Law Office of Ellen Saideman

02/13/2026

In my special education practice, many of my cases involve complicated issues with the school districts disputing either the facts or the law or both or just arguing that they’re doing the bare minimum required by federal and state law. But every once in a while I get a case where the law and the facts are crystal clear and the school districts is in blatant violation of the law, and sometimes I’m able to resolve those cases with a phone call or email to my opposing counsel. And it is so sad that parents have struggled, sometimes for months and sometimes children have gone without school for months, when all it takes is for the school district to know the parent has legal representation for the case to be resolved.

01/27/2026

I have a case currently in the federal district court of Rhode Island on behalf of a student with a mobility impairment who has encountered architectural barriers, including the lack of accessible routes and the failure to maintain accessible parking, at the University of Rhode Island. I’m interested in interviewing any current students who are encountering similar problems this semester as well as any eleventh and twelfth graders with mobility impairments who are considering attending the University of Rhode Island. You can email me at [email protected]. Thank you.

12/06/2025

I find it very distressing that 35 years after the ADA was passed that URI did not promptly act to provide program access so my client could continue in her Ph. D program

A disabled PhD student at the University of Rhode Island (URI) has filed a federal lawsuit alleging the university violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - and her civil rights. 

08/28/2024

Subject: Bates College Student National Science Foundation Research For Hearing Loss

Julia Newell, a student at Bates College, grew up with a rare form of hearing loss. She faced major barriers to accessing my K-12 education and the same opportunities as her peers. She is now a National Science Foundation grant researcher aiming to better understand the needs of the current generation of hearing-loss high school students like she was.

For hearing loss high school and related roles - their friends and families, high school teachers and administration, and roles that help them with their hearing loss and accessibility:
Please participate in her research by signing up for a 15-minute + Zoom interview: https://usemotion.com/meet/julia-newell/meeting. Participants only share the information that they feel comfortable sharing and all information shared is confidential and used for research purposes.
For hearing loss high schoolers only:
Please participate in her research by trialing this platform,https://dhh-accessibility-coach.zapier.app/, to answer your hearing loss accessibility questions. This is especially helpful if used when in the middle of navigating an accessibility issue. All responses are confidential and used for research purposes.
Once used, please fill out this 5-minute feedback form: https://forms.gle/MqqKhQj2mn4QGTFY6. All responses are confidential and for research purposes.
Feel free to reach out to her via her mail, [email protected], or phone number, 617-584-3262.

Please send this along to any other hearing-loss high schoolers, friends/ family, high school teachers/ administration, or hearing-loss/ disability/ accessibility professionals you know.
or

The platform and 15-minute chats are best fit for English-speaking people at this time, as she is currently sourcing interpreters and other accessibility features. Please reach out to her if you need additional access support.

And please let us know if you or anyone you know would be interested in interpreting on Zoom interviews by filling out this quick Google form: https://forms.gle/vSB6PtZxbz9kH5448. We appreciate your help enabling us to expand the population that this research can include.

08/02/2024

I got a victory in my very first case in the federal district court of Massachusetts. A parent had won a due process case on her own (pro se) about a discipline matter in Massachusetts, and the school district appealed. EdLaw asked me to co-counsel the case, and I was delighted to do so. I thought it was ridiculous for the school district to appeal. The hearing officer had ordered the school to do a functional behavioral analysis (FBA) and to meet to discuss it, and that had already happened. So the case was moot. I argued the case last Thursday July 25 with Michele Scavongelli. Konstantin Tretyakov argued it on behalf of the BSEA (Massachusetts hearing officer agency). (Massachusetts defends its hearing officer's decisions). And one week later the court dismissed the case as moot!!!

01/15/2024

A great opportunity for some wonderful training.

📣Attention ALL!

Don't miss your chance to apply for the Beth Goodman Scholarship!

Time is running out - applications are due tomorrow, January 16th. Remember, this scholarship could be the key to unlocking your future success.

Head over to our Conference Scholarships page and submit your application today!

11/23/2023

10/31/2023

So excited and honored to receive this award!

08/08/2023

The COPAA conference is always a great place to learn a lot and make new friends!

06/30/2023

I am very proud of COPAA’s work, including the many amicus briefs we file in courts all over the country!

06/23/2023

Working with RILS attorney Veronika Kot, I have filed complaints with the DOJ regarding the unlawful use of restraints and seclusion in two Rhode Island school districts.

Federal complaints allege one student was unlawfully restrained as many as 45 times.