Bonnie Schinagle

Sometimes disabilities are obvious. Sometimes they emerge as a child gets older. Either way, parents need to learn three languages; the language of the law, the language of their child's condition and the language spoken by educators. And they need to learn fast. The United States has two laws that are supposed to protect children with disabilities and learning differences in school. I am an expert on these laws. However, school districts have all the power. Let me teach your group the language they need to know in order to harness the power of the law for the benefit of their children.

Bonnie Spiro Schinagle is a New York Special Education Law attorney. In addition to her law degree, Mrs. Schinagle holds an advanced degree in law and was accepted to the 2014 Institute for Special Education and Advocacy at William and Mary Law School sponsored by Wrightslaw and the PELE Law Clinic. Her article, Considering the Individualized Education Program: A Call for Applying Contract theory to an Essential Legal Document was published in the Winter, 2014 volume of the C.U.N.Y. Law Review. Her motivation stems from her experience as a parent navigating the special education system on behalf of her own child.