sarushkaa: March 2012

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Transfers for Special Education Students Achieved- One Parent's Story About How The Law Office of Michelle Ball Helped

By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995

What if you cannot get a simple transfer for your special needs children, but believe they will not be appropriately placed otherwise? My office was hired to assist one family who no matter what they did, could not get a transfer for their special needs children. When my office became involved, we were able to gather enough information and communicate effectively, thereby persuading the district that the transfers should go through.

Here is what one of the parents involved had to say:

"I highly recommend Michelle Ball! Michelle Ball is a fantastic education attorney. Our school district wanted to make a school placement within the district that was not in the best interest of our children (IEP, 504, and handicapped). The district was adamant that our request for transfer would not be allowed, seemingly in opposition to the law. We felt existing law supported our requested placement based on the services available at the schools in the district. In the face of a unified negative response from all levels in the district, she [Michelle Ball] provided legal guidance and support that ultimately drove the district to change their position and grant our request.

While the whole experience was unnerving, we learned not to give in, and pushed for a placement that was in the best interests of our children. The district seemed to believe that time and cost were on their side and that we would eventually accept their decision. With Michelle’s counsel we were able to fight and drive the district to change their position to one that met our children’s needs rather than the needs of the district. The cost of fighting the decision, while not insignificant, pales in comparison to the long term results that the district’s placement would have had on the rest of our children’s lives, and by extension, ours. They now have a much better chance at a quality education and a successful life, as opposed to the prospect of a less successful education experience and the negative impact that would have on the rest of their lives.

Many thanks!
-RJJ"

Thank you RJJ!

Michelle Ball
Education Law Attorney
LAW OFFICE OF MICHELLE BALL
717 K Street, Suite 228
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-444-9064
Fax: 916-444-1209
Email: help@edlaw4students.com

Website: http://www.edlaw4students.com/

Blog: http://edlaw4students.blogspot.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/michelleaball

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/EdLaw4Students

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Law-Office-of-Michelle-Ball/191273330901857

[please like my office on Facebook, subscribe via twitter and email, and check out my videos on Youtube!]

Please note: This testimonial or endorsement does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of a legal matter.

Please see my disclaimer on the bottom of my blog page. This is legal information, not legal advice and no attorney-client relationship is formed by this posting, etc. etc.! This blog may not be reproduced without permission from the author and proper attribution of authorship.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Do Parents Have The Right To Not Medicate Their Children? One Woman's Story

By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995

Have you heard the story of Maryanne Godboldo? This Detroit mother made a parental decision to remove her daughter from psychotropic medication to pursue non-drug alternatives after she observed negative side effects. When she did, the local government authorities apparently did not agree with Maryanne Godboldo's medical decision, and thereafter stormed her home with police and a SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team to take away her minor daughter, Ariana. Maryanne's attempts to keep the police from taking away her daughter failed, but only after a ten hour stand-off at Maryanne's home in 2011. Ariana was thereafter placed in a psychiatric facility for approximately one month.

Maryanne was criminally charged and incarcerated for 5 days. The criminal charges were later dropped. Thereafter, after months of fighting and many court appearances, Maryanne Godboldo finally had her parental rights restored. Maryanne explains in the video below that "I did it because I wanted to save my child." Eventually the order removing Ariana from her mother's care, based on her decision not to medicate Ariana, was overruled.

This story is heart-wrenching and horrifying. The shock of it all is that this mother was arrested and separated from her thirteen-year-old daughter, allegedly all because she made a private medical decision. The term "big brother" seems quite appropriate.

The video below is of Maryanne receiving an award from the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a psychiatric watchdog group. Check it out (and you may want to have some tissues nearby when you do).

This story should remind all parents that they need to be vigilant in protecting their children and their parental rights, as the government, which appears in the form of your local school district or social services office (and many other forms), may not always be acting in the best interests of the parent or the child.

Best,