Ability Law Blog
Author: Randy Chapman, Esq.
Randy Chapman has been the director of legal services at Disability Law Colorado since 1980. He played a pivotal role in the development of disability law and helped break ground in implementing special education law.
He has authored multiple publications about special education law, and overseen legal representation to more than 25,000 people with disabilities in Colorado.
We Can Work it Out Part II: Using Mediation to Resolve...
Feb 14 2008
The last post began a short series of articles on dispute resolution under the IDEA 2004. That article ended with the requirements for filing a due process complaint notice. This post covers... We Can Work it Out: Using the IDEA 2004 to Resolve Disputes...
Feb 6 2008
My posts this week and next week will cover the IDEA 2004 formal procedures for resolving disputes prior to a due process hearing. This week I’ll cover the due process complaint notice and next week... Avoiding Stormy IEP Meetings:Tips for Chairing an IEP...
Jan 29 2008
Principal Fife was the captain of the good ship HMS Middle School. He knew his mission, keep the school ship shape, hatches battened down, and sailing straight. Through twenty years serving in her... Protecting Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities from...
Jan 22 2008
Congress originally passed the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) in 1974 to provide federal funding to states to support Child Protective Service Agencies to help prevent child... New Jersey Places IDEA Burden of Proof on School Districts
Jan 15 2008
Yesterday New Jersey's Governor Corzine signed into law state legislation placing the burden of proof in all special education due process hearings on the school districts regardless of whether the... Denying Qualified Students with Disabilities Access to...
Jan 9 2008
Apparently, some schools or school districts have refused to allow qualified students with disabilities the opportunity to participate in challenging academic programs such as Advanced Placement or... Special Education and Surrogate Parents
Jan 3 2008
Joanna was frustrated. She had just been assigned to be the social worker for a three year old girl with fetal alcohol syndrome who was in the hospital. The little girl was scheduled to... Taking Giant Baby Steps: Early Intervention Services Under...
Dec 6 2007
Carmella had just returned from her pediatrician’s office with the news that Edward, her beautiful eleven-month-old boy, may have autism. Carmella had worried that Edward had a disability because she... Ten Tips to Parents to Improve Participation in IEP Meetings
Nov 6 2007
It was a beautiful but busy Monday morning. The brisk air signaled autumn’s approach as Brenda hustled to get her two boys off to school. It was the second week of school and she and the boys still... AT is Where it’s At: Obtaining Assistive Technology for...
Oct 30 2007
Sometimes things worked out like they were supposed to and Sara was pleased. She had expected to have a fight on her hands as she went into Gracie’s individualized educational program (IEP) meeting... 