Reply to How much are you actually paying your advocates/attorneys and are they even worth it?

Forum Index » Kids With Special Needs and Disabilities

Reply to "How much are you actually paying your advocates/attorneys and are they even worth it?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I’ve yet to meet a parent that got what they needed without a lawyer. [/quote]

I’m one of the posters who said don’t bother.  And how many do you know who didn’t get what they wanted with a lawyer? It’s unfortunate but all of us know so many who have spent a fortune on lawyers for different reasons, especially after 2020 and trying to get compensation or placement or services.   We all did the best we could but in the meantime, our kids got older.  I’m one who didn’t and just quickly pulled my kid when things got bad.  I’m fortunate that I found an alternative that worked and could afford to supplement and spend money on that instead.

Do what is right for your child.  You will be the best advocate and always trust your gut. [/quote]

A good lawyer will advise you on what your child should be getting from the school system, and help you with the cost benefit analysis of fighting for it - or not.

signed, 
a special ed attorney[/quote]

I agree, but there are so many who are not good and taking advantage of parents.  OP’s kid does not even have an IEP and they want a different placement, if I understand correctly.  There is lots that needs to happen between those two things and it will be a long and expensive process, assuming this is even a legit case.  Time could be saved by looking for private schools and attorney fees could be used towards tuition.

A school is not going to immediately go from an initial IEP, if they find the child eligible, to change in placement, which is what this family would like.  [/quote]

Yes a child can be put in a different placement with the initial IEP. OP said they think their child needs a different placement within MCPS, not a private placement at public expense. Also, attorneys can counsel parents on what is realistic and attainable or not. It's possible that the child would be ok in their current placement with appropriate supports, as that has not been explored. This is all part of what an attorney can evaluate. [/quote]

Least Restrictive Environment still applies to MCPS programs.  I cannot imagine a situation where a child would go from a 504 to an alternative placement without first getting an IEP with supports and/or pullouts in a regular classroom - especially where the school team believes the 504 is enough.  [/quote]

Attorney here. It's not common but it happens. [/quote]

PP here. I can see a situation where a kid can go from 504 to alternative placement but not with the scenario OP presented. My kid is one of those rare kids where that happened but no one, including Central Office, believed the 504 was enough or the school could continue to support him. It was only a question of where. [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics