Donna Darling of Glen Head will be chairing a new Special Education Law Group, in addition to her position as partner in charge of personal injury and medical malpractice at the firm of Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C.

 
Ms. Darling, herself a parent of a special needs child, says, “Beyond the usual flurry of activity each spring which determines education placements and services for the following year, students are faced with increased expectations for academic performance. More than ever, students with special learning needs require additional assistance, services and accommodations from their school. As a child’s learning becomes stressed, concerned parents often need help in securing all the services and assistance entitled by law,” Ms. Darling stated. “An opportunity lost in a child’s education is an opportunity never regained. The key to our legal services is to facilitate the partnership among schools, family and child, and outside specialists to diagnose a child’s needs and secure the services and accommodations imperative in compensating for bona fide handicapping conditions.”

 
Joining Ms. Darling in special education law practice is Lynn M. Brown, also the parent of a special needs child. She stated, “We are able to advocate effectively through both our legal training and parental experience. We appreciate first hand how intimidating it can be for many parents attending large formal meetings with school administrators who use unfamiliar acronyms to describe diagnoses and services. We’re able to translate the language of special education law, and guide our clients around the procedural pitfalls on their child’s behalf.”