Education Law

Our lawyers are active in Special Education law practice throughout eastern and central New York. We represent both school districts and parents with disabled children in the full spectrum of disability education law related issues.  Our focus is on assisting the parties in developing a solid working relationship culminating in the successful education of disabled students.

We believe that bridging the communications gap that frequently exists between school district representatives and families ultimately allows the school district to provide, and the disabled children to receive, an appropriate, beneficial education.  To that end, we have attended literally hundreds of Committee on Special Education meetings assisting the parties in developing appropriate Individualized Education Programs.  We are adept at individualizing education, drafting the descriptive portions of an IEP and crafting explicit measurable goals and objectives.  Successful negotiations have been the hallmark of our practice.

When, as will inevitably happen in any law-related area, an acceptable resolution cannot be negotiated, we have been successful in the administrative and judicial litigation process.  We have successfully handled administrative hearings, administrative appeals, judicial trials and appeals as well as obtaining injunctive relief from the United States District Court.  Our litigation experience covers the entire range of issues entailed in the special education arena.

Finally, our practice is expanding as many of our long time family clients begin to age out of special education protection.  We assist those families with long term planning including creation of Special Needs Trusts, counseling to the families on available benefits and services, and seeking, when necessary, partial or full guardianship for a disabled family member.

For more information about our Education Law Practice, please contact Ken Ritzenberg.