Let's Talk Sped Law

Let's Talk Sped Law by Special Education Attorney, Jeffrey L. Forte, Esq.

A national podcast dedicated to all things relating to special education law. Hosted By: Jeffrey L. Forte, Esq. - A Special Education Attorney & Certified Child Advocate. Contact Us: jforte@fortelawgroup.com or visit: www.fortelawgroup.com read less
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Episodes

Season 3, Episode 6: The Importance of Multidisciplinary Evaluations with Guest Speaker Dr. Chris Bogart of Sasco River Center
Mar 9 2021
Season 3, Episode 6: The Importance of Multidisciplinary Evaluations with Guest Speaker Dr. Chris Bogart of Sasco River Center
In this episode, we discuss the importance of how a multidisciplinary evaluation can help to more fully inform your child's IEP placement and programming needs with guest speaker, Dr. Chris Bogart, owner and Co-Director of Sasco River Center LLC located in Fairfield County, CT.Dr. Bogart is licensed clinical psychologist who has worked in both the private and public sectors for the past twenty-five years, Dr. Bogart works with children, adolescents and parents, conducting comprehensive psychoeducational and AD/HD evaluations as well as therapy services. He also provides program consultations to local schools, as well as supervision to doctoral students in psychology.  Dr. Bogart serves as the Board President of the Board of Trustees of Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities; as a member of the Board of Trustees for New Canaan Country School; and as a member of the Advisory Board for the Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education.Prior to co-founding the Sasco River Center, Dr. Bogart held various clinical positions including staff psychologist at the Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City and Director of Psychology at the Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center in Orangeburg, New York. While serving as director, Dr. Bogart organized and administered an American Psychological Association approved externship training program for clinical psychology and social work graduate students. He supervised staff psychologists on children’s and adolescent inpatient units and he devised a hospital-wide behavior modification program for the children. Dr. Bogart has provided numerous classes, lectures and training programs on various topics such as parent education, executive functions assessment and coaching, psychological testing, and stress management. He has also conducted research studies in various areas including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Social Skills Training, and depression in children.Dr. Bogart received his undergraduate training at Georgetown University and received his doctoral degree from The American University in 1986.For more information, visit: https://sascoriver.com/Support the show
Season 3, Episode 4: Let's Talk COPAA Conference 2021 with Guest Speak and CEO of COPAA Denise Marshall
Feb 23 2021
Season 3, Episode 4: Let's Talk COPAA Conference 2021 with Guest Speak and CEO of COPAA Denise Marshall
Parents unit! The COPAA 2021 Annual Conference is virtual this year. What does that mean for you? Well, you can attend "virtually" for a fraction of the cost and become more fully informed about your child's education rights. In this episode we talk with the CEO of COPAA Denise Marshall.Denise Stile Marshall, M.S., Chief Executive OfficerDenise has led the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) since 2005. She  graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Master of Science in Applied Behavioral Science. Denise has over 40 years’ experience in the field of disabilities in a variety of support, management, and advocacy capacities. She has a wealth of non-profit association management experience and is a dynamic trainer, experienced in leading sessions for participants of diverse abilities and experience levels. Prior to becoming the Executive Director of COPAA Denise was the Director of Training and Educational Outreach for the national organization TASH from 1995-2005, the Program Manager and trainer for Maryland Leaders in Disability Policy; and a Positive Behavior Support specialist and Director of the National Training Center for The Kennedy Krieger Institute in Maryland among other consulting and management positions.  Denise's specific areas of interest are civil right to quality education, positive behavioral supports, prevention and reduction in the use of restraints, abolishment of seclusion and aversive techniques, family supports, grassroots advocacy, self-advocacy, and experiential learning.   Denise can be reached at exec @ copaa.org or 844-426-7224 x 700.For more information about Denis, visit: https://www.copaa.org/page/COPAATeamTo Register for COPAA 2021, visit: https://www.copaa.org/page/2021-conferenceSupport the show
Season 3, Episode 2: From Parent to Advocate to BCBA - One Parent's Journey with Guest Speaker Sharri Lungarini, M.S. Ed., RBT
Feb 16 2021
Season 3, Episode 2: From Parent to Advocate to BCBA - One Parent's Journey with Guest Speaker Sharri Lungarini, M.S. Ed., RBT
In this episode of Let's Talk Sped Law, we interview Sharri Lungarini! Shari is an amazing parent, advocate, and clinician within the Connecticut disability rights community. Her story both personally and professionally is so inspiring that it absolutely must be shared with fellow parents, clinicians and advocates. Sharri Lungarini is a Registered Behavior Technician working in the CCSN Behavioral Health ABA Clinic. Sharri received her master’s degree in Behavioral Education from the University of Cincinnati and is currently receiving supervision towards becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.  Sharri’s clinical experiences include working with learners with complex learning profiles across a variety of environments including in the home, in the community, and at school.  Her prior work experiences and/or supervisory experiences extend across children ages 18 months old through 21 within the CT Birth to Three system, public schools, and in DCF mandated programs.  In addition to her clinical experiences, Sharri actively volunteers with local organizations advocating for the advancement of the behavior analytic profession such as the Connecticut Association for Behavior Analysis (CTABA) and the Behavior Analyst Leadership Council (BALC).  She served as a Vice-Chair with Connecticut Interagency Birth-to-Three Coordination Council (ICC).  Her professional interests include early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI), family training, advocacy, and legislation.To learn more about Shari and CCSN, visit: https://www.ccsnct.org/Support the show
Season 1, Episode 6: From Parent to Advocate to Instructor to Paralegal - An Interview with Pat Howey.
Apr 28 2020
Season 1, Episode 6: From Parent to Advocate to Instructor to Paralegal - An Interview with Pat Howey.
Patricia Howey has supported families of children with disabilities since 1985. She has a specific learning disability and became involved in special education when her youngest child entered kindergarten. Pat has children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who have a variety of disabilities and she has used her experience to advocate for better special education services for several of them.Pat is a charter member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), serving on its Board of Directors from 2000 through 2003. She has been a Commissioner on the Tippecanoe (County) Human Relations Committee, a graduate of Leadership Lafayette and Partners in Policymaking, and a member of the Wrightslaw Speakers Bureau. She has been on the faculty of the College of William and Mary Law School’s Institute of Special Education Advocacy since its inception in 2011.  Pat has an A.S. and a B.A. in Paralegal Studies from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, where she graduated magna cum laude. She is an Indiana Registered Paralegal and an affiliate member of the Indiana Bar and the American Bar Associations.Pat began her advocacy career as a volunteer for the Task Force on Education for the Handicapped (now InSource), Indiana’s Parent Training and Information Center. In 1990, she opened her advocacy practice and served families throughout Indiana by representing them at IEP meetings, mediation, and due process hearings.In 2017, Pat closed her advocacy practice and began working on a contract basis as a special education paralegal. Attorneys in Indiana, Texas, and California contracted with her to review documents, spot issues, draft due process complaints, prepare for hearings, and assist at hearings. In January 2019, she became an employee of the Connell Michael Kerr law firm, owned by Erin Connell, Catherine Michael, and Sonja Kerr. Her duties have now expanded to assisting with federal court cases.Support the show
Season 1, Episode 4: An Interview with COPAA's Legal Director, Selene Almazan, Esq.
Apr 14 2020
Season 1, Episode 4: An Interview with COPAA's Legal Director, Selene Almazan, Esq.
COPAA’s mission is to protect and enforce the legal and civil rights of students with disabilities and their families.  Our primary goal is to secure high quality educational services and to promote excellence in advocacy.COPAA works to:Enable parents to work more effectively with school personnel to plan and obtain effective educational programs for their children with disabilities;Encourage more attorneys and advocates to undertake representation of parents of children with disabilities in their efforts to plan and obtain effective educational programs;Provide advocate, attorney, parent and other professional COPAA members with the practical resources and information they need to obtain effective educational programs for students with disabilities;Enable members to network and share information and legal resources;Provide training for special education advocates on all aspects of special education advocacy and informal conflict resolution;Provide training for attorneys on legal practice: including due process, litigation, and informal conflict resolution;Enable parents to locate advocates, attorneys, and related professionals through COPAA's website directory;File amicus curiae briefs in cases of national significance.We sat down with COPAA's Legal Director, Attorney Selene Almazan to discuss the scope COPAA's national footprint in advocating for the rights of children with disabilities.Support the show