25th Annual Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law

1. Special Education 101

   An introductory level mini-course on Special Education with an emphasis on what attorneys, educators, and parents need to know regarding the educational legal rights and entitlements of children with disabilities. - Rick Bartos, Esq., Attorney at Law, Bartos Law Offices, Helena, Montana

2. Building Positive Relationships

   A practical mini-course about dealing with challenging situations - both involving parents and district staff. Practical suggestions on how to avoid "creating" negative relationships and how to manage difficult situations once they have already been created. - Graham M. Hicks, Attorney at Law, Graham M. Hicks, P.C., Beaverton, Oregon and Diane F. Wiscarson, Attorney at Law, Diane Frost Wiscarson, P.C., Portland, Oregon

3. “Patterns of Strengths and Weaknesses” and LD:  What's It All About?

   A practical, introductory mini-course reviewing the new "Patterns of Strengths and Weaknesses" (PSW) eligibility model and evaluation process for Specific Learning Disabilities.  This course will offer a general overview of both the theory underlying this method and practical examples of "real life" evaluations and eligibility decisions.  Guidelines for best practice as well as tips on potential pitfalls will be offered. - Lee Ann Sharman, School Psychologist/Clackamas ESD Evaluation Center Coordinator, Clackamas, Oregon

4. Everything You Wanted to Know About Section 504 but Were Afraid to Ask

   This mini-course will provide an overview of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, how it developed as a law to prevent discrimination against students with disabilities and how it is used to address the needs of students with disabilities who experience academic and/or behavioral difficulties in school. The course will cover issues regarding identification and evaluation of 504 students, eligibility determinations, accommodations/interventions, educational programming, discipline and enforcement through the Office for Civil Rights. The course will also address the relationship between Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding K-12 students and how those two laws compare to the IDEIA. - Jim Keith, Attorney at Law, Adams & Reese LLP, Jackson, Mississippi

5. The Building Principal and Special Education

   An interactive seminar specially designed to introduce and re-introduce building administrators to key concepts and practical tips necessary to negotiate the slippery slope that can be special education law. - Sharon Howard, Assistant Superintendent Human Resources/Legal Affairs, Bellevue School District, Bellevue, Washington and Daniel Bettis, Principal, Fir Grove/Vista Program, Vancouver School District, Vancouver, Washington and Rob Duncan, Associate Principal, Skyview High School, Vancouver, Washington

6. Confidentiality, Test Protocols and Student Records

   An intermediate level mini-course discussing how to determine access to and disclosure of student records under FERPA. When must districts disclose records, and to whom? Who has access to records? Are a student's medical records treated differently? Can one district release all records to another district? Does HIPPA affect districts? These and other questions regarding education records will be discussed. - Elaine Eberharter-Maki, Attorney at Law, Eberharter-Maki & Tappen, P.A., Boise, Idaho

7. Dispute Resolution 102

   Dispute Resolution 102 is an intermediate level mini-course spotlighting the complaint resolution process. This mini-course focuses on complaint resolution and is designed for: SEA level complaint investigators, covering complaint investigation methods and procedures; LEA level school staff and administrators charged with responding to complaints and potential complainants on writing a clear complaint and providing supporting information. - Suzy Harris, Attorney at Law, Portland, Oregon and Pam McPartland, Program Supervisor, Special Education, WA Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Olympia, Washington

8. Behavior and Discipline Issues Impacting Students with Disabilities

   This basic level mini-course will provide an overview and analysis of the legal requirements under the IDEA and relevant judicial decisions regarding behavior and discipline issues for students with disabilities. Topics to be addressed include: IEP behavioral intervention and support plans, short term disciplinary removals, disciplinary changes of placement, manifestation determinations and liability issues. - Art Cernosia, Esq., Attorney/Education Consultant, Williston, Vermont

9. Creating Consensus: IEPs that Work

   This will be an essential mini-course concentrating on writing and presenting IEPs that meet both procedural and substantive requirements. IEPs are an essential and required component of the special education process. Ensuring that they are clear, concise and appropriate can be difficult for even highly experienced special educators. This course will concentrate on writing effective measurable IEPs and facilitation techniques for effective IEP presentation. The Rowley standard, the role of the IEP team and IEP requirements will be included. - Christine L. Moore, Coordinator, Special Education Programs, Graduate School of Education and Counseling, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Oregon

10. Ethics for Special Education Attorneys: Real-Life Survival Stories

    An interactive ethics seminar specially designed for attorneys and to meet State Bar Association CLE program standards; includes problems and hypotheticals with ethical considerations based on real life school law practice; issue identification, and participant discussion; and recommended professional practices. - Diane F. Wiscarson, Attorney at Law, Diane Frost Wiscarson, P.C., Portland, Oregon, Lana Traynor, Attorney at Law, Lana L. Traynor, LLC, Portland, Oregon

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