The St. Mary’s University School of Law is presenting the Special Education Advocacy Summit (SEAS), a two and one-half day training program hosted by the Center for Legal and Social Justice and co-sponsored by Wrightslaw and CMK Law Firm.

The purpose of the SEAS 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 Summit begins on Thursday evening, February 2, 2023, with Orientation and Registration and sessions conclude on Sunday afternoon, February 5, 2023.

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

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. Class size is limited. Early applications are recommended. The deadline to register has been extended to January 15, 2023!

Materials – All registrants will receive new copies of Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd Edition, Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition, Wrightslaw: All About IEPs, Wrightslaw: All About Tests and Assessments, 2nd Edition, Special Education: Plain and Simple and Special Education, the Commentary: Definitions, Clarifications, and Purposes. In addition, many sessions will include handouts.

Hotel: A block of rooms are reserved for SEAS attendees at the Drury Inn and Suites. The hotel location is 20 minutes from the conference site at St. Mary’s University School of Law, and 20 minutes from the San Antonio airport. The group room rate (before taxes and fees) is $117.00 per night. Registrations must be received by the hotel on or before January 13, 2023. Make reservations online or call 1-800-325-0720 and use group number 10045993 to secure the special rate. Click here for additional details on your stay.

For all conference details, please click here.