The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that schools provide additional education supports and/or services for eligible students. These additional supports are specifically defined in an Individual Education Plan (IEP). An IEP creates goals for...
We meet the lifetime legal needs of children and adults with disabilities, the elderly, and their families.
Special Education
Hickman Lowder Lawyers Recognized as 2024 Best Lawyers® Award Recipients
Hickman Lowder Lidrbauch & Welch Co., LPA attorneys Janet L. Lowder, Franklin J. Hickman, and Ethan A. Welch were recently recognized by Best Lawyers as 2024 Best Lawyers® Award Recipients.
How do I get special education services for my child?
Many parents believe their child would benefit tremendously from special education services and would qualify for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA). What parents do not know is how to get the special education services....
Transition – What Happens When My Child Turns 18? – April 29, 2023
On April 29, 2023 Hickman Lowder Attorneys Ethan A. Welch and Janet Fleck Griffith spoke about transition planning and what to expect when your child turns 18. They talked about guardianship and less restrictive alternatives; applying for SSI and Medicaid; and...
Equipping Parents for Education Advocacy – April 15, 2023
On April 15, 2023, Hickman Lowder Attorney Janet Fleck Griffith and Education Advocate Mary Jo O’Neill hosted the webinar, Equipping Parents for Education Advocacy. They discussed the following topics: 1) the difference between IEPs and 504 Plans, 2) the IEP...
The gap between diagnosis and support for your child
For parents and teachers, it can be difficult to identify a child who needs an alternative learning environment. Here are a few ways you can handle the gap between getting a diagnosis for your child and getting the support they need at school. The path to diagnosis...
The Family Story Process
Before Sharing Your Concerns with the School District, Create a Non-Emotional Timeline Different family members have different versions of the same story. Grandma may tell avery different tale from Mom or Dad. My job is to listen for the underlying thread, and pinpoint the base of the concern, helping them to see things through each other’s perspective. Then, I give…
Preparing for Planning/ETR/IEP Meetings
For any meeting on a child’s education to be successful, parents must be prepared. The first step is to understand both the basic terminology and process of how documents such as IEPs are created. The following are some suggested steps to help you be prepared for these meetings. In Special Education, there are 13 categories of eligibility. The categories are…
Organizing and Planning in the Summer
It’s summer – finally! The stress of driving the kids to school, preparing their lunches, helping them with homework, and getting them out of bed in the morning is behind you, at least for this year. Summer is a great time to get organized, analyze your child’s progress and develop a plan for the upcoming school year. First, gather all…
Advocating for your Child in the School System
As the school year is starting to wrap up, we know you super planners are already thinking ahead to next year and making sure that things get off to a good start for your child. Summer is a great time to sit back and review your documents, get organized, ask questions, do your research, make your plan, and gear up…