Pittsburgh Due Process Hearing Attorneys
You are not only a parent to your child; you are his or her advocate. Federal laws require children with special needs to get the extra support and services they need to be successful in school. Many times, a due process hearing may be necessary to enforce your child's rights.
At Steele Schneider, our Pittsburgh due process hearing lawyers help students, and their parents and guardians, enforce their rights to Free Appropriate Education (FAPE) at due process hearings.
Experienced Johnstown Special Education Due Process Lawyers
A special education due process hearing is very similar to a courtroom trial. For that reason, it is important to hire an attorney with litigation experience. At Steele Schneider, our attorneys have extensive litigation success. We understand the procedures of administrative due process hearings and we know how to apply your specific circumstances to the law.
Like a trial, the due process hearing begins with opening statements, moves on to submission of facts and evidence, and includes witness testimony and cross-examination. Our firm has a broad network of education and behavioral experts. We will thoroughly prepare you and your witnesses for trial and write legal briefs and submit affidavits on your behalf.
Resolving Disputes And Getting Children The Services They Need
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504, a due process hearing is one way to resolve disagreements between parents of children with disabilities and their schools. However, many times these hearings result in the breakdown of student and parent relationships with the school district.
To avoid extra stress caused by due process hearings, our lawyers first attempt to resolve disputes through informal discussions with school district personnel, resolution meetings and mediation.
That said, if your child's needs are not being met, we will demand a due process hearing to enforce your child's rights.
Reasons to hold a due process hearing:
- Failure to place your child in the appropriate setting
- Failure to provide needed services — such as speech and occupational therapies
- Failure to implement an individualized education program (IEP)
- Disagreements over outside evaluations — such as behavior assessments done by experts outside the district
- Denial of FAPE
- Reimbursement for private placement
For representation at a due process hearing, contact the Pittsburgh special education attorneys of Steele Schneider at 412-235-7682 today.
