Strength in Numbers – - Special Ed Law Conference a Success!

Having just returned from the 10th Annual Conference of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (http://www.copaa.org/) I am reminded that as both an attorney advocating for the rights of children with disabilities, as well as a parent of a child classified with a disability, I am in good company. 

It is comforting to know that there is strength in the number of wonderful professionals advocating for children with special needs.  This is true even though this area of the law so frequently seems unjust, despite the good intentions of its creators over the years. 

As a parent of a child classified with a disability, it is wonderful to know I am part of a large family of other parents who like me, are confronted daily with the emotional, physical, educational and other obstacles incidental to our children’s disabilities.  We struggle to keep life in perspective.  It never hurts to have a gentile reminder of how lucky we really are, no matter how “bad” it may seem, on a given day. 

If you are a parent’s attorney, advocate, and/or a parent of a child with a disability, and are not already part of of COPAA, I urge you to consider becoming a member.  This organization provides valuable resources in the area of special education, wonderful networking opportunities and is instrumental in most of the cutting edge advocacy issues surrounding special education law. 

The annual COPAA conference is a gathering of some of the brightest minds in the field of special education law.  It is both inspiring, and informative.  I value the opportunity to be a part of the conference each year.  Please remember there is strength in numbers. 

To my fellow COPAA family members, I thank you for another wonderful conference and look forward to seeing you again at next year’s annual “family reunion” in DC!