EXCUTIVE DIRECTOR
TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS ON SPECIAL EDUCATION
FORMER NATIONAL DEV. COR. FOR TASH
Jim has testified before Congress regarding the re-authorization of IDEA. He is one of the top legal minds regarding Special education. He has special knowledge of Autism, Educational Law, Autism services, and works with many of the top Educational Consultants, Psychologists, and Professors from around the country. He is the former National Development Coordinator for TASH. He has advised Congressional members, Governors, U.S. Senators and White House Cabinet members regarding disabilities.
Jim has been helping people with disabilities and their families to search for human dignity and companionship for over 20 years. He lives and understands the feelings and struggles of over seven million Americans who have disabilities or who have family members with disabilities, or are affected
by disability laws. He has been improving and enabling education for all. He has taught Special Education Law at California New Hope University, and communicates regularly with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle.
Jim Peters found himself fighting his school district for appropriate educational placement and services for his young son, and attending law
school. Jim had quick successes against the school District. Just as quickly, he had other parents seeking information and his assistance with their children as well. Assistance for children not only diagnosed with autism, but other severe disabilities. Jim then became proficient in services, programs, treatments, and laws pertain to various diagnosis.
Jim attended dozens of IEP team meetings every month, and represented children in State level Hearings for free. Other parents joined in and assisted him to help any parent who asked. Jim began filing hearing requests for other parents at no cost for the parents who could not afford his services. Jim developed a very good relationship with the General Counsel for the California Dept. of Education. Jim established himself, without intent, as the “grassroots motivator” for inclusive educational programs, for students who were, for ages, locked away in self contained classrooms, segregated from typical peers, and meaningful fulltime inclusive education.
His expertise is in representing students with disabilities and their parents in special education and civil rights disputes with school districts and school district officials who fail to comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”), and comparable provisions of state law. He is a Key note speaker. He is dedicated to assisting individuals with disabilities and their parents in securing a “free appropriate public education,” as promised by the IDEA. He also fights for self-determination so that all individuals can obtain a meaningful education that will prepare them to live independently, as productive members of society.
Jim’s colleagues comprise of Psychologists, lawyers, parents, paralegals and advocates, most of whom are also parents of individuals with learning or severe disabilities.
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