Turning 5 in 2021 - a free webinar, Thursday, May 14, 6:30pm

Register on the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music’s website for this free webinar co-presented by Skyer Law partner Abbie Smith and special education consultant Sarah Birnbaum. Neuropsychologist Dr. Laura Tagliareni will join the webinar as a panelist during the Q&A.

Please note: This talk is designed for families of children born in 2016, whose children are transitioning to the CSE in September, 2021.

Webinar description from BCM website:

If your preschool-aged child is currently receiving special education services or therapy, advocating for an appropriate kindergarten program is critical. For parents of children born in 2016, get a head start on the Turning Five process with Sarah Birnbaum, of New York Special Needs Support, and attorney Abbie Smith of Skyer Law. Together, they will provide you with invaluable guidance on:

-Determining Your Public and Private School Options
-Finding an Appropriate Kindergarten Program
-Obtaining Evaluations
-Understanding Your Child’s Legal Rights
-Advocating for Your Child at Your Turning 5 IEP Meeting
-Understanding how the COVID-19 Health Emergency May Impact Your Turning 5 Year

Upcoming Events for Parents of Preschoolers

In New York City, the Department of Education mandates that children enter kindergarten the year they turn 5. At Skyer Law, we call this arbitrary cutoff the “calendar year rule,” and it has recently come under some well-deserved scrutiny.

If your child is receiving CPSE services and was born in 2015, you are already engaged in the so-called “turning-five process.” If your child was born in 2016, you are no doubt scrambling to find the time to learn more in preparation for next year—and that’s a good idea. Kindergarten transition is particularly stressful for parents of children with special needs, and it is best navigated by a cool head armed with good information.

In March, there are two informational events of particular interest to parents of preschoolers that we want to highlight:

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Turning 5: Understanding the Special Education Kindergarten Transition Process

Wednesday, March 11 • 6:30 PM - 7:45PM
Parents League Office, 115 East 82nd Street, first floor
Registration required.

This workshop provides an overview of the Turning 5 process and is co-facilitated by Skyer Law partners Greg Cangiano and Diana Gersten. Description from the Parents League website:

For NYC parents of preschool-aged children who have special education needs, transitioning to kindergarten can be overwhelming. The experienced team of attorneys at Skyer Law have guided thousands of clients through this stressful “turning 5” process. Founding partner, Regina Skyer, literally wrote the book on How to Survive Turning 5. This workshop will explain your legal rights, placement options, and share strategies on how to successfully position yourselves for an appropriate kindergarten placement.

The workshop is sponsored and hosted by The Parents League. It is open to the public for registration (free for Parents League members and $35 for non-members).

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Special Needs School Fair at the JCC Manhattan

Monday, March 23 • 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
JCC Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave at 76th Street
Registration required.

This is the second year that the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan’s famous Special Needs School Fair is being held in the spring and not the fall. That means that if you are a parent of a child who was born in 2016, this is your opportunity to attend.

From the JCC website:

Representatives from preschools through high schools serving the New York City special needs community come together on-site at the JCC to provide information and answers to your questions about the application process, class profiles, tuition costs, and more. School materials are available.

Register now for Skyer Law's first "Turning 5" workshop of the year - October 10th

Kindergarten and Special Education Part Two: Understanding Your Child's Legal Rights with Skyer Law

Thursday, October 10th, 2019
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music (58 Seventh Avenue, Brooklyn)
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Please click here to register for this free event.

At our first “Turning 5” workshop of this school year, three partners at the Skyer Law firm, Regina Skyer, Greg Cangiano, and Abbie Smith, will guide parents through the kindergarten transition process in NYC.

This is part two in a series of workshops sponsored by the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music’s Music Cares program. Part one is a lecture by special education consultant Sarah Birnbaum on September 26th.

The workshop is based on Regina Skyer’s indispensable 2015 book, How to Survive Turning Five, and is designed for parents of preschoolers and interested special education professionals of preschoolers. We will answer as many individual questions as time allows in a Q&A session after the presentation. Participants will learn about:

• the legal rights of students with disabilities under the IDEA and relevant court decisions

• the transition from CPSE to CSE

• the continuum of programs available to all “turning five” students

• what “pendency” is–and what it is not

• the process for tuition reimbursement when no public option is appropriate

• impartial hearings, appeals, and settlement procedures

• the school application process in NYC

• why independent evaluations matter, and

• important tips and strategies to ensure a positive outcome

Regina Skyer founded the Law Offices of Regina Skyer & Associates in 1992 for the sole purpose of advocating, mediating, and litigating on behalf of children with special education needs. Learn more about Skyer Law by visiting www.skyerlaw.com.

Free Kindergarten Transition Workshops for Parents of Special Needs Children

The Kindergarten transition process is undeniably daunting for families of special needs children—and New York City’s massive bureaucracy doesn’t make it any easier.

A few years ago, our founding partner, Regina Skyer, published a handbook for parents (How to Survive Turning 5). And every year, we hold free legal education workshops so that as many parents as possible can learn how to navigate the so-called “Turning Five” process in New York City.

This year we are offering two free events in October (one in Brooklyn, one in Manhattan). These workshops are designed for parents of preschoolers and interested special education professionals. We will go over independent evaluations, school applications, public program options, IEP meetings, hearings and appeal procedures, and more. We will also answer as many individual questions from attendees as time allows.

BROOKLYN
Thursday, October 25th, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, 58 7th Avenue
Please RSVP via the registration page on the Music Therapy Parent Talks page on the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music website. Limited spots are available.
(This workshop is part two in a two-part series of workshops offered about the Turning Five process. Part one is a presentation by educational advocate Sarah Birnbaum on October 11th.)

MANHATTAN
Monday, October 29th, 6 PM – 8 PM
The Child Study Center at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone, One Park Avenue, 7th Floor
Please RSVP via this Eventbrite link. Limited spots are available.

Upcoming Events from Skyer Law

SPECIAL EDUCATION AND THE PRESCHOOL-AGED CHILD
Parents League Office, 115 East 82nd Street, first floor (Manhattan)
Thursday, May 3rd
6:30pm - 7:45pm

For parents of toddlers with disabilities or delays who are aging out of Early Intervention, it’s time to think about preschool programs and your first IEP review meeting with the Committee for Preschool Special Education (CPSE). Figuring out what’s right for your child can be a stressful undertaking. Regina Skyer’s “Special Education and the Preschool Age Child” presentation provides parents an understanding of their legal rights and an overview of the options that are available to explore.

This presentation is for the Parents League, a nonprofit organization that provides advisory services for school admissions to private schools in NYC. The event is open to the public but there is a non-member registration fee of $30. See the Parents League website to register and for details.

HOW TO SURVIVE TURNING FIVE
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music Concert Hall, 58 Seventh Avenue (Brooklyn)
Thursday, May 24th
7:00pm-9:00pm

For NYC parents of preschool-aged children who have special education needs, transitioning to kindergarten can be overwhelming. The experienced team of attorneys at Skyer Law have guided thousands of clients through the so-called “Turning 5” process. Our founding partner, Regina Skyer, literally wrote the book on How to Survive Turning 5.

This workshop will explain your legal rights, placement options, and share strategies on how to successfully position yourselves for an appropriate kindergarten placement.

This event is sponsored by the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. It is a free event open to the public. Please register via the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music website.

18TH ANNUAL SCHOOL LAW INSTITUTE
PLI New York Center, 1177 Avenue of the Americas, 2nd floor (Manhattan)
Thursday, June 7th
9:00am-5:00pm

The School Law Institute is organized by the Practicing Law Institute (PLI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping attorneys and other professionals at the forefront of knowledge and expertise. This day-long educational event explores the latest legal developments in the area of school law. It is primarily an event for attorneys, impartial hearing officers, and agency and school district administrators. However, it may also be valuable for parents interested in learning about the unique issues arising in school law.

This year, Skyer Law’s Abbie Smith will be giving a presentation titled “Mobile Lawyering: Ethical Considerations when Using On-The-Go Technology in the Practice of Law.” Skyer Law partner, Jesse Cole Cutler, will deliver the event’s introductory remarks.

A full schedule is available on the event page of the PLI website along with information about how to register. CLE credit is available for this event. The registration fee for the day is $645, but there are scholarships available.