McAndrews Law Offices : Articles
McAndrews Law Offices, P.C.

Articles by Our Attorneys and Staff

Special Education Articles

Discipline/Behavior

Educational Rights

IEP Development

Private School

Spanish

Estate Planning/Administration Articles

Special Needs Trust Articles

Tax Articles


Special Education Articles Back to Top

Discipline/Behavior

Juvenile Justice and Special Education
By Dean M. Beer, Esquire

Obligations of Schools to Meet the Medical and Psychiatric Needs of Students
By Dean M. Beer, Esquire

Expulsion for Facebook Posting Invalid
By Dean M. Beer, Esquire

Functional Behavior Assessments
By Heidi B. Konkler-Goldsmith, Esquire

Obligations of School Districts to Address Truancy of Special Education Students
By Heather M. Hulse, JD, MA, MS

Programming for Children with Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Needs in the Least Restrictive Environment
By Heather M. Hulse, JD, MA, MS

Bullying in Schools—What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Child With a Disability
By Jennifer M. Lukach Bradley, Esquire

Discipline of Special Education Students
By Heidi B. Konkler-Goldsmith, Esquire

Drug and Alcohol Abuse by Students with Disabilities
By Heidi B. Konkler-Goldsmith, Esquire & Jennifer Lukach Bradley, Esquire

School Districts’ Obligations to Implement Positive Behavior Support and Prohibition of Aversive Techniques for Special Education Students
By Heather M. Hulse, JD, MA, MS

Educational Rights Back to Top

Child Find Under Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act
By Jennifer Lukach Bradley, Esquire

Relationship Between Special Education and Medicaid
By Dennis C. McAndrews, Esquire

Using Curriculum Based Measurement (CBM) for Porgress Monitoring in Written Expression and Spelling

PDE Guidelines- Effective Behavioral Support

Why You Should Have Medical Assistance for Your Child
By Jennifer Lukach Bradley, Esquire

Budget Uncertainty in School Districts: A Time for Vigilance by Parents

Meaningful Progress

Know Your Child's Educational Rights

Changes in Special Education Law
By Dennis C. McAndrews, Esquire

Independent Educational Evaluations for Special Needs Students

Parents’ Rights to a Publicly-Funded Evaluation of Their Child
By Heather M. Hulse, JD, MA, MS

The Process of Due Process for Special Education Students

Confidentiality And Access To Student Records Family Educational Rights And Privacy Act (“FERPA”)

Disability Harassment and the Responsibilities of Schools
By Heather M. Hulse, JD, MA, MS

Special Education Note: New Federal Regulations Provide Major Opportunities For Enhanced Special Education Programs For Children With Disabilities

Bullying and the Responsibility of Schools
By Marie E. Buczkowski, M.Ed.

IEP Development Back to Top

Back to School With An IEP
By Marie E. Buczkowski, M.Ed.

Top Ten Rules to Develop an Appropriate IEP
By Dennis C. McAndrews, Esquire

What Does the Term "Least Restrictive Environment" Really Mean?
By Jennifer M. Lukach Bradley, Esquire

For Children with Special Needs, A Free Appropriate Public Education Means More than Just Teaching the 3 Rs
By Tanya A. Alvarado, Esquire

RTI: A New Way for Schools to Define Learning Disabilities

ADHD and Giftedness
By Heather M. Hulse, JD, MA, MS

Reading and Mental Retardation
By Marie E. Buczkowski, M.Ed.

Autism Awareness - What Parents in Berks County Really Need to Know
By Jennifer M. Lukach Bradley, Esquire

When to Use the General Ability Index in Assessing Eligibility of Special Education Students
By Heather M. Hulse, JD, MA, MS

Private School Back to Top

Wait and See, or Wait and Fail? The Private School Dilemma

Special Education Services for Students Attending Private School
By Heidi B. Konkler-Goldsmith, Esquire

Spanish Back to Top

Disciplina Para Estudiantes de Educación Especial
By Heidi Konkler-Goldsmith, Esquire y Tanya A. Alvarado, Esquire

Padres Tienen El Derecho a Una Evaluación Educacional Idependiente Para Sus Hijos Con Fondos Públicos
By Tanya A. Alvarado, Esquire

Educación Especial: Los Cinco Pasos Del Proceso de Obtener Servicios Para Sus Hijos
By Tanya A. Alvarado, Esquire

El Camino a la Lectura con Eficacía: El Entendimiento de las Necesidades de Su Hijo Como Vehículo Para Obtener Servicios de Educación Especial Apropiadas

By Tanya A. Alvarado, Esquire

Spanish-Speaking Students Do Not Have to Wait to be Tested for Special Education Services
By Tanya A. Alvarado, Esquire

 

Estate Planning/Administration Articles Back to Top

Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax
By Crystal L. Welton, J.D., LL.M.

Non-Tax Reasons to Plan Your Estate

Don't Count on Courts to Fix Broken Estate Plans

Estate Planning for Parents of a Child With Special Needs
By Crystal L. Welton, J.D., LL.M.

Seeking Guardianship for a Loved One
By Dennis C. McAndrews, Esquire

Guardianship vs. Power of Attorney
By Dennis C. McAndrews, Esquire

Administering an Estate in Pennsylvania: The Basics
By Lesley M. Mehalick, Esquire

Why You Need A Will
By Lesley M. Mehalick, Esquire

Medical Assistance Planning for a Nursing Home Resident Over Age Sixty-FiveBy Lesley M. Mehalick, Esquire

 

Special Needs Trust Articles Back to Top

The Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD) Program
By Crystal L. Welton, J.D., LL.M.

Structured Settlements and Special Needs Trusts
By Crystal L. Welton, J.D., LL.M.

Special Needs Trusts and Financial Aid: What Should Applicants Do?

Different Types of Trusts for Different Purposes

PA's Plan to Move Special Needs Residents Out of Institutions Violates ADA

Sad Case Illustrates: When It Comes to Special Needs Planning, Don't Put Off Till Tomorrow . . .

Four Special Needs Resolutions for the New Year

Things to Look for When Choosing A Guardian for Your Children

Special Needs Trusts in Pennsylvania
By Dennis C. McAndrews, Esquire

The Use of Structured Settlements in Special Needs Trust
By Heather M. Hulse, JD, MA, MS

Planning Your Estate: Special Needs Trusts for Disabled Children
By Heather M. Hulse, JD, MA, MS

A Special Needs Trust—Is it Ever Too Late to Create One?
By Dennis C. McAndrews, Esquire

Elements of A Self Funded Special Needs Trust
By Dennis C. McAndrews, Esquire

Estate Planning for a Disabled Child: Coordinating Your Estate Plan with a Special Needs Trust
By Lesley M. Mehalick, J.D., LL.M.

Special Needs Trusts—The Basics
By Dennis C. McAndrews, Esquire

Special Needs Trusts in Personal Injury Settlements
By Dennis C. McAndrews, Esquire

Special Needs Trusts—Choice of Trustee
By Dennis C. McAndrews, Esquire

Special Needs Trusts—Addressing Some Common Misconceptions
By Dennis C. McAndrews, Esquire

Special Needs Trust for Financial Planning Professionals—A Primer
By Dennis C. McAndrews, Esquire

The ABCs of Uses of Special Needs Trust Monies
By Dennis C. McAndrews, Esquire

The Three Types of Special Needs Trusts
By Dennis C. McAndrews, Esquire

 

Tax Articles Back to Top

Tax Act Brings Changes to SSI / Medicaid Treatment of Refunds, Tax Credits

A Quick Primer on the Taxation of Social Security Disability (SSDI) Benefits

The 2010 Tax Relief Act
By Lesley M. Mehalick, Esquire

Back to Top

What's New
    • Upcoming MLO Seminars! Click Here for more information and to Register.
    • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Recipients Will Receive Cost of Living Increase in January 2012. Beginning in January 2012, the nation’s Social Security recipients will get a 3.6% cost of living increase in payments. Thus, the maximum Supplemental Security Income (SSI) monthly payment will increase from $674 per individual for 2011 to $698 per month per individual in 2012. Please note that the $2,000 resource limit for SSI recipients is not increasing. For further information on public benefits, please call McAndrews Law Offices.
    • Federal Court voids Pennsylvania’s restrictions on Pooled Special Needs Trusts in Lewis v. Alexander Read More →
    • Important Court case for children with Autism and their families Read More →
    • The current budget cycles in federal, state, and local governments may affect all students in special education. See our full discussion regarding this important issue. Read More →
    • Learn About The Special Needs Tax Credit Read More →
    • PDE Guidelines for Effective Behavioral Support Read More →
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