Advocacy for Low-Income Children with Disabilities in California

April 25, 2014
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
PLI San Francisco Conference Center & Via Live Webcast
Free!

To Register:
http://www.pli.edu/Content/Seminar/Advocacy_for_Low_Income_Children_with_Disabilities/_/N-4kZ1z12efs?fromsearch=false&ID=191287


Why You Should Attend
Attend this program so that you can receive the basic information you need to represent low-income children in California with education, regional center, and public benefits issues. Learn the basic substantive law regarding special education, school discipline, regional center eligibility, foster care benefits, CalWORKs, and SSI, so you can take a pro bono case to assist a low-income child in California.

What You Will Learn
• Special Education Advocacy - Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
• School Discipline and the School to Prison Pipeline
• Unique Laws and Additional Services
• Economic Security Advocacy for Youth - Public Benefits for Disabled and At-Risk Youth
• Economic Security Advocacy for Youth: SSI

Who Should Attend
Any attorney interested in providing pro bono assistance to low-income children in California would benefit from attending this program. The program is appropriate for new attorneys as well as seasoned practitioners and all skill levels are encouraged to attend.


Program Schedule

9:00
Program Overview and Introductions
Brian Blalock, Linda Johnson

9:15
Special Education Advocacy - Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
• IEP Process and Procedures
o Requesting and reviewing records, requesting an assessment, understanding how to read assessments, assessment scores, and Larry P. v. Riles (1979) and cognitive testing
o Initial IEP meeting, services, appropriate goals, and placement
Lauren Giardina, Linda Johnson, Jill Rowland

10:15
School Discipline and the School to Prison Pipeline
• Types of School Discipline
o Suspensions
o Manifestation Determination Review (MDR) meetings
o Expulsions
• Avoiding the school to prison pipeline
• Delinquency involved youth right to education
Lauren Giardina, Linda Johnson, Jill Rowland

11:15
Networking Break

11:30
Unique Laws and Additional Services
• Regional Center Advocacy
o Early Start
o Lanterman Act
• Homeless youth right to education - McKinney-Vento
• AB 490 - School stability, immediate enrollment, immediate transfer of records
• California Children's Service - State advocacy program for children with certain health problems
Lauren Giardina, Linda Johnson, Jill Rowland

12:30
Lunch

1:45
Youth Entitlements and Supports 101 - An Overview of Benefits Programs for Youth
• CalWORKs
• General Assistance
• Medicaid
• CalFresh
Brian Blalock, Erin Palacios

2:45
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits for Youth
• Disability standard for claimants under 18
• Age 18 redeterminations
• The overlap between special education and SSI advocacy (and how to read special education records for SSI cases)
• Special supplemental rates for youth living with non-parental caregivers
Andrea L. Banks, Lisa M. Newstrom

3:45
Networking Break

4:00
Entitlement Programs and Supports for Youth in Out-of-Home Placements
• Foster care benefits
• Subsidized permanency programs (Guardianships and Adoptions)
• Funding for youth living with relatives
Alice Bussiere, Molly L. Dunn

5:00
Adjourn