By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. Summer break is arriving soon! It is time to unwind, perhaps soak up some sun. For many families, summer is spent relaxing. But, for the parent of a child with a disability or an Individualized Education Program (IEP), summer can also be a great time to get ahead and set…
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By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. We’ve all seen children who throw massive tantrums, can’t seem to sit down, or make loud outbursts. Even though it’s not as uncommon as some may think, many parents are shamed for having a so-called “unruly child.” There are people who see a child with the aforementioned attributes and assume the child is “acting out”…
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I truly believe in the notion of “inclusionary practices”. For I believe, like so many others, that access to and through the general education classes often presents the best setting for learning. However … I attend meeting and after meeting as an education advocate where I see inclusion appears to be an excuse of not…
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By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. When people hear the term ”ADHD,” they think of a young boy who can’t sit still, blurting out answers in class, and getting in trouble. But what if I told you that, in a lot of girls, ADHD appears entirely different and therefore easily gets missed. If you’re the parent of a daughter who seems smart…
Read More “She’s Not “Just Distracted:” The Hidden School Struggles of Girls with ADHD” »
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. Last week, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at bringing back what he says is “common sense” to school discipline. The purported goal? To restore safety and respect to classrooms. But while the order focuses on race-based disciplinary approaches (in an improper manner, might I add), many education experts and legal commentators are asking: What does it do to students with disabilities? Let’s break it down. …
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By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. If you’re a Washington, DC resident, you’ve likely heard about the city’s $1.1 billion budget shortfall. And, if you’re the parent of a student who receives special education services in DC, you may wonder if it will impact your child’s education and, if so, how. Honestly, it’s hard to tell,…
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By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. If you’ve recently been paying attention to special education, you know that there have been catastrophic shifts at the U.S. Department of Education—and not in a good way. Families of students with disabilities and advocates have been sounding the alarm, and for good reason. The Pause That Hurts Let’s look…
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By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. What if you can help your child get the supportive services they need before they are even old enough to start school? Sounds good, right? Well, that’s the idea behind Early Intervention and Child Find. These programs work together to help identify young children who may be delayed in reaching…
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By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. Have you ever been bullied? As someone who has, it can be a harrowing experience. Nowadays, schools tend to talk about bullying a lot, but are they doing an effective job at preventing or stopping it? Most of us know what bullying looks like—someone being singled out, picked on, taunted,…
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. Transitioning from high school to adulthood is a big deal for any student, but for students with disabilities, a lot of consideration needs to take place. Whether a student’s goal is to go to college, get a job, live independently, or something else, transition planning is essential to help students…
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