Practice Areas
Disability Rights in Education
SYSTEMS NAVIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICES
- Legal/strategic analysis and recommendations for your student's current IEP, §504 or other support plan.
- Response plan for unexpected action, decision or communication from the school.
- Behind-the-scenes advice and coaching for systems navigation and parent interactions with the school.
- Side-by-side §504, IEP and other educational planning and advocacy with the school team.
- Direct negotiation and advocacy with administrators and counsel.
- Formal dispute resolution and legal rights enforcement, including mediation and Due Process hearings.
All students have a right to inclusion, equity and belonging in their education.
CONSULTANT, SPEAKER/TRAINER, MEDIATOR
Caroline is an experienced consultant and mediator with deep subject-matter expertise in technical, well-rounded, legally compliant and creative supports and services for young people with disabilities. She brings real-world family and educator perspective to every situation she works with.
Contact us to inquire about:
- MEDIATION SERVICES
- CONSULTING SERVICES
- SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES
LEGAL PRACTICE AREAS
- Disability-Oriented School Law: needs assessment, systems work, stakeholder education and creative solutions for matters involving special education, §504, special services, and disability-based discrimination, discipline and employment issues.
- Family Law Involving a Loved One with a Disability: needs assessment, collaborative or individual stakeholder education and creative solutions for matters involving planning for a loved one with a disability, educational decision-making, medical decision-making, special visitation or possession considerations, child support, adult child support, and financial planning for disability-based needs.
Strategic Life Planning Services
OUR SERVICES
- Assessment and Personalization: We start by understanding your/your family’s unique abilities, aspirations, and needs, conducting a deep analysis to ensure we cover the many different resources, tools and opportunities for growth.
- Goal Setting: We help you define clear goals that align with your dreams and ambitions.
- Strategic Plan Development: Together, we create a detailed, actionable plan that outlines steps you can tackle right away and gives you peace of mind in knowing that you won’t leave out the later steps.
- Implementation and Support: We are there every step of the way, offering guidance and support to ensure your plan is executed effectively.
- Continuous Evaluation and Adaptation: We help you continuously evaluate progress and adapt the life plan as needed to support your evolving strengths and needs.
- Tools for Empowered Decision-Making with Varying Levels of Support: Caroline provides individualized Supported Decision-Making Agreements, Powers of Attorney, ADA accommodations letters, and client education on how to effectively use them to maximize independent adult decision-making while ensuring access to trusted helpers.
Experience the transformative and stress-reducing power of strategic life planning with Caroline and begin the journey towards the self-determined adult life you envision for yourself or your loved one.
IEP Facilitation
OUR SERVICES
Please contact us - we'd love to visit with you for information about our services while our website updates are underway.
Thanks!
North Star Assessment for Person-Centered Strategic Planning
OUR SERVICES
Please contact us - we'd love to visit with you for information about our services while our website updates are underway.
Thanks!
Planning for Age 18
TRANSFER OF RIGHTS SERVICES
Learn about options for self-determined, informed adult decision-making and different levels of support, guidance, accommodation, or protective involvement from other trusted, capable adults.
- Client Education: Adult Decision-Making Rights and Responsibilities, Supported Decision-Making, Guardianship, and Alternatives: We start by assessing your/your family’s unique strengths and needs, and we show you a variety of tools and supports for adult decision-making in educational, medical, financial and personal settings.
- Developing a Plan That Fits: We help you define the mix of self-determination, support, and protective measures you need to match your individual goals, family support resources, and current situation.
- Tools for Empowered and Supported Decision-Making: Individualized Supported Decision-Making Agreements, Powers of Attorney, ADA accommodations letters; client coaching and support for working with guardianship alternatives.
- Referrals to trusted probate attorneys: We can help you decide if you need wills, trust, or guardianship planning. Through client education, we will help you prepare agenda items and questions so you feel confident and knowledgeable in evaluating legal services for your formal probate needs.
Disability Rights, Special Education & Strategic Planning Lawyer
About Caroline Nelson, Attorney & Counselor at Law PLLC
HOW WE CAN HELP
Welcome! We are a specialized law firm serving young people with disabilities and their families. We understand that skillfully navigating disability rights, accommodations and futures planning in school, the community and family life is critical to raising an independent, self-determined adult.
Most families have to figure this out on their own as they go. We are here to help.
At Caroline Nelson's law office, you will find the customized services you need to be the best advocate you can be for your loved one. We design individualized strategic planning, client education, educational consulting, advocacy, and dispute resolution services to fit the unique needs of each individual client and situation.
WHAT MAKES CAROLINE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER SPECIAL EDUCATION LAWYERS?
Caroline's compassionate, steady hand comes from 30 years' experience in law practice, mediation, IEP facilitation, strategic planning, and special education administration. As a parent, Caroline started on the same learning curve you are on today - navigating and balancing the extra needs and challenges that raising a young person with a disability brings, along with the regular milestones and joys that come with watching a young person growing up.
Caroline's work and personal life have strengthened each other and grown up together, just as her own unique children have grown into wonderful independent adults, each firmly on their own individual path.
Contact us today to consult with an experienced professional who understands where you are coming from.