Fw: [OCLB] Need stories of parents who can't afford expert witness fees for DP hearings

[Guest guest]

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From: Alpy2@... <Alpy2@...>

Subject: [OCLB] Need stories of parents who can't afford expert witness fees for

DP hearings

ourchildrenleftbehind

Date: Wednesday, February 23, 2011, 9:56 AM

 

Seeking Stories of Parents who can't afford expert witnesses for Congress

We are seeking stories about parents who could not afford expert witnesses for

IDEA due process hearings to share with members of Congress. Advocates are

working in support of a Congressional bill that would enable parents to recover

expert witness fees for IDEA due process hearings and cases. But in 2006, the

Supreme Court held in Arlington Central School District v. that parents

could not be reimbursed for expert witness fees in IDEA cases--a right that

other plaintiffs have in ADA and Title VII cases.  Without experts, parents and

students with disabilities have little chance of success in due process

hearings, and poor and middle-income families suffer the most.  We are looking

for parents who would be willing to share their stories about being unable to

afford expert witnesses with members of Congress.  These could be families who

were unable to go to a  due process hearing because they could not afford

expert witnesses.  They could be

parents who went to due process but their case suffered badly without expert

witnesses. They could also be parents whom the school district took to a due

process hearing, but they could not afford expert witnesses who could help them

defend themselves.  The parents' stories will ultimately be shared with members

of Congress.    Please contact , Congressional Affairs

Coordinator, Autism National Committee, at jessica@... if you have helpful

stories or if you would like more information about this project.

 

 

Sandy, Illinois (alpy2@...)

Our Children Left Behind (http://www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com)