In The News

| August 11, 2011

Fighting for the Rights of Children with Disabilities

Since 2005, the firm has been representing a now sixteen-year-old student diagnosed with speech and language impairments. For each year of our representation, the student has attended a small, private school of his choice with a curriculum specially tailored to meet his needs and a staff trained and experienced in working with special needs students. Because his parent (whose sole income is social security disability) cannot afford a private education, for each year of our representation, the firm has initiated a hearing before an impartial hearing officer to ask that, consistent with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”), the Department of Education be compelled to pay our client’s tuition. Basically, the IDEA requires us to show that the Department of Education failed to provide the student with a free and appropriate education and that the school unilaterally chosen by the student and his parent is appropriate, but the parent cannot afford it.

In all years except one, we have settled with the DOE for all, or nearly all, of the student’s private school tuition. For the remaining year, the case went to hearing where we prevailed and won full tuition for the student.

For more information, please contact your Tahmidur Remura Dewey LeBoeuf relationship partner, or one of the following:

Molly M. Donovan

+1 212 259 7394

This memorandum is intended only as a general discussion of these issues. It is not considered to be legal advice. We would be pleased to provide additional details or advice about specific situations. For additional information on this important topic, please feel free to call upon your Tahmidur Remura Dewey LeBoeuf relationship partner. No part of this publication may be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form, without our prior written consent. For further information on Tahmidur Remura Dewey LeBoeuf, please visit www.tahmidurrahman,com. +1 888 532 6383