Wrightslaw Way

Administrative Special Education Due Process Hearings with Pete Wright, Esq.
2026-05-31 11:00 - 14:00 (America/Halifax) | New York Law School, 185 West Broadway, New York, NY, 10013
May 31, 2026: NYC and Nationwide – Administrative Special Education Due Process Hearings hosted by TRTCLE.com. Designed for newly licensed attorneys, but anyone can attend. It will be live in NYC and broadcast nationwide as a telecast/webinar.
This session at TRTCLE’s “Bridge the Gap” CLE compliance day focuses on the Administrative Special Education Due Process Hearing that is used to resolve disputes between parents of children with disabilities and school districts. The principles and steps to prepare for such hearings are similar to those in other administrative hearings conducted by regulatory agencies, such as with Social Security disability claims, Medicare appeals, and employment or labor disputes.
In this training, Pete, who began representing children in due process hearings almost 50 years ago, will share his unique tips on presenting evidence, preparing exhibits, preparing witnesses, and preparing for trial and the appeal.
Attorneys will learn about the importance of creating a simple, easy-to-understand “theme of the case” using the school’s evidence to prove that the child was damaged by the school district. Attendees will learn how to use the 5 W’s + H + E (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How, and Explain).
With effective cross-examination techniques, attorneys will learn “how, using their witnesses, you can testify on behalf of your client.”
In these disputes, emotions are often highly charged and can easily sabotage a good case. Expert witnesses may be required, and case preparation should include an eye toward creating the “Joint Appendix.” A seemingly simple due process administrative hearing may not be resolved until the U.S. Court of Appeals issues a ruling.
This program is designed for attorneys at all levels. Attorneys new to practicing law or new to principles of litigation and trial practice will benefit from this training, as will their paralegals and even lay advocates who help parents. Experienced litigation attorneys will also learn new tips about case preparation, management, and preparation of your witness for techniques to handle abusive cross-examination from opposing counsel.
NOTE: While the training is oriented toward attorneys, anyone can attend. Lay advocates, related services personnel, educators, and parents may attend, either in person in NYC or via the webcast. The recording will be available later.
For attorneys, it qualifies for 2 CLEs in 30+ states. For more detailed information, please click here.

Greater Cincinnati
2026-06-25 09:00 - 2026-06-26 16:30 | BB Riverboats, 101 Riverboat Row, Newport, KY, 41075, United States
A two-day, in-person special education law and advocacy conference designed for parents/caregivers of students with IEPs and 504 Plans, as well as the professionals who support them. Hosted by Meier & Barlow Law Firm and The Collaborative IEP at BB Riverboats in Newport, Kentucky — overlooking the Ohio River and the iconic Cincinnati skyline. Focused on practical legal knowledge, collaborative advocacy, and meaningful connection among everyone who sits at — or supports those who sit at — the IEP table.
Day 1 – Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Training with Pete Wright. Esq. – Attendees receive: A Wrightslaw highlighter pen and three Wrightslaw books delivered in both print and Adobe PDF format. The three print and PDF books retail for $113.60.

Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 3rd Edition
Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition
Wrightslaw: All About IEPs

Day 2 – The Collaborative IEP with Ashley Barlow, Esq. – Attendees receive: The Collaborative IEP: What to Say, What to Do, What Matters by Ashley Barlow, Esq. ($59 value)
For ALL conference details, please click here.

Buffalo, NY
2026-07-07 09:00 - 16:30 | AK
Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference, a Wrightslaw training program featuring Pete Wright, Esq., is being sponsored by Williams Syndrome Association. The Wrightslaw training program is part of the WSA Convention of 2026. The program will be held at the Buffalo Convention Center, 153 Franklin Street in Buffalo, NY from July 7 to July 11, 2026.
The WSA Convention is the largest Williams syndrome event in the country bringing together the foremost experts on Williams syndrome and related characteristics to discuss the latest research findings, medical treatments, and educational strategies.
One-day special education law and advocacy programs focus on four areas:

special education law, rights and responsibilities
tests and measurements to measure progress & regression
SMART IEPs
introduction to tactics & strategies for effective advocacy

Wrightslaw programs are designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providers, advocates and attorneys who represent children with disabilities regarding special education. The program is not disability specific.
For registration details, please visit click here.
See you in Buffalo!

Special Education Advocacy Summit (SEAS) 2026
2026-07-22 09:00 - 2026-07-25 17:00 | St. Mary’s University School of Law, One Camino Santa Maria, San Antonio, TX, 78228, United States
This two-and-a-half-day special education advocacy training program held at the St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas, will begin with a reception on Wednesday evening, July 22, 2026, and conclude on Saturday afternoon, July 25, 2026. Hotel accommodations are downtown on San Antonio’s historic River Walk. The Special Education Advocacy Summit (SEAS) is sponsored by Connell Michael, LLP and Wrightslaw.
The program will include approximately 13 sessions on applicable laws, ethics, best practices in advocacy, case strategies and dispute resolution procedures, taught by national leaders in the field.
The purpose of the SEAS program is to provide training in special education advocacy for advocates, law students, new attorneys and attorneys who are new to special education law.
Proceeds from the summit will support the Center for Legal and Social Justice, which provides free legal services from attorneys and second- and third-year law students to income-qualified clients in San Antonio and South Texas. Students enjoy hands-on experience in all aspects of case handling under the direct supervision of a faculty member of St. Mary’s University School of Law.
Attendees will be selected via an application process. Applications will be reviewed on a bi-weekly rolling basis until the class is full. Early applications are recommended as the class size is limited.
Attorneys: $990 (CLE credit is offered)
Advocates, Educator/Advocates, non-attorneys and non-credit-seeking law students: $825
Two or more advocates or attorneys from the same organization/office will receive a 10% discount on each registration. The registration fee includes an opening reception, all lunches and scheduled breaks and over $250 of materials, including books and multimedia training from Wrightslaw, books by author Patricia L. Johnson Howey (M.Jur. ’24), as well as other valuable resources. In general, educational and training expenses are tax deductible. Check with your accountant about deductible educational expenses that may include books, continuing legal education fees and travel costs.
Download and share the training flyer.
For ALL SEAS details, please click here.
See you in San Antonio!

MD via ZOOM
2026-09-17 09:00 - 16:30 | AK
This Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference via ZOOM, a Wrightslaw training program featuring Pete Wright, Esq., is being co-sponsored by The Parents’ Place of Maryland and the PEAL Center.
This one-day special education law and advocacy program will focus on four areas:

special education law, rights and responsibilities
tests and measurements to measure progress & regression
SMART IEPs
introduction to tactics & strategies for effective advocacy

Wrightslaw programs are designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providers, advocates and attorneys who represent children with disabilities regarding special education. The program is not disability specific.
Conference fee includes a Wrightslaw highlighter pen, three Wrightslaw books – Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 3rd Edition, Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition, and Wrightslaw: All About IEPs. Wrightslaw will provide the three books to each attendee in the adobe.pdf format as well. The three print and pdf books retail for $113.60.
For ALL training details to include Early Bird rates, timed agenda and training flyer, please click here.

Winston-Salem, NC
2026-09-24 09:00 - 16:30 | Central Library, 660 West 5th Street, Winstom-Salem, 27101, United States
This is a Wrightslaw From Emotions to Advocacy Training. Details coming soon.
