Lately, whenever we blog about an important legal or policy development, we receive emails from clients wanting to know: What can I do?
One organization that parents can join to get more involved in affecting public policy is the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA). COPAA is the only national organization of attorneys, advocates, and parents that specifically focuses on the educational rights of students with disabilities. In addition to many invaluable member-only resources, like sample documents and other advocacy tools, discounts on COPAA’s informative webinars, access to COPAA’s moderated listserv, and an online peer-to-peer network for parents, COPAA actively engages in public policy work, fighting every day to protect the civil rights of special education children. The Law Offices of Regina Skyer and Associates, L.L.P is a proud member of COPAA.
Some of COPAA’s current public policy priorities include safeguarding the IDEA, Section 504, and the ADA; protecting the IDEA funding formula; ending discrimination against students with disabilities in voucher and charter programs; and creating more opportunities for students with disabilities to transition to post-secondary life. (See COPAA’s Policy webpage for more information on their public policy priorities.) COPAA also opines on critical issues impacting special education from political appointments to rules changes and legislation, and writes amicus briefs (which assist a court by offering information on ongoing cases) for impact legislation.
For more information about how to become a member of COPAA, please see their website.