Special Education Law and Advocacy Series (SELAS)

Special Education Law and Advocacy Series (SELAS)

Date and Time

Saturday, September 9, 2017

This event occurred in the past

  • Saturday, September 9, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Location

Warren Hall, Room 2B

5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110

Cost

0

Details

September 9, 2017, is the first date of an ongoing series being held on September 9, September 23, September 30, October 14, October 28, and November 4. More information can be found by clicking on each seminar titles in the program schedule. All series will be held in WH-2B of Warren Hall.

Program Coordinators: Professor Margaret A. Dalton, Esq. and Cara Lucier, Esq.

Building on past and current efforts to educate the community on special education law, the University of San Diego School of Law has developed a new Special Education Law and Advocacy Series (SELAS). This new program builds on the previous Special Education Advocacy Certificate program, with new curriculum meant not only to educate but also offer practical, hands-on experience in special education law and advocacy.

Appropriate for attorneys, paralegals, special education and other professionals, as well as parents, the series includes six law and practical training seminars, which may be taken individually or as a complete program. Each Saturday seminar is broken up into a morning and afternoon session with a one-hour lunch break. Offered over the course of six Saturdays, the seminars are taught by experienced special education attorneys as well as a licensed clinical psychologist. Participants leave each seminar with knowledge in special education law as well as practical training that gives them hands-on skills. No textbook is required and each seminar includes handouts. A “Certificate of Completion” will be given to all enrollees who complete all six seminars.

Seminars are open to anyone who wishes to enroll.  MCLE credit is available for attorneys and paralegals at no additional charge. Continuing education credit may be available to mental health professionals (psychologists, MFTs, counselors, and social workers) who complete the entire series. Please contact USD's Assistant Director of Programming, Sonya Mohamed (smohamed@sandiego.edu) if you are interested in the possibility of gaining this continuing education credit. 

Seminar dates and topics:

  • September 9, 2017 -   Seminar 1: Intro to Law, Education & Disability
  • September 23, 2017 - Seminar 2: Eligibility, Entry & Assessments
  • September 30, 2017 - Seminar 3: IEP Process
  • October 14, 2017 -     Seminar 4: IEP Implementation, Compliance & Dispute Resolution
  • October 28, 2017 -     Seminar 5: Section 504, Federal Laws & Student Discipline
  • November 4, 2017 -   Seminar 6: Early Intervention & Adult Transition

Registration Information


Each of the six, day-long seminars may be taken individually, or the entire series may be purchased in full at a discounted rate.

Registration Category Fee          
Full Series (six seminars) $600        
Individual Seminars (cost per seminar)            $125        
  • Schedule

     

    Saturday, September 9, 2017 

      Seminar 1: Intro to Law, Education & Disability
    10 a.m. – 1 p.m. 1A. Introduction to Law and Education
    • The IDEA, 1975 to the present
    • The need for special education
    • Special education law and national policy
    • Legal framework for education law
    • Practical Training: Collaborative methods and ethics in special education law

    Instructor: Cara Lucier, Esq.

    2 p.m. - 5 p.m. 1B. Impact of Disability on the Family
    • Definition of Disability, clinically and under IDEA and 504
    • Epidemiological Data
    • Family Adaptation to Child Disability
    • Family Needs Assessment and Identification Model (NIMM©)
    • Barriers in accessing advocacy services
    • Practical Training: Interviewing and client intake

    Instructor: Dr. Moises Baron & Cara Lucier, Esq.

    Saturday, September 23, 2017 

      Seminar 2: Eligibility, Entry & Assessments
    10 a.m. – 1 p.m. 2A. Special Education Eligibility and Entry
    • Child find and referrals
    • Eligibility categories
    • Participants in private or charter schools
    • Foster Participants, homeless Participants, and incarcerated or institutionalized youth
    • Residency issues
    • Practical Training: Drafting initial requests for assessment for eligibility

    Instructor: Jazmine Gelfand, Esq.

    2 p.m. - 5 p.m. 2B. Assessments
    • Assessment areas and methodologies
    • Consent
    • Timelines
    • Understanding the written assessment report
    • Special issues in assessments: behaviors, aides (Special Circumstances Instructional Assistance), mental health, medical, assistive technology
    • Practical Training: Interpreting assessment results and drafting requests for re-assessment or specialized assessments

    Instructor: Mimi Adams, Esq.

    Saturday, September 30, 2017

      Seminar 3: IEP Process
    10 a.m. – 1 p.m. 3A. The IEP Process, Part I
    • Connecting the dots for an appropriate IEP
    • What is FAPE?
    • Present Levels
    • Goals
    • Placement, including LRE
    • Related services
    • Special factors, accommodations, and modifications
    • Practical Training: Charting an IEP

    Instructor: Meagan Nunez, Esq.

    2 p.m. - 5 p.m. 3B. The IEP Process, Part II
    • Parent participation and rights
    • Scheduling the meeting
    • Mandatory and optional IEP team members
    • Recording
    • Consent, partial consent, and disagreement
    • Practical Training: Drafting a letter regarding recording a meeting; drafting letters regarding partial consent or disagreement

    Instructor: Mimi Adams, Esq.

    Saturday, October 14, 2017

      Seminar 4: IEP Implementation, Compliance & Dispute Resolution
    10 a.m. – 1 p.m. 4A. IEP Implementation and Compliance
    • Records requests
    • Observing Participants at school
    • The role of data
    • Requesting IEP team meeting
    • IEP amendments
    • Timelines for implementation and compliance
    • Student progress reports on goals, and report cards
    • Practical Training: Drafting a records request; drafting requests for IEP team meetings

    Instructor: Meagan Nunez, Esq.

    2 p.m. - 5 p.m. 4B. Dispute Resolution
    • District IDR
    • Compliance Complaints
    • Mediation Only
    • Due Process Hearings
      • Filing requirements
      • Resolution Session
      • Mediation
      • Hearing Process
      • Settlement Agreements
      • California Office of Administrative Hearings
    • Remedies
      • Compensatory Education (parent remedy)
      • Reimbursement (parent remedy)
      • Prospective services and placement (parent remedy)
      • Order that school district's offer is FAPE (district remedy)
      • Order of Stay Put (parent or district remedy)
    • Practical Training: Drafting Requests for Due Process; Common Settlement Agreement terms

    Instructor: Mimi Adams, Esq.

    Saturday, October 28, 2017

      Seminar 5: Section 504, Federal Laws & Student Discipline
    10 a.m. – 1 p.m. 5A. Section 504, FERPA, and other Federal Laws
    • Comparison of 504 with IDEA in the school setting
    • Basics of 504 plans
      • Procedures
      • FAPE Requirement
      • Standard
      • Enforcement and 504 Hearings
    • Family Education Rights Privacy Act (FERPA)
    • Office of Civil Rights (OCR) Complaints
    • Practical Training: Charting a 504 plan

    Instructor: Meagan Nunez, Esq.

    2 p.m. - 5 p.m. 5B. Student Discipline
    • Suspensions
    • Expulsions
    • Manifestation Determinations
      • Requirements
      • Honig Injunction
      • Stay Put
    • Behavior Issues and the IDEA
    • Practical Training: Drafting a Request for an Expedited Hearing

    Instructor: Margaret A. Dalton, Esq. & Jazmine Gelfand, Esq.

    Saturday, November 4, 2017

      Seminar 6: Early Intervention & Adult Transition
    10 a.m. – 1 p.m. 6A. Early Intervention, Birth-5
    • Part C of the IDEA and Early Intervention: Birth to age 3
    • Transition from Individual Family Service Plan to IEP
    • Initial IEP
    • Services for Preschoolers
    • Transition to kindergarten
    • Practical Training: Identifying resources and educational services for Birth-5

    Instructor: Cara Lucier, Esq.

    2 p.m. - 5 p.m. 6B. Transition To Adulthood and Post-Secondary Education
    • IDEA requirements in secondary transition
    • Individual Transition Plans
    • Preparing Participants for employment
    • Preparing Participants for pst-secondary education
    • Preparing Participants for independent living
    • Self-determination and transition
    • Interagency Collaboration
    • Practical Training: Drafting Individual Transition Plan goals

    Instructor: Summer Stech, Esq

    This individual seminar is part of an ongoing series being held on September 9, September 23, September 30, October 14, October 28, and November 4.

  • MCLE and Other Credits

    The University of San Diego School of Law is a State Board of California-approved MCLE provider and certifies that this activity is approved for 36 hours of general credit. 

    The Series consists of six, 6-hour long seminars (with a one-hour lunch break). Participants will receive six hours of MCLE credit for each seminar completed. A total of 36 MCLE credits are available for those who complete the entire Core Series. Participants will also receive a record for MCLE purposes. Seminars are open to anyone who wishes to enroll.  MCLE credit is available for attorneys and paralegals at no additional charge.

    Continuing education credit may be available to mental health professionals (psychologists, MFTs, counselors, and social workers) who complete the entire series. Please contact USD's Department of Counseling & MFT through the Executive Assistant, Ms. Lindsay Dyer at ldyer@sandiego.edu if you are interested in the possibility of gaining this continuing education credit. 

    Participants who complete the entire Core Series will receive a Certificate of Completion from the University of San Diego School of Law. Participants are eligible for the Certificate even if they complete the Core Series over several terms, so long as all seminars are completed within three years.  Participants may choose to enroll in as many, or as few, seminars as they choose in order to meet their professional or personal goals. However, participants must complete the entire Core Series to receive the Certificate. 

  • Directions and Parking Instructions

    University of San Diego School of Law
    Warren Hall, Room 2B
    University of San Diego
    5998 Alcala Park, San Diego CA 92110

    From the North From the South From the East
    > Use I-5 South 
    > Exit Sea World Dr. & Tecolote Rd.
    > Proceed left at stoplight toward Morena Blvd.
    > Turn right on Morena Blvd.
    > Left on Napa to Linda Vista Rd.
    > Turn left on Alcala Park for East Entrance to campus
    > Use I-5 North
    > Exit Morena Blvd. (signs will say: Morena Blvd. use I-8 East)
    > Stay to the right and follow signs for Morena Blvd.
    > Take the first right onto Linda Vista Rd.
    >Turn left on Alcala Park for East Entrance to campus
    > Use I-8 West 
    > Exit at Morena Blvd.
    > Go right onto Linda Vista Rd.
    > Turn left on Alcala Park for East Entrance to campus

    PARKING INFORMATION:

    Parking is free and open on weekends. You may park in any open space.

  • Contact Information

    Please send all inquiries related to registration or parking for this event to usdlawevent@sandiego.edu.

    For questions about the program, please contact Cara Lucier at caralucier@sandiego.edu or Professor Margaret Dalton at mdalton@sandiego.edu.

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5998 Alcalá Park
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