Wrightslaw Special Education & Advocacy Conference, Melville, NY (March 12, 2026)

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.

8:00-9:00	Registration and Breakfast
9:00-10:30	Introductions IDEA History and Overview Section 1400 Findings, Purpose Section 1401 Definitions: Special Education, Related Services, LD, etc.
10:30-10:45	Break
10:45-12:00	Section 1412 Extended School Year, Child Find, Least Restrictive Environment/Mainstreaming/Inclusion, Private Placements, Statewide Assessments Understanding Tests and Measurements, and the Bell Curve, Standard Scores, Scale Scores, % ranks, Grade Equivalent, Age Equivalent
12:00-1:00	Lunch
1:00-2:30	Section 1414 Evaluations and IEPs Section 1415 Prior Written Notice, Procedural Safeguards Notice, Mediation, Due Process Hearing, Appeal, Discipline, Age of Majority Section 504, ADA, FERPA NCLB No Child Left Behind Litigation: Special Ed Caselaw S.M.A.R.T. IEPs Special Ed Advocacy for the Parent, Advocate, and Parent’s Attorney Legal, systemic and “school culture” obstacles to compliance with IDEA-04 The Parent as the Special Ed Manager and Expert Developing the Master Plan Knowing the Rules of the Game Recognizing and Avoiding the Fatal Obstacles How to Deal with Conflict, a Healthy and Normal event Crisis, Emergency, Help Organization of the Child’s File
2:30-2:45	Break
2:45-4:00	Tactics and Strategies Rule of Adverse Assumptions Private Evaluations Paper Trails The Letter to the Stranger 5 Ws + H + E Preparation for Meetings Meeting Strategies
4:00-4:30	Questions and Answers

Registration

Registration Fees *Early Bird
Ends Feb. 16, 2026
Regular

Individual $75 $75

Professional (certificate of attendance will be provided) $100 $125

*All Early Bird registrants will receive an Adobe.pdf file of Wrightslaw 2017 Special Education Legal Development and Case book. Retails for $14.95.

Registration fee includes a light breakfast, lunch and refreshments, a Wrightslaw highlighter pen, and three Wrightslaw books: Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 3rd Edition, Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition and Wrightslaw: All About IEPs provided the morning of the conference. Wrightslaw will provide the three books to the attendee in the adobe.pdf format as well. The three print and PDF books retail for $113.60.

Online Registration: Click here to register online.

Brochure/Flyer: Print and share the conference flyer.

Questions? Contact the sponsor by email at conference |at| theliac.org

Wrightslaw programs often fill up early - don't miss out!

Logistics, Directions, Accommodations

Directions

Click here for directions to the Marriott Melville Long Island Hotel.

Parking

Parking is free at the Marriott Melville Long Island Hotel.

Airports

John F. Kennedy International Airport

LaGuardia Airport

Long Island MacArthur Airport

(All airports approximately 30 minutes to venue)

Accommodations

Click here for local accommodations.

We built the Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities so people can get reliable information and support.

The State Yellow Pages has many useful resources - evaluators, educational consultants, academic tutors, support groups, grassroots organizations, advocates, attorneys and others who help parents get services for their children.

If you provide a service, sign up to be listed on the Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities - this is a free service from Wrightslaw.


Law Advocacy Topics A-Z Training Wrights' Blog Wrightslaw Store Yellow Pages for Kids