by: Jean Murrell Adams, Esq October 2025     October is spooky season—but the scariest monster may not be lurking in haunted houses. It might be hiding in your child’s school file: the Frankenstein IEP. At ADAMS ESQ, we’ve been seeing more and more IEPs that look like stitched-together monsters—sloppy, confusing, and downright scary for parents trying to advocate for their child. Here are some of the most chilling features we’ve encountered: 🧩 Another child’s name (yes, really) ✂️ Cut-and-paste goals that don’t fit your child or are simply

Bajo la Ley de Educación para Individuos con Discapacidades (IDEA), nuestro país ha evolucionado drásticamente en la forma en que educamos y consideramos a los niños con discapacidad. Pero sabía que la IDEA se revisó en 2004 para impulsar los servicios de transición que preparan a los estudiantes con discapacidad para la educación postsecundaria y la inclusión laboral? No queremos que nuestros jóvenes adultos se queden aislados en casa. En cambio, ahora entendemos que las personas con diferentes capacidades pueden y deben integrarse en el

by: Jean Murrell Adams, Esq. August 2025 Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), our country has dramatically evolved in the way we educate and view children with disabilities. But did you know that the IDEA was revised in 2004 to supercharge transition services that prepare students with disabilities for post-high school education and workforce inclusion? We don’t want our young adults languishing at home in isolation. Instead, we now understand that persons of varying abilities can and must be woven into the general fabric of our

By Jean Murrell Adams, Esq. Imagine this: your child is bright, eager to learn, and loves school—when they can get there and access the right services and supports. But due to a dual disability (deafness and blindness), certain medical needs, and anxiety, they struggle with getting on the school bus at home or refuse to get out of your car at school. Rather than helping your child overcome this challenge, the school district decides to pull them out of school completely and place them on “homebound

An Unsung Hero of Special Education Law: Judge Patricia Ann McGowan Wald President Barack Obama awards Judge Patricia Wald the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013. (Evan Vucci/AP)   We all know about Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Ketanji Brown Jackson as pioneering women in the legal field. But have you heard of Patricia Ann McGowan Wald? This trailblazer not only became the first woman to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit—often called the second most powerful court

Celebrating Black History Month: Forgotten Champions of Special Education   We all know the famous case of BROWN v. BOARD of EDUCATION (1954), that banned racial segregation in public schools.  But have you heard about the landmark 1972 case of Peter MILLS v. BOARD of EDUCATION of the DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA?  This class action, brought by a group of Black parents and caregivers, helped lay the foundation for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and subsequent creation of the U.S. Department of Education. The Fight

“Stop Listening to People Who Don’t Know What They’re Talking About!!” Jean Murrell Adams, Esq. This hectic holiday season may be the calm before the storm.  Proposed rules and laws regarding education and health will likely impact children with disabilities for decades.  It’s crucial that parents make decisions based on solid information from reliable sources–not from AI hallucinations, TikTok influencers or “Dr. Google”.   Where can parents find reliable information regarding potential changes that impact their children with disabilities?  Start IRL by speaking with your child’s

Jean Murrell Adams August 2024 Disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to participate in or contribute to society. 20 USC §1400 When many of us think of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs, what comes to mind is ensuring race, sexual orientation or gender-based equity. But according to the National Institutes of Health, people with disabilities make up nearly 1/3 the United States adult population–making them the single largest minority group in the

¿Es la escuela de su hijo “segura, protegida y pacífica”? La Constitución de California garantiza el derecho a escuelas seguras.  “Todos los estudiantes y el personal de las escuelas públicas primarias, primarias, secundarias y secundarias, y los colegios comunitarios, colegios y universidades tienen el derecho inalienable de asistir a campus que sean seguros y pacíficos”. Articulo I, Sec. 28(f)(1). ¿Su hijo con una discapacidad le aterroriza la escuela? ¿Tiene miedo de usar el baño debido al vapeo de marihuana sin control, los asaltos y la