About Your Child’s Special Needs And The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act
It is important for parents to understand their children’s rights to fair and appropriate education (FAPE) regardless of their mental or physical disability. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) set standards for the education schools and school districts must provide to help disabled children succeed.
Is your family struggling to get the services your child deserves related to an Independent Educational Program (IEP) or 504 plan for students with impairments? At Murphy & Murphy, P.C., our lawyers have years of experience handling education law matters for clients who have special needs children. We have a comprehensive understanding of the education laws applying to disabled children and take the time to explain to parents their children’s education rights.
Within our family, we have gone through the process of getting appropriate special education services for our children with special needs. This background has given us a unique insight into these matters. We use our personal and professional experience when helping other parents obtain a fair education for their children.
About IEPs, 504 Plans And Our Related Legal Services
You may already be familiar with the terms IEP and 504 plan. Our attorneys are ready to prevent your child from being ignored or underserved.
Your child may be entitled to an IEP and its implementation. An IEP is a written plan spelling out how a school district will provide services for your child who has disabilities. Your child may face areas of challenge such as delayed speech development or dyslexia. Pennsylvania’s “Child Find” law holds school districts responsible to reach out to parents to identify students who “are thought to be” eligible for special education services or customized accommodations.
Alternatively, your child may qualify for a 504 plan if they have a disability that substantially limits their ability to meet educational performance expectations. It may be a physical or mental impairment impacting:
- Their ability to care for their own daily needs
- Their ability to perform manual tasks, walk, see, hear or speak
- Their ability to breathe naturally, learn and complete tasks
According to a 504 plan, your child may qualify for accessibility adjustments and/or learning program modifications.
Education plans must be tailored for special needs students. In addition, schools and school districts are also responsible to follow state-mandated rules and regulations for special education programs. These rules and policies tend to be very complex and require specialized experience to understand what they mandate and how they can be implemented. This is a large part of the role that we fulfill for our clients.
Our special education lawyers are ready to assist you if your child has, or needs, an IEP or 504 plan. In particular, we will support your child’s right for their school to follow the terms of an IEP or 504 plan. We will help you learn to insist on your child’s right to quality education under the IDEA.
How We Can Help You Overcome Your Child’s Educational Roadblocks
Our attorneys will review your child’s IEP and other special education documents. We represent the interests of parents who believe that the special education program in their child’s school is inadequate and is not effectively meeting their child’s needs.
If a school does not make proper accommodations to suit your child’s physical and mental needs, we are ready to provide specific advice and guidance. Fair education for the disabled must be provided regardless of the age or limitations of the student.
We also handle issues related to the development of a 504 plan and an Individualized Education Program (IEP) in order to ensure they are properly drafted to include an accurate assessment of your child and the goals of your child’s education plan.
Reach Out To Our Experienced Special Education Lawyers
We are experienced and knowledgeable proponents of fair education for the disabled. Please reach out to our law firm to learn more about our education law services, how we serve students with disabilities and how we can stand up for your child’s specific needs, especially when those needs are not being met. Call us today at 610-863-8502.