Services

Services
We offer a full range of services to our clients. We do an initial consult with every family at no cost. Depending upon what is needed we outline a plan that includes going over all options. We also know that every family's situation differs. As a service to all family's we offer a sliding fee scale.* These are some of the services offered:

IEP/504 Planning                                                                         IEP Goals / Consistent Forms of BIP /BSP     Measurement

Academic Assessments                                                             Assessment of Behavior and Social Skills

Attend IEP Meetings        Behavior Coaching

Behavior Support Plans Behavioral Strategies

Classroom Observations Classroom Placement Assistance

Compliance Issues Home/School Collaboration

Inclusion Strategies Review of Records

Referrals for Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) Referrals to Service Providers

Referrals to Education Attorneys Specializing in Special Education Transition Planning

We also offer technology supported advocacy for times when you cannot meet in person or need conference call support.

* Please let us know if your child participates in the National Lunch Program, Free or Reduced School Meals

at his or her school.

L Davies Advocacy follows the Voluntary Code of Ethics as put forth by the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates:

Voluntary Code of Ethics
for Special Education Advocates

Preamble:
Special education advocates are committed professionals who help parents secure free appropriate public education for their children with disabilities. Advocates promote dignity and respect for every individual with disabilities by promoting vigorous enforcement of state and federal civil and human rights laws.

Special Education Advocacy is a profession comprised of a diverse group of people who work as independent private consultants or under supervision of a licensed attorney or in a law firm; in a public interest law center or other nonprofit organization; or under the auspices of a parent training and information center or advocacy center. Advocates may work in a paid or voluntary capacity. An Advocate has knowledge and expertise concerning special education and its applicable federal and state laws and works within the bounds of these laws. An Advocate protects the civil rights of children with special needs, their rights to due process, and their rights to equal access to equitable public school education. An Advocate remains current with applicable regulations and special education issues through continuing education and training.

This Voluntary Code is intended to accomplish the following:

Serve as an Advocate’s guide to professional conduct.
Help parents make informed choices about engaging advocacy services.
Instill public confidence in the integrity of Advocates and the roles they fill.
Advocates who voluntarily subscribe to this Code are expected to follow the Code’s ethical principles as a guide for proper professional conduct. This Code does not create disciplinary rules, and is not intended to be used to sanction Advocates.

Ethical Principles

I – Competence
An Advocate:
Works within the limits of his or her competence.
Informs a client when the Advocate is not competent to handle a matter or any portion of a client matter.
Is candid concerning the Advocate’s knowledge and skills.
Continues his or her special education advocacy education by successfully completing 12 hours of continuing education courses annually. Continuing education courses may be obtained through private or non-profit vendors, bar association continuing legal education courses, paralegal courses, State Department of Education courses or seminars, civil rights or disability rights organizations; professional associations of attorneys or advocates; or other continuing education courses or programs related to special education practice, advocacy, negotiation, or mediation.
Is knowledgeable with regard to the regulations of the jurisdictions in which they work or in which their clients are located.
Provides competent assistance. Competent assistance requires the special education knowledge, skill, thoroughness, and preparation reasonably necessary for the assistance required under the circumstances.
Exercises reasonable care.

II – Responsibilities to Client
An Advocate:
Helps clients make informed decisions about appropriate educational services by providing clients with relevant information.
Helps clients articulate their concerns and desires for student's educational needs.
Makes full disclosure to every individual involved with a matter that he or she is not licensed to practice law and cannot give legal advice.
Handles matters in a timely manner and without undue delay.
Educates clients about special education law and regulations, and helps them become more skillful and effective advocates.
Maintains regular contact.
Treats clients and others with dignity and respect.
Secures a written agreement for services with clients before performing any professional services.
Obtains a client’s permission before discussing the client’s matter with anyone other than the client, and adheres to any Federal or applicable State confidentiality requirements.
Maintains client records, keeps client information confidential and, unless the client has agreed in writing otherwise, makes arrangements to return or destroy records belonging to the client at the conclusion of the client’s matter.
Discloses that an advocate-client privilege may not exist, and that the Advocate must comply with any court or hearing officer or administrative law judge orders, and may be required to comply with lawfully-issued subpoenas.
Maintains and shares information regarding local, state, regional, and national resources for parents and students, and information regarding current trends and practices in special education, as well as a referral list of professional contacts.
Provides culturally and educationally appropriate services.

– Conflicts of Interest
An Advocate will:

Disclose all potential conflicts of interest. An Advocate is obligated to place the interest of the client ahead of any personal interest or personal gain, and to disclose all facts in any situation where a potential conflict of interest may arise.

a. An Advocate will at a minimum, inform potential clients of any employment affiliations, financial or professional interests that may be perceived to bias recommendations, and in some cases, decline to provide services where the actual or apparent conflict of interest is such that it may fairly be concluded that such affiliation or interest is likely to impair professional judgments, result in personal gain, or impede advocacy efforts in any way.

Make referrals and placements to service providers based solely on the needs of the student.
Refrain from accepting or giving anything of value for the recommendation of advocate services to others

– Communication
An Advocate will:

Never knowingly mislead others in the pursuit of a client’s matter.
Pursue ethical means to solve an issue or produce a particular outcome.
Present claims that are truthful and can be substantiated concerning the Advocate or the Advocate's service or the services of another advocate.
Communicate with others in a fair and civil manner.
Maintain as confidential all information about the client which is provided to the Advocate by the client, will use such information solely for advocating on behalf of the client, and will not disclose such information to any third party except (a) with prior authorization from the client; or (b) as otherwise required by law.
Maintain and preserve client records in a manner that complies with applicable state law or rules of professional conduct governing client records for the Advocate's state in which his or her office is located.

– Professionalism
An Advocate will:

Adhere to all applicable laws of the jurisdiction(s) in which the Advocate works or in which the client is located.
Review relevant records and information prior to effectively offering specific assistance.
Attempt to resolve special education disputes utilizing IEP meetings, mediation and resolution meetings, as described in the I.D.E.A. and the Advocate’s state special education regulations.
Manage his or her professional office and financial affairs in a manner that conforms to generally accepted business and financial practices.
Treat all parties subject to a dispute with candor, fairness and civility.

© COPAA (2008)

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Special Education

Advocacy in San Mateo