Being Prepared for Changes Ahead

Danny* is a sweet seven-year-old who loves his friends and Sonic the Hedgehog, but he had difficulties at school from the start. His mother, Ms. Vasquez, worked with his school and pediatrician to understand his needs. He was diagnosed with anxiety and ADHD when he was in kindergarten and Ms. Vasquez made sure he had a 504 plan with his school to get the right support going into first grade.   

Despite her efforts, his school failed to follow the plan they’d established. They addressed behavioral issues, but not his educational needs. Ms. Vasquez feared they would keep passing Danny without actual educational progress.   

We worked with Ms. Vasquez and the school to get new evaluations for her son and together built an IEP that better addressed his needs. Ms. Vasquez credits her Children’s Law Center attorney with getting the school to take Danny’s needs seriously and helping raise her confidence in her own advocacy for her son so she could navigate future issues with the school.

“This is serious, doesn’t matter what side of town I live on. I am not to be played with regarding my child,” Ms. Vasquez said. “Thanks to Children’s Law Center, I have that boost – I have the confidence I have now in the power I have as his mother.”   

*Children’s Law Center works hard to protect our clients’ confidentiality. Pseudonyms and a stock photo are being used based on the client’s request.