Who makes IDEA decisions if a student is living with a neighbor and doesn’t have contact with his parents? What if parents are separated and both want to attend an IEP meeting but refuse to be in the same room? What if one parent is currently incarcerated or is subject to a protection-from-abuse order but expresses a desire to be involved in the IEP process? What if parents disagree about important issues such as administration of medication or the provision specific accommodations or services? Do any of these questions sound familiar? Special educators encounter a wide variety of family law issues with some posing a complicated entanglement of both state and federal law. In this session, special education attorney Erin D. Gilsbach discusses the legal aspects of and provides some helpful solutions to some of the most common (and a few interestingly uncommon) family law issues that educators may encounter.

Litigation can have devastating impacts on both schools and families. Fortunately, it is often avoidable through the development of positive relationships between parents and schools, based upon clear communication and mutual trust.

In this session, Atty. Gilsbach, with nearly 20 years’ experience practicing special education law, discusses how FAPE-related conflicts often result from a breakdown in communication between the parties. She uses case-specific examples to provide meaningful, practical tips and tools for both schools and parents to help facilitate positive relationships.

From swim teams to middle school musicals and everything in between, public schools offer wide varieties of extracurricular activities and field trip opportunities, but what are their legal obligations regarding accommodating students with disabilities at these events/trips, and are today's schools really doing enough? In this session, Erin D. Gilsbach, Esq., a school attorney who provides professional development to educators, school leaders, and school attorneys nationwide, provides an in-depth analysis of this issue. Using recent cases from across the nation to provide an expansive study of the topic, Atty. Gilsbach answers some of the most prominent and sometimes puzzling questions: Can/should schools provide different accommodations for events/trips than what they provide for a student during the school day? When do schools need to have a nurse present? Who is authorized to administer medication? Can school nurses practice nursing across state lines? Can volunteers with nursing licenses pride nursing functions? Can schools require parents to of disabilities to attend such trips/events? What happens when a school and a students physician disagree about the student's ability to participate in a particular activity? What obligations do schools have to implement Section 504 plans at sporadic/irregular events like dances, concerts, and sporting events? In a lively and interactive session that is as fun as it is informative, Atty. Gilsbach answers these questions and more using advanced visual technology, helpful charts and infographics, and invaluable written reference materials. 

Can a public school be held responsible for the mistakes and misdeeds of 3rd-party organizations? How separate does a group need to be to ensure that their actions will not cause liability for a school? What can schools do to limit legal exposure while still taking advantage of the benefits of these essential relationships? In this webinar, nationally-recognized school law attorney Erin D. Gilsbach discusses how schools can minimize potential liability when working with 3rd-party community organizations, such as PTAs,. Booster Clubs, and foundations.

When do schools need to have a nurse present? Are schools able to use volunteer nurses on field trips in lieu of school nurses? What about administration of medication on school trips? This session analyzes the laws that may require schools to have nursing staff present and discusses practical solutions to nursing shortages. Atty. Gilsbach, a frequent presenter on school nursing issues, provides important and much-needed information on this difficult subject. All school leaders, school nurses, educators, and school event organizers need to have this critical information.