Special Education

Hickman & Lowder is committed to enforcing your child’s right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Sometimes, a consultation is all you will need to help you get better results for your child. When more is required, we will represent you at IEP team meetings, mediation, due process, and federal court if need be.

Hickman & Lowder won a major Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals decision establishing and enforcing parental rights under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In Knable v. Bexley City School District, the parents won reimbursement for a private residential placement for their behaviorally disabled child at the Grove School in Madison, Connecticut. The school district had refused to convene an IEP team meeting unless the parents first agreed to the district’s choice of placement, a local facility that the parents deemed inappropriate. The Court found that the school district had denied FAPE to the child because it refused to convene an IEP team meeting despite many parental requests.

In addition to representing individual clients, Hickman & Lowder supports organizations that support parents. Franklin Hickman is a Board member of the National Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) and has been a national leader in providing training to parents, attorneys and advocates. Judith Saltzman provides legal consultation to parent groups in Ohio and speaks and writes on special education issues.

Our special education staff will speak to parent organizations or professional staff on a number of topics. (click here for list). To arrange for a speaker, please call Judith Saltzman.

• Franklin J. Hickman
• Judith C. Saltzman

Questions and Answers About Extended School Year

Ten Tips for Achieving Positive Results for Your Child

Special Education News and Upcoming Events

Useful Links to other web sites