Welcome
to the A2Z Educational Advocates website.
A2Z
helps parents obtain special education services for their
children. We are Special Education Attorneys working to represent parents of special needs kids at every level of the process.
•
Rely on your intuition
• Compare notes at the park
• Speak to your pediatrician & get a thorough exam
• Call your local university medical center & get a
2nd opinion
• Go to your local regional center for screening &
an eligibility determination
• Get an opinion & referral from your day care provider
or preschool director
• Contact your local school district & ask about their
Infant/Toddler & Preschool Special Education programs &
assessments
• Ask the teacher to screen for disabilities that might
adversely affect your child's ability to learn in a general
education program
GETTING
YOUR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD PREPARED FOR SCHOOL
•
Determine if your child is eligible for regional center
services
• Your 3- to 5-year-old may be eligible for school
district services
• Consider getting your child a complete medical workup
by a developmental pediatrician
• Request an IEP in writing, as soon as your are aware of a disability
• Request a complete set of assessments by the school
psychologist, in writing, as soon as school starts
• Gather all school and medical records
• Gather all state standardized test results, e.g.,
Stanford 9
• Get organized
• Buy a 3-ring binder with tabs, for each service requested
• Always keep a log of all calls
• Get everything in writing
Help Us Design Model Educational Programs for Students with Autism
I hope you can join the Autism Society of Los Angeles in our next day long meeting on November 28. This time we are discussing the state of educational programs for students with autism. I especially encourage parents and service providers to attend because we have a fair number of educators already coming and we want a broad perspective as we are developing model programs. We plan to take the recommendations of this meeting and present it to school districts and policymakers so let your voice be heard.
Attached is the schedule with speakers. Please let me know if you are in need of a reduction in the cost of the meeting or a complimentary registration and we will try to help out.
Recurrence Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Baby Siblings Research Consortium Study
* A new sibling study from the UC Davis MIND institute found that the younger siblings of children with autism may be more likely to develop autism than previously thought. Past estimates, typically between 3 and 10 %, may underestimate actual recurrence rates. The study, published on August 15th in Pediatrics, reported that 1 in 5 babies with an older sibling on the autism spectrum will likely be affected - more than double previous estimates and about 20 times the rate in the general population. The rate was higher among younger brothers than younger sisters and almost 1 in 3 infants with more than one older sibling on the spectrum went on to develop autism. This research provides valuable information about heritability in autism and may impact family planning for families who already have one or more child with autism. The full text of the study can be found at: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/08/11/peds.2010-2825
Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile
Recent research funded by Autism Speaks shows that a one-page baby toddler checklist called the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile (CSBS DP) can be used effectively as early as 12 months to screen children for autism and developmental disorders. Click here to download the free tool and scoring information: http://www.brookespublishing.com/store/books/wetherby-csbsdp/
Update on health plans and behavior analysts in California
Although the law has not changed in California, Blue Shield and Anthem Blue Cross have recently settled with the Department of Managed Health Care and have agreed to cover Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services as supervised by a licensed professional. Senate Bill 770, which allows ABA services to be provided by qualified personnel, including those who are un-licensed and un-certified, could be passed in September. The full text of SB 770 can be found at: http://www.calaba.org/ppc/news-2011-08-Aug17.shtm
District Court reverses ALJ and decides case in favor of the Student
A2Z's Carrie Watts has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), a national independent, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization of attorneys, advocates and parents. COPAA's primary mission is to secure high quality educational services for children with disabilities.
Disability Rights updates
News Announcement: Pursuant to a TRO, Educationally-related mental health services to continue, despite Governor's veto and suspension of mandate
November 3, 2010 update - A class action lawsuit was filed last week by the collaborative forces of various public interest law organizations in Los Angeles in response to the Governor's line item veto of funding for mental health services and suspension of the AB 3632 mandate. Go to www.publiccounsel.org or www.disabilityrightsca.org/news for more information about the lawsuit itself...for our explanation click here to read more
Disability Rights updates
News Announcement: State Superintendent of Public Instruction to Release Funding for Maintaining Mental Health Services, Despite Governor’s Veto
On October 29, 2010, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O’Connell, announced that the California Department of Education (CDE) would be releasing and continuing to allocate the $76 million in available reserved federal IDEA funds to maintain educationally related mental health services, despite Governor Schwarzanegger’s “suspension” of the AB 3632 mandate for such services on October 8, 2010....read more
Disability Rights
News Announcement: Governor’s Line Item Veto Suspends AB 3632 Mandate for Mental Health Services in California
On October 8, 2010, Governor Schwarzanegger signed the state’s budget for fiscal year 2010-2011, while using his line item veto to cut billions of dollars to state funded programs. Among the programs affected are mental health services provided to students with disabilities under what is known as the AB 3632 Mandate. The Governor used his veto to eliminate approximately $133 million in funds apportioned for the state to reimburse County Mental Health agencies for mandated services they have already funded. At the same time, the Governor suspended the AB 3632 mandate going forward...read more
October 21, 2010, LOS ANGELES—a class action lawsuit to preserve lifeline services for more than 20,000 students was filed today in federal court by Public Counsel, Disability Rights California, Mental Health Advocacy Services and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher...read more
A2Z Educational Advocates wins stay put order for preschooler with autism and apraxia in the District Court. Read the judgement
Special Education Advocate Carolina D. Watts, explains how to make record requests. For additional info or assistance with records requests, IEP's, or other special education services please contact us.
March 15th, 2010, Pacific Palisades, CA
by Jane DuBovy
Eight years ago I switched my law practice from bankruptcy to special education. This was not just on a whim. A few years prior to that switch, my youngest son was diagnosed with Autism. After accepting the challenge of the Autism diagnosis, I submerged myself in learning everything I could about Autism, special education advocacy, regional center services, and whatever support groups existed. What I learned could fill a book, but here are the key elements that I think are helpful for parents seeking assistance with special education advocacy...read more from special education attorney Jane DuBovy
Generally a school district reassesses a student once every three years unless parents agree otherwise. A school district cannot assess more than once in the same area in a year unless the Parents agree. Parents can always request new assessments or ask for reassessments at any time.
Attention Parents and Guardians!
If your child has been diagnosed with one of the following conditions you may be entitled to special educational services from your local school district beginning at age 3 years...more
Thorkil Sonne: Recruit Autistics:
WIRED MAGAZINE: 17.10
Most occupations require people skills. But for some, a preternatural capacity for concentration and near-total recall matter more. Those jobs, entrepreneur Thorkil Sonne says, could use a little autism.
Sonne reached this conclusion six years ago, after his youngest son was diagnosed with the mysterious developmental disorder. "At first I was in agony and despair," he recalls. "Then came the thought of what happens when he grows up." ...full article
This blog is a place for those interested in special education issues. We hope to use this blog to share stories and ideas with the special education community. We are a team of attorneys and advocates in southern California who represent parents of students with disabilities.
PRESUME
COMPETENCE:
Challenging Conventional Wisdom About People with Disabilities
Within
our judicial system, a person is presumed innocent.
At trial, the person charged with breaking the law doesn’t
even have to take the stand to defend himself; it’s
up to the prosecution to present evidence which shows
the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. read
the full story...
Special
Education Topic:Update on Changes
in Special Education
- Those involved in the Special Education field are
currently sorting through many transitions and changes.
To parents, this can seem overwhelming and confusing.
What does it mean to you and your kid? What resources
are available to help you through the process? Click
here for more info
We help families to obtain special education services in Santa Monica, Malibu, Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, Beverly Hills, Culver City, West San Gabriel, Anaheim and Orange County, Ventura and throughout Southern California.
Does
your child have any of the following disabilities?
•
Specific learning disabilities
• Speech/language impairments
• Mental retardation
• Emotional disturbance
• Multiple disabilities
• Hearing impairments
• Orthopedic impairments
• Other health impairments (limitations in strength,
vitality, or alertness, including AD/HD)
• Visual impairments
• Deaf-blindness
• Autism super
sensory session - understanding Autism
• Traumatic brain injury
Does this disability adversely affect your child's educational
performance?
Is your child being served satisfactorily by your school district?
LET US ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. Call 888 IDEA-ADA
(888-4332-232), or email us at inquiry@a2zedad.com
for more information.
Most occupations require people skills. But for some, a preternatural capacity for concentration and near-total recall matter more. Those jobs, entrepreneur Thorkil Sonne says, could use a little autism. 
