A Note From Our Founders

Dear YSER Members,

While it is our hope that we will help you shorten the learning curve on understanding your child’s special education rights, we realize that there may be times that you will need or want to work with a special education attorney or advocate to help you attain appropriate services for your child.

It has often been our experience that parents are sometimes unaware of how to find attorneys and advocates or know the role they can play in helping you attain appropriate services. We even hear that parents often don’t know that special education attorneys and advocates exist.

As a practicing attorney and advocate, we want you to understand what special education attorneys and advocates do and where to find one. We hope these resources help.

Our best,
Jennifer Laviano
Special Education Attorney
Julie Swanson
Special Education Advocate

Meet Our Founders

Attorney Jennifer Laviano

Special Education Attorney
Attorney Jennifer Laviano is in private practice in Connecticut. Her representation of children with special needs encompasses the full spectrum of advocacy under the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ), from attendance at IEP Team meetings and Mediation, to zealous and experienced litigation in Due Process Hearings and Federal Court.

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Julie Swanson

Special Education Advocate
Julie Swanson is in private practice as a special education advocate in Connecticut. After her son was diagnosed with autism, Ms. Swanson decided to change careers and returned to school to obtain an additional degree as a Disability Specialist.

Her practice is exclusively dedicated to helping parents of children with disabilities obtain appropriate special education services. Ms. Swanson’s website, yourspecialchild.com, is dedicated to the everyday needs of children who have autism spectrum disorders.

Visit lifeskillslady.com

Visit jsadvocacy.com

Check Out Our Podcast for Great Tips and Valuable Resources!

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Know Your Special Education Rights

Check out our handy set of questions that will help you in your next IEP Meeting.

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Our Book Has an Amazon 5-Star Rating

Take a look at what people who have already purchased our book have to say!

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Wow! Awesome Guide. A must-read for parents.

Keith and Mary Jane T.

Start Here if you have a special needs kid!

BrooklynMom

A very good basic primer to read over and over again

League

The deck is STACKED against parents in special education. This book helps even the playing field!

Dave2k8

An Accessible and Informative Guide to Supporting your Child with Special Needs

P Herrick

Commonly Asked Questions

1. What is an IEP?

a. An IEP is an Individualized Education Program. It is a document that is created for a student once it is determined that a student is eligible for special education services. The IEP is a written document, which is created at least annually at an IEP Team Meeting that is to include the child’s parents. An IEP should outline a program that is individually designed to meet that child’s unique needs.

2. What is the IDEA?

a. The Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that mandates the manner in which students with special education needs are to be evaluated, identified, and educated in a State if that State accepts the federal funding of the IDEA. All States accept that funding, and therefore are required to follow the IDEA. The IDEA details how local and State educational agencies are to provide early intervention, special education, and related services to children with disabilities.

3. What is a 504 Plan?

4. What is a Special Education Attorney?

5. What is a Special Education Advocate?

6. What are the categories of disabilities covered under the IDEA?

Account and Video Channel Questions

1. What does it cost to be a member of YSER?

2. What does my membership include?

3. What sort of topics do the videos cover?

4. Who are Jen and Julie?