RKH Law Offices is spearheading regular community based legal clinics to make access to justice more affordable. Our next Legal Clinic is on: Saturday Sept. 27, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Veterans Memorial Building in Culver City Space is limited. RSVP at mabel@rkhlawoffice.com or call 310-391-0330
What Parents Discussed at the Milestones Legal Clinic
By Rosa K. Hirji The parent clinic at Milestones Preschool was a resounding success! My own son, Samir, attended Milestones and I cannot recommend it enough for a supportive, mainstream environment for children with special needs and their parents. It is an awesome place for any child! A heartfelt thanks to Milena Bice for organizing the event, providing food and …
5 Things Parents Can Do to Prepare for an IEP Meeting
I often hear this phrase from parents with a slight dismay in their voice. For many, an IEP is a battle of the wits between parents and districts on an uneven battlefield. The Districts develop the reports and track progress. They are the ‘experts’. Who are parents to tell the ‘experts’ what their child needs? It’s no wonder that parents …
Lawyers for Children in Special Education by Jenny and Rosa
Our contribution to a new book on the role of lawyers for children was published this month! Our chapter, “Setting the Record Straight: Child Advocacy and Responses to Mental Health,” focuses on the school as the first point of intervention to address the mental health needs of youth; and the consequences to the child and community when the school fails …
From The Classroom to the Court Room: Education & the “Right” to an Education
The importance of education has been stressed to me since I was in elementary school. My grandmother used the phrase “college is not an option, it is mandatory”. Getting the opportunity to go to college, made me appreciate my family’s persistence in pushing for higher education. Attending college also instilled a sense of responsibility of wanting to give back to …
Civil Rights Data Shows Disparities for Students with Disabilities and Students of Color
The Office for Civil Rights, Department of Education, released last week, the results of the national data collection for the 2011-2012 school year. African American students are suspended and expelled at a rate three times greater than white students; and students with disabilities are more than twice as likely to receive out-of-school suspensions that students without disabilities. Another shocking statistic: …
Mabel Alavez Joins Us as Bilingual Parent Advocate
We are thrilled to have Mabel Alavez join our team, to provide support to our bilingual clients, and our attorneys. Mabel attended Whittier Law School, and has a strong background in parent advocacy.
Are Parents Who Enroll Their Children Into Charter Schools Inadvertently Giving Up Essential Rights?
Are parents who enroll their children in charter schools inadvertently giving up essential rights? Rosa Hirji analyzes two important court decisions where students expelled from charter schools are found not to be entitled to due process hearing procedures, and calls into question the “public” nature of charter schools. The American Bar Association’s Children’s Rights Litigation Committee spotlights Rosa’s article.