Educational Issues for Individuals with Disabilities

Murray, Plumb & Murray offers a full range of legal services designed to benefit students with disabilities. Over the years, we have successfully assisted numerous clients in understanding the complex laws and regulations in the field of special education, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA"), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ("FERPA"), Maine's special education statutes and regulations, the Maine Human Rights Act, and more.

We represent a spectrum of clients, including parents of children with disabilities who attend pre-school programs through Child Development Services; parents of children in the public schools under an IEP or Section 504 plan; parents of students who have been, or seek to be, placed in private schools or other facilities with public funding; and adult students with disabilities enrolled in secondary and post-secondary educational programs. Our legal services include:

• Strategic Planning to identify issues, options, available resources, necessary referrals, and appropriate dispute resolution mechanisms;
• Advice regarding the variety of legal issues surrounding Student Evaluations, whether performed by the school or by an independent evaluator;
• Assistance with and/or attendance at Pupil Evaluation Team and other educational planning meetings;
• Negotiation with school counsel on all manner of special education issues;
• Representation in disputes involving programming, placement, and/or related issues, whether the forum is mediation, a Due Process Hearing, or an action or appeal in court.

Because special education law has grown so complex, there is a genuine risk that the children of parents who do not seek advice of counsel will receive fewer or lower quality educational and related services. School personnel are routinely advised by counsel about changes in the law and successful strategies and tactics. This disparity puts parents at a distinct disadvantage in serving as advocates for their children unless they, too, take steps to become informed and obtain necessary legal assistance. This is where we can help.

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