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Print this page The William & Mary Law Institute of Special Education Advocacy (ISEA)
Williamsburg, VA
January 10 - January 15, 2021
The William & Mary Law Institute of Special Education Advocacy is presenting a five-day training program hosted by the William & Mary School of Law and co-sponsored by the PELE Special Education Advocacy Clinic and Wrightslaw.
The purpose of this program is to provide training in special education advocacy for experienced advocates, law students, new attorneys, and attorneys who are new to special education law.
The program will include sessions on applicable laws, ethics, best practices in advocacy, strategies in working with parents and schools, and dispute resolution procedures, taught by national leaders in the field.
The Institute begins on Sunday evening, January 10, 2021, with the Orientation and Registration session and concludes late Friday afternoon, January 15, 2021.
The program will be held virtually.
Agenda
Topics include:
- History and Applicable Laws
- Ethics in Special Education Advocacy (CLE credit)
- Caselaw Review
- Understanding Evaluations, Tests and Measurements
- Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
- Section 504
- Eligibility
- Behavioral Issues at School
- Discipline
- Juvenile Justice
- Dispute Resolution and State Complaints
- Preparing a Case for Trial/Due Process
- Using Evaluations, Tests and Measurements as Evidence
- Evidence Strategies
- Legal Claims and Remedies
- Creating Systemic Change in Your State
- Transition
- Advocating for Children who are Homeless, Twice-Exceptional, Dyslexic
Registration
In general, educational and training expenses are tax deductible. Check with your accountant about deductible educational expenses that may include books and continuing education fees. Two or more advocates or attorneys from the same organization/office will receive a 10% discount on each registration.
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Registration Fees |
Standard |
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| Advocates, Educators/Advocates, Non-Attorneys, Law Students (non-credit) |
$825 |
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| Attorneys (CLE credit) |
$950 |
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| 2 or more individuals same office - 10% discount |
Applications will be reviewed on a bi-weekly rolling basis until the class is full. Early applications are recommended.
Certificate in Special Education Advocacy
Upon the completion of ISEA participants will receive a Certificate in Special Education Advocacy from William & Mary Law School. Please note that in Virginia, there are no certification or training requirements to become a special education advocate. We encourage you to research your state’s rules and regulations on the requirements, if any, of working as a special education advocate.
Please also note that this course does not provide a certification or endorsement. We are simply offering a Certificate in Special Education Advocacy, which indicates that our attendees have successfully completed the required courses within the Institute of Special Education Advocacy. We expect that many ISEA graduates who earn this Certificate will list the training as an additional credential on their resumes, CVs, and LinkedIn profiles. Learn more.
Kayla Bower Advocacy Award and Tuition Waiver
In celebration of Kayla Bower and her decades of remarkable advocacy on behalf of children with disabilities, the ISEA committee is pleased to award the Kayla Bower Advocacy Award to one member of the 2021 ISEA class. In reviewing award applications, the committee will consider: an applicant’s contributions to special education advocacy, financial need, and those representing children in underrepresented geographic areas.
You must be an advocate to apply for the Kayla Bower Advocacy Award. Please send a completed application and a statement of interest to the committee that explains why you believe you meet one or more of the above eligibility criteria. Incomplete applications will not be considered. In addition, please answer the following questions:
- Will your employer pay for your ISEA registration?
- Are you eligible to obtain outside funding for the Institute? (Please note that applicants receiving outside funding are not eligible for this award.)
Please send your application by e-mail to pele@wm.edu. The deadline is October 1, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. EST. A decision will be made by October 15, 2020 and the recipient will be notified. The application for the award will not be considered unless accompanied by a completed ISEA application.
This award covers the conference registration fee.
Please note that full payment of the ISEA registration fee is still due within 10 days of receiving your acceptance e-mail, regardless of submission of award application. Payment in full will be returned to the award recipient.
Cuddy Law Firm Law Student/New Attorney Tuition Waiver
The Cuddy Law Firm sponsors an award and tuition waiver for a law student/newly admitted attorney to one member of the 2020 ISEA class. In reviewing award applications, the committee will consider the applicant’s demonstrated enthusiasm for special education advocacy, and desire to serve underserved populations.
You must be a law student or new attorney to apply for the award. Please send a completed application and a statement of interest to the committee that explains why you believe you meet the eligibility criteria. In addition, please answer the following questions:
- Will your employer pay for your ISEA registration?
- Are you eligible to obtain outside funding for the Institute? (Please note that applicants receiving outside funding are not eligible for this award.)
Please send your application by e-mail to pele@wm.edu. The deadline is October 1, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. EST. A decision will be made by October 15, 2020 and the recipient will be notified. The application for the award will not be considered unless accompanied by a completed ISEA application.
This award covers the conference registration fee.
Please note that full payment of the ISEA registration fee is still due within 10 days of receiving your acceptance e-mail, regardless of submission of award application. Payment in full will be returned to the award recipient.
Scholarship Information: In addition, some state Planning Councils or Developmental Disabilities Councils offer scholarships or funds for participation in conferences and short-term educational programs for advocates in the field of developmental disabilities. You may want to investigate funding available in your state. One such resource is the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities.
Registration for Law Students
Law students can earn one graded credit for this course. Each law student enrolled for credit will be required to complete the ISEA application, pre-assigned work for ISEA, attend all ISEA sessions, and submit a paper no later than January 22, 2021 of no fewer than ten double-spaced pages to Professor Christina Jones on a topic mutually agreed upon prior to January 15, 2021.
Student tuition and fee information is found on this page:
http://www.wm.edu/offices/financialoperations/sa/tuition/index.php. William & Mary students must contact Professor Jones (cmjones02@wm.edu) prior to registering online. Law students not currently enrolled at W&M must contact Christina Jones to apply for admission to this course.
All students are required to complete the application.
All registrants will receive new copies of Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd Edition, Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition, Wrightslaw: All About IEPs, and Wrightslaw: All About Tests and Assessments, 2nd Edition.
Application Process
Attendees will be selected via an application process. The application form includes all registration details, costs, applicant questionnaire, and required pre-conference assignments. Click here to download the application.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis bi-weekly until the class is full. Early applications are recommended.
If accepted, participants agree to complete all pre-conference assigned reading and course work, attend and participate in all sessions, and complete all homework and class assignments.
Note: The Institute is looking for advocates with experience independent of employment in a school district, as we expect that our graduates assist parents in advocating for children within the community. If you are currently working for a school district, we recommend that you wait to apply until you are no longer working for a school district and have gained significant experience advocating for children in your community.
Credits: Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits including ethics, are anticipated for this conference. Continuing Education Units (CEU) are anticipated for this conference.
Questions? Contact the PELE Clinic at (757) 221-5735 or pele@wm.edu
ISEA Alumni Track 2021
Join us for our 10th Anniversary Institute! The Alumni Track will begin early afternoon on Wednesday, January 13 and conclude late on Friday, January 15 at 4:30pm. (Note: This is an earlier beginning time and later end time than previous years.)
Wednesday evening will feature our first-ever ISEA Keynote Speaker, Jack Robinson, parents’ attorney for Endrew F., followed by a reception.
Join your favorite long-time faculty members – Pete & Pam Wright, Bill Reichhardt, Pat Howey, RoseAnn Duplan – and meet some new experts.
Topics we expect to be included are:
- Cultural Competence in Special Education Advocacy – Clarice Jackson
- Critical Decision-Making in Client and Case Selection – Catherine Michael
- Making Inclusion Work – Charlene Comstock-Galagan
- Transition Planning – Melissa Waugh
- Systemic Advocacy – Jim Comstock-Galagan, Jaime Vazquez-Bernier
- Advocating for Children Who Are:
- Homeless or in Foster Care – Professor Patricia Popp
- Twice Exceptional – Molly Isaacs-McLeod
- Dyslexic – Clarice Jackson
- Mistakes Parties Make in Due Process – Judge Stacey Bawtinhimer
- Mediation – Professor Iria Giuffrida and Christina Jones
- Strategic Courtroom Tactics in Due Process (Live Demonstration) – Judge Stacey Bawtinhimer, Pete Wright, Catherine Michael, Dr. Anne VanSkiver
- Ethics for Attorneys and Advocates (Ethics credit applied for) – Judge Stacey Bawtinhimer & RoseAnn Duplan
- New Legal Developments in 2019 & 2020 – Pete & Pam Wright
Sessions are subject to change. Some sessions will be offered concurrently. More to come!
The cost to attend the Alumni Track is $500. Alumni will receive a Certificate in Special Education Advocacy from William & Mary Law School. CLE/CEU credit is pending.
To apply, please send a resume and statement of interest (in other words, an update on your activities since you attended ISEA, and why you want to return this year) to pele@wm.edu.
Space is limited, and we will make admissions decisions on a rolling basis. Please contact us at pele@wm.edu with any questions.
To Wrightslaw Seminars & Training
Read about last year's Institute here - ISEA 2019.
Created: 1/8/2020
Revised: 11/24/2020
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