Patrick G. Radel, Esq.May 204 minIs Inclusion Optional?Nope. Not Optional. It’s the Law. Welcome to IEP Season - the time of year when schools and parents meet to decide program and placement...
Patrick G. Radel, Esq.Jan 86 minSeeking Special Ed SerenityThe start of a new year is a good time for big picture pondering. When I think about special education from a broader perspective, my...
Patrick G. Radel, Esq.Jul 16, 20216 minAnticipating AutumnDo you have a milestone that signals that autumn is approaching? For me, it’s the start of Buffalo Bills training camp at the end of...
Patrick G. Radel, Esq.Apr 13, 20213 minIEP Meeting Survival TipsAs the weather warms (hopefully), thoughts turn to Spring. For parents of students with disabilities, this means IEP Season, the time of...
Patrick G. Radel, Esq.Mar 9, 20216 minHow to Respond to "That Parent"I am “that parent.” My clients are “that parent” (or “that grandparent”). You know who I mean – the parent of the student with special...
Patrick G. Radel, Esq.Feb 8, 20214 min4 Quick Tips for a Better IEP Meeting2021 is well under way, for better or worse! In the special education world, we are about to enter “CSE Season” or the “IEP Zone.” This...
Patrick G. Radel, Esq.Jan 1, 20213 min4 Quick Inclusion Resolutions for 2021It's cliché to call 2020 a year of challenge and change, but it's true! Students with disabilities (and those who support them) were...
Patrick G. Radel, Esq.Dec 1, 20204 minIDEA @45 - Progress & PossibilitiesThis past Sunday marked a milestone for special education law. On November 29, 1975, President Gerald Ford signed the Education for All...
Patrick G. Radel, Esq.Nov 3, 20203 minIs Mask-Wearing "Covered" by Special Education Law?For students across the country, wearing a mask has become part of the everyday school routine. In one sense, this is "good" news - as...
Patrick G. Radel, Esq.Oct 19, 20202 minHome Sweet Home?You may have seen this article about two students in Central New York being "exited" from their public school after the school discovered...
Patrick G. Radel, Esq.Sep 16, 20203 minPay Attention! ADHD & Special Education Law Students with "invisible" disabilities often face misinformation, misunderstanding, and misjudgment. Perhaps the most common "invisible"...
Patrick G. Radel, Esq.Aug 10, 20204 minWhat if Remote Learning Didn't Work for My Student?It's no secret that remote learning was not successful for many students this past spring. Even though educators and parents often made...
Patrick G. Radel, Esq.Jul 23, 20205 minBack to School?This is usually the time of year when stores roll out their big "back to school" sales. 2020, of course, has been different. Instead of...
Patrick G. Radel, Esq.Jun 18, 20204 minSupreme Special Ed - What Does the Court Say?The Supreme Court made big news (& history) Monday with its ruling on employment discrimination, with more major decisions to come early...
Patrick G. Radel, Esq.Jun 13, 20202 minTwo Minute Tip for a Better IEP: Stopping the Summer SlideTeachers, therapists, and parents can spend an entire school year helping a student with special needs make progress, only to see skills...
Patrick G. Radel, Esq.May 28, 20205 minA Private Chat - Private School as an Option for Students with DisabilitiesMany parents of students with disabilities think about alternatives to public school. Some seek a faith-based education for religious...
Patrick G. Radel, Esq.May 21, 20202 minTwo Minute Tip for a Better IEP: With a Little Help from My Friends"Friends multiply joy and divide grief." Cicero What are your most significant school memories? Probably not basic fractions, but...
Patrick G. Radel, Esq.May 14, 20202 minTwo Minute Tip for a Better IEP: One BIG Special Ed Myth you Need to Know"Half the truth is often a great lie." - Ben Franklin. Parents of students with disabilities may hear a half truth when they push for...
Patrick G. Radel, Esq.May 7, 20205 minParents of Students with Disabilities - Unsung Pandemic HeroesAfter 9/11, we celebrated first responders who rushed into danger to help others. In recent years, it has become customary to thank...
Patrick G. Radel, Esq.Apr 30, 20204 minDeVos's DecisionOn Monday April 27th, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos issued a report to Congress regarding special education laws and the...