Los Angeles Unified School District (“LAUSD”) is scheduled to open schools for in person learning this fall. However, an online option will be available for families with medical, social-emotional, or other concerns, as well as students receiving special education. Students will receive daily live online instruction for part of the day and complete independent work during the remaining time. The …
REQUESTING COMPENSATORY SERVICES
July 31, 2020 If your child did not receive their IEP related services, you can seek compensatory education. Here is sample language to use for a written request. To [Insert name of administrator of IEP] During the time period that my child was at home as a result of school closures, he/she was denied a free and appropriate education because …
Students of Color and Students with Disabilities are Disproportionately Disciplined
UCLA Civil Rights Project’s Center for Civil Rights Remedies released a report titled, Is California Doing Enough to Close the School Discipline Gap?, a seven year trend analysis of school discipline rates in California. It goes without saying that students who are suspended miss instructional days, causing those students to fall behind. The report found that a troubling “discipline gap” …
Advocacy Issues Related to COVID-19
[La versión en español está a continuación de este mensaje] Dear special education community, We hope that you are staying indoors and are well. We understand that this time is especially difficult for you and are committed to your welfare. As you are aware, we are dealing with unprecedented issues in special education law and advocacy as a result of the …
New Faces in the LOHC Offices!
Congratulations to Lauren Fairbanks, Jasmin Stewart, and Robert D. Skeels on their new positions at The Law Offices of Hirji & Chau, LLP! Lauren (Associate Attorney) is passionate about protecting the rights of people with disabilities. She graduated from Tulane University in 2015. After that, she earned her Juris Doctor at the USC Gould School of Law. Lauren earned her …
Blocking Parent Experts from School Observation is Against the Law
In 2005, Long Beach Unified denied access to a private evaluator to observe a proposed placement for a student with Autism. Bonnie Z. Yates took the matter before the California Court of Appeals and won the seminal and often cited Benjamin G. case, that established the right of experts to observe prior to a due process hearing. Almost 14 years …
Adulthood Transition: Graduation and Curriculum
By Diana Maltz, Esq What is the difference between a diploma and a certificate of completion? A high school diploma certifies that your child has met state and school mandated graduation requirements. A certificate of completion certifies that your child has completed high school, but did not meet graduation requirements. Many students with IEPs receive certificates rather than diplomas. This …
Diana Maltz joins Law Offices of Hirji and Chau, LLP as one of our new Associate Litigation Attorneys
Diana Maltz graduated from the USC Gould School of Law in May 2018. During her time at USC, she conducted research regarding civil commitment and conservatorship of developmentally disabled adults as a 2017-2018 Saks Institute Scholar. She also participated in the Mediation Clinic from August 2016 until May 2018 and served as Vice President of the Student Bar Association during …
Alexander Rodriguez joins Law Offices of Hirji and Chau, LLP as one of our new Associate Litigation Attorneys
Alex Rodriguez is a graduate of Loyola Law School and was admitted to practice law in California in 2018. The importance of education was instilled in Alex at a young age by his parents who were educators, and inspired Alex to pursue and gain experience as a classroom teacher. Prior to Law School, Alex obtained his undergraduate degree from Cornell …
CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY FOR THIS FAMILY AFTER A TWO-YEAR FIGHT WITH THE REGIONAL CENTER
The Law Offices of Hirji & Chau had a recent victory in regional center eligibility! On December 17, 2018, the Office of Administrative hearings found in favor of our client, a 54-year-old man with Autism and Intellectual Disability who was previously found ineligible for services from the Inland Regional Center (“IRC”). Daniel* was diagnosed with Autism and Aphasia at the …