Lawyer recommendation?

[Anonymous]

Our elementary school child is at a private school in DC. The school is trying to push us out- our child has been diagnosed with ADHD this school year. We are doing everything we can as quickly as we can to stabilize our child but medication takes time to work. We understand we signed away a lot of our rights going private but does anyone have a recommendation of a lawyer who can help us? At the very least, we want to document all of the ways the school has failed to partner with us.

[Anonymous]

Private schools can kick you out for any reason or no reason at all. They aren't required to partner with you. Save your money and find your child a better fit school. I'm sorry -- it's painful. I've been there too and in retrospect needing to find a different school was the best thing that happened to us.

[Anonymous]

Thank you- I know that’s where we are headed but I would still like to take legal action.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary school child is at a private school in DC. The school is trying to push us out- our child has been diagnosed with ADHD this school year. We are doing everything we can as quickly as we can to stabilize our child but medication takes time to work. We understand we signed away a lot of our rights going private but does anyone have a recommendation of a lawyer who can help us? At the very least, we want to document all of the ways the school has failed to partner with us.

If the school is any good, they will help you find a school that is a better fit

[Anonymous]

The school is pretty toxic - despite being a school that is enthusiastically sought after on this board. I appreciate the responses but I just really need recommendation of a lawyer.

[Anonymous]

What exactly do you think you have legal grounds for? If a private school can’t support ADHD students, you can’t force them to do so.

[Anonymous]

This is really painful and hard- can I ask that those who can offer a lawyer recommendation do so? I understand that the school doesn’t have to do anything- however they have made promises they have failed to keep and have made decisions that have harmed my child. I really don’t want to get into a debate- just asking for a recommendation. Appreciate it!

[Anonymous]

The most you could get is a refund for a partial school year, and you probably won't even get that because you signed a contract. I'm sorry.

[Anonymous]

This post and the responses reminds me of this email exchange I read at least 16 yrs ago.

https://27bslash6.com/missy.html

[Anonymous]

It's sounds like your at the beginning of your ADHD journey. Having a kid with disabilities is costly, both in terms of money and emotional energy. Please reconsider if this is how you want to spend both.

-Parent of autistic young adult

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What exactly do you think you have legal grounds for? If a private school can’t support ADHD students, you can’t force them to do so.

+1. I know that you have a new DX, but the sad reality is that most private schools are poorly prepared to support ADHD students, and really the majority of students with any learning differences. Nearly every private school in the DMV has ADHD kids, but usually the parents are paying a fortune for outside support and the kids can't have meaningful behavior issues (and/or the parents are big donors).

If the school is trying to push you out, you do not want to stay. My children have ADHD and I have been a private school parent for over a decade. The situation is so frustrating and it is such a slog to navigate but you need to understand that private schools are businesses. They have a line of prospective students wrapped around the block and can readily backfill your slot with an easier kid. They aren't interested in partnering with you, I'm sorry to say, and whatever lame efforts they are doing right now are probably just going through the motions.

I advise you to save your energy and your peace and direct your time to finding third party supports and a better school environment for your child and family. Smaller classes in private do help BUT the culture at the school has to be the right fit. Generally the higher prestige private schools in the DMV are the least flexible in my experience, and legal protections for students with disabilities is increasingly tenuous under the current administration. Do some research on some of the state lawsuits to undermine existing legal protections. It's scary. I'm really sorry, OP.

[Anonymous]

Thanks- and I know I sound like the cat lady at the link- I’m just looking for recommendations for a lawyer. I’m not looking for anything else. If you don’t have that, please don’t respond.

[Anonymous]

OP the problem is there are no lawyers that do this

A lawyer that specializes in contract law maybe but I highly doubt they would take the case

Contracts you signed when entering the school clauses pretty much make it so suing is just an option

I am sorry

I would remove your kid asap do public

If your child was injured physically maybe

[Anonymous]

OPPs suing not an option because of the contract you signed

[Anonymous]

For Special Education, Brian Gruber and Michael Eig are names that are mentioned. If you do a search for them, you will come up with other names that might be a fit for what you need.