Understanding Access to Education for Students with Disabilities

Children with Special Needs, Individualized Education Plan, Section 504, Special Education, Special Education Law

Access to education is a fundamental right that students with disabilities and their families have to advocate for every day. When a public education program fails to provide services required under law, administrative or legal action is often necessary to ensure a student receives the services and resources they need to be successful in school. … Read More

How School Communities Can Support Disability Awareness

Accommodations, Children with Special Needs, Equal Opportunity, Inclusion, Learning Disability, Special Education, Special Education Law

Empowering students with disabilities begins with prioritizing an inclusive school environment that recognizes and appreciates others’ differences. When school culture takes a back seat to test scores, finances, and bureaucracy, all students lose opportunities for learning and growth. Jennifer Chang is an award-winning Education Rights Attorney who works with families to help protect the rights … Read More

Does My Child Qualify for a 504 Plan?

Children with Special Needs, Section 504, Special Education, Special Education Law

As a parent, ensuring your child has access to the best possible tools for education is essential for their success as learners. However, for students with disabilities or medical conditions, the traditional classroom settings can present significant barriers to learning, requiring assistance through accommodations provided by a 504 Plan. Schools are required to comply with … Read More

Inclusion Matters: Influencing Disability Stigmas in Schools

Children with Special Needs, Equal Opportunity, Inclusion, Learning Disability, Special Education Law

While inclusion in public schools is moving education toward equality for students with disabilities, many stigmas still influence the way students are treated in an academic setting by peers, educators, and other adults. Embracing inclusion holds many benefits for not only students with disabilities but also their typical learning peers, as well as our educational … Read More

Understanding Special Education Programs in California Public Schools

Accommodations, Children with Special Needs, Inclusion, Individualized Education Plan, Special Education Law

Outdated misconceptions of special education have led to a cultural reluctance to embrace educational intervention strategies, often associating services with intellectual limitations. The reality is that special education programs are increasingly important solutions for many children in California public schools. Embracing special education for students with disabilities and other learning needs can help children succeed … Read More

Jennifer Chang Recognized in “Women of Influence: Attorneys 2024”

Awards, Special Education Law

In the 2024 edition of the Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Women of Influence: Attorneys,” California education rights advocate, Jennifer Chang, once again receives well-deserved recognition for her outstanding contributions. Continuing her legacy from the previous year, Jennifer stands among the esteemed roster of influential women attorneys, reaffirming her dedication to safeguarding the rights of children … Read More

Appeals Court Upholds Due Process Hearing Decision in IDEA Violation Case

Accommodations, Children with Special Needs, Equal Opportunity, Individualized Education Plan, Special Education Law

A 2024 decision by Judge Otis D. Wright, II, of the Ninth Circuit Court affirmed that the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) did violate the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and denied A.O., a child with profound hearing loss in both ears who uses cochlear implants, a free, appropriate public education in the … Read More