Sinergia's La Esquinita Blog

Education Advocacy for Parents Workshop Series : Some changes in the sequence of workshops

The Education Advocacy for Parents Workshops will start on Tuesday October 2nd at 10 AM. Please note that there has been a change in the sequence of the workshops. Workshop #5 has been shifted from October 22nd to October the 20th and will look at the Dispute Resolution Process. We were able to obtain two wonderful and competent mediators, Michelle Kirschbaum and Lourdes Rivera-Putz, professional mediators from Safe Horizon. They will discuss what the mediation process is and how parents who are encountering problems obtaining, changing or improving services for their children can employ this strategy. This workshop will also look at the impartial hearing/resolution session as another option available to parents regarding dispute resolution.
Workshop #6 (the last workshop) will examine NYC Dept. of Education Discipline Policies and how they affect students with disabilities.
This session will also discuss how Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a Civil Rights law that prohibits discrimination of persons with disabilities in programs that receive federal funds. 504 Plans can be helpful for students who have a disability and do not meet the specific eligibility requirements under special education law—the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Please refer to the education advocacy workshop series announcement posted in September in this blog for information about workshops 1-4.