The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act require public school systems to provide a free appropriate public education to children with special needs. If there is no educational program available within the public schools for a particular child, then the education agency is required to identify and place the child in a privately operated educational facility. Under the IDEA, parents of children with special needs have the right to have children evaluated for special education, be informed of placement options and services for their children and to challenge decisions taken by the education agency. The IDEA provides parents with extensive due process rights, including the ability to retain counsel, confront witnesses and have grievances heard by and impartial administrative hearing officer. Adverse decisions from such hearing officers may be appealed in state or federal court. Under certain circumstances, attorney's fees may be reimbursed by the education agency.

Our firm has more than twenty years of experience in representing parents and children under the IDEA and Section 504, and have served as counsel to the plaintiff class in Petties et al. v. District of Columbia et al. We understand the myriad issues and choices facing parents of children with disabilities, and have the experience needed to help our clients navigate the special education "system" in an effort to identify appropriate educational placements and related services for their children.