child advocate | The Law Office of Christina D. Ghio, LLC

Can my child’s paraprofessional come to the PPT meeting?

By Christina D. Ghio|2016-11-02T19:44:10+00:00April 7th, 2016|

Yes! Parents of children with special education needs often wonder if they can invite the paraprofessional working with their child to the PPT meeting. In Connecticut, parents can not only ask for paraprofessionals to participate in the PPT, they have a right to it! In 2015, the Connecticut legislature amended the law to make it clear that parents the right to have the school paraprofessional assigned to the student attend the PPT meeting

DOJ Continues to Enforce the Right of Children to Bring Service Dogs to School

By Christina D. Ghio|2016-07-06T13:03:36+00:00October 27th, 2015|

More and more children with disabilities are benefiting from service dogs. Some children have service dogs who alert them to the presence of allergens. Some service dogs alert to an oncoming seizure. Still other service dogs are trained to interrupt self-injurious behavior, provide stability for children with mobility impairments, or prevent the child from running away. Service dogs help children with disabilities develop independence they would not otherwise have. When children use service dogs, the law allows them to be accompanied by their service dog, even in school

Why Service Dogs Matter

By Christina D. Ghio|2016-07-06T13:05:17+00:00October 27th, 2015|

I think it is important for people to understand why service dogs matter. Service dogs help people with disabilities live with more independence than they otherwise would. They help in ways that those of us who live without disabilities and without the need for service animals can't fully understand and appreciate

Enough is Enough: End Unnecessary Restraint and Seclusion Now

By Christina D. Ghio|2016-07-06T13:06:10+00:00September 16th, 2015|

This week, the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) released videos of children being restrained and placed in seclusion at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School (CJTS), the state’s locked facility for boys, and the Pueblo unit at Riverview Hospital, the state’s locked facility for girls. The videos are a disturbing reminder of how our state fails some of our most vulnerable children

New Law Limits Suspension and Expulsion of Children in Pre-K to Grade 2

By Christina D. Ghio|2017-03-09T16:49:24+00:00September 8th, 2015|

A new law limits the suspension or expulsion of children in pre-school through second grade. The laws regarding suspension and expulsion for students in Grade 3 to 12 are unchanged

Everything you need to know about service animals

By Christina D. Ghio|2016-07-11T14:55:25+00:00May 5th, 2015|

A service animal is any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. A service animal must be a dog-with one exception-miniature horses may be allowed with special requirement in regulations

Special Education Training Opportunity

By Christina D. Ghio|2016-07-06T13:10:23+00:00September 4th, 2014|

SpEdCT will soon be holding its annual “What You Need to Know About Special Education," a seminar for parents and professionals. This year, as always, the series will be packed with

Weekend Retreat for Parents of Children with Disabilities

By Christina D. Ghio|2016-07-06T13:32:46+00:00April 25th, 2010|

A Weekend Retreat for Parents of Children with Disabilities will be held from May 14 to May 16, 2010 at the Guest House Center in Chester, Connecticut. Organized by Education Organizer, LLC, the retreat aims to “provide relaxation, reflection, and personal growth for parents facing the extraordinary stresses of raising a child with a physical, cognitive, or emotional disability.”

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