Tips for Your Gifted Child with a Learning Disability

This mom’s frustration with her local school district just bowled me over completely. This is my client population: parents who are tired of being dismissed by their children’s educators as crazy, money-hungry, or power tripping. Parents of kids who burst into tears because a 30-minute homework assignment takes three hours. Parents who are ready to… Read More Parenting the Twice Exceptional Student: Advocacy Tips for Your Gifted Child with a Learning Disability

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Why Parents Have a Hard Time Talking to Teachers About Their Children’s Needs

The girl’s violence struck the library like a bolt of lightning, drawing a gasp from the teacher and the librarian alike. Awkwardness soon followed the initial shock, and then the two adults exchanged a glance for a shrug. It was over. The teacher continued shuttling the children out into the hallway, back to the kindergarten… Read More Why Parents Have a Hard Time Talking to Teachers About Their Children’s Needs

Melanie1 Comment

Two Great Resources for Connecticut Parents of Children with Special Educational Needs

It’s been a while since I’ve written anything directly pertaining to the work I do with families of children with disabilities. I am a special education attorney who represents parents trying to obtain an appropriate educational program, known as an IEP which is short for Individualized Education Program, for their children with disabilities. This past… Read More Two Great Resources for Connecticut Parents of Children with Special Educational Needs

Melanie1 Comment

Remember to Breathe

School letting out for the summer is magical for a spell.  For a week or so, we don’t care about their 20 minutes of reading.  We survived, they survived.  For a bit, we don’t have to wake at the crack-of-dawn, we can wait until the crack-of-dawn-thirty.  No lunches (until camp and summer school begins), no… Read More Remember to Breathe

General6 Comments

Start Small, Stay Small? Solopreneur Moms and the Benefits of a Home Law Office

So I’m about two months into the solo law practice, work-at-home mom gig.  I have some billable work as well as a couple upcoming seminars (one of which is tomorrow – eek!), and things are actually happening for me, which is really great.  And at the same time, a bit challenging. Everything is sort of… Read More Start Small, Stay Small? Solopreneur Moms and the Benefits of a Home Law Office

Melanie9 Comments

Representing Children

One aspect of my job is to represent impoverished people in Social Security Disability hearings. Representing the children is what I love most. Many people wonder why a child would seek disability benefits. Particularly for kids with mental health issues, some think that being found disabled by the federal government means that the child is… Read More Representing Children

General12 Comments

Students with Disabilities, Public Schools & Standardized Testing

This article popped up in my Facebook newsfeed the other day.  You should read it, but I’ll summarize it by explaining that it’s by a mother of a 13-year-old girl on the Autism spectrum, who relates the story of how, despite her daughter’s varied and meaningful educational successes, the New York State Department of Education… Read More Students with Disabilities, Public Schools & Standardized Testing

Melanie7 Comments