McKinley & Ryan, LLC

02/27/2024

https://rcpress.podbean.com/e/out-d-coup-live-steve-oross-lorrie-mckinley-on-their-legal-win-in-ada-discrimination-case-v-kutztown-university/

Activism, politics, and beer from PA-based Raging Chicken Press

11/18/2021

https://apnews.com/article/technology-entertainment-music-education-pennsylvania-0cb85e91bb23b5cea2181f32bf7ed4bc

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — District administrators overreached when they permanently expelled a 17-year-old high school student for sending Snapchat messages after school hours that referred to another student as a potential school shooter, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.

11/04/2021

https://www.metrokids.com/dyslexia-signs-and-support/

It's important for parents and educators to identify the signs of dyslexia in children early to get them the support they need.

07/01/2021

The COVID-19 school shut-down created hardships and educational deprivations for children across the state, and especially for students with IEPs. Yesterday Governor Wolf signed SB 664, which provides extended educational eligibility for students in special education who would have aged out before the beginning of the upcoming school year. It also allows parents to elect to have their children repeat the grade they were in during the 2020-21 school year, even if they have been promoted to the next grade, and whether or not they have IEPs. Students over 18 can also opt to repeat the grade they were in during 2020-21. https://www.pasenategop.com/blog/new-law-authored-by-corman-offers-optional-year-of-education-due-to-covid-19/

If You Are Interested in Taking Advantage of Your Child’s Extended Educational Eligibility, YOU MUST TAKE ACTION BEFORE THE JULY 15TH DEADLINE.

If your child has an IEP, and has aged out of special education, either because they turned 21 during the 2020-21 school year, or will before the beginning of the upcoming school year, SB 664 extends their eligibility through the summer of 2021-22. To extend your child's eligibility, notify your school district/LEA before July 15th that your child will be returning to their special education program for the 2021-2022 school year.

If you decide that it would benefit your child to repeat the grade they were in during the 2020-21 school year, notify your school district before July 15th that you are electing that entitlement under SB 664, and that you requesting placement in the previous grade.

School districts are required to create and publish an on-line application on their website for parents and guardians to use to claim the benefits of SB 664. However, time is short, so if you do not see an on-line application on your district’s website, do not wait. Send an E-mail to the principal of your child’s school stating your intent to elect the benefits of SB 664 for your child. Do not forget to request an E-mail receipt.

s will now have the option to allow their children to repeat a grade level due to learning disruptions caused by COVID-19 as part of a new law authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R-Bellefonte).  

09/24/2020

We love that Sesame Street is helping kids learn about masks and how to wear them.

Covid-19 is going to be with us for a long time, so we have been giving a lot of thought to the mask issue from the perspective of special education. For some children, being able to wear a mask is an important life skill that may provide the key to social inclusion far beyond the school environment. We know that some kids with disabilities have sensory issues or other impediments to mask-wearing. Because public health is at issue, the laws providing for disability-based accommodations in public settings may not always apply the same way they otherwise would. Therefore, children who cannot wear masks and their families may be significantly isolated from their communities.

We recommend that IEP teams consider whether learning to wear a mask is an individualized educational need for children who have not yet learned how to wear one or who are facing barriers to successful use of the mask. Like any other educational need identified in an IEP, it should be addressed with appropriate specially designed instruction. The IEP team might consider, for example, specialized training, mask-specific behavioral interventions, or sensory integration services from an occupational therapist.

During the CNN Sesame Street town hall, Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains to Elmo why people are wearing masks and how to make one during the Covid-19 pandemic.

05/08/2020

I did not know much about the fascinating and courageous Helena Devereux, and we think this is something to celebrate.

Helena T. Devereux, special education pioneer and founder of Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, is featured in a new exhibit at the Pennsylvania Governor's Residence that honors the achievements of Pennsylvania women.

04/16/2020

Great information from Community Legal Services, Inc. about unemployment insurance and how to access it.

This page will be updated with information about how COVID-19 impacts unemployment benefits. Last updated: April 3, 2020 at 10:45 a.m. Unemployment compensation can put cash in your pocket when you have lost your job through no fault of your own. If you are out of work or are losing hours because of...

04/16/2020

Indeed. Hang in there everyone!

Feeling overwhelmed because of all the social distancing and the "Stay In Place" orders because ofcoronavirus? Well, you are not alone and Elmo's dad, Louie, has some words for you: "To all the parents out there: you are doing an amazing job! But remember to take a moment for yourself, to breath, st...

03/23/2020

March 23rd: The PA Department of Education (PDE) announced today all schools in the Commonwealth will remain closed through at least April 6 as a result of the COVID-19 response efforts. The closure order could be extended beyond April 6 if necessary to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19.

Under the new timeline, school buildings would reopen on April 7 for two days to allow school administrators, teachers and other staff time to prepare classrooms, set up cafeterias, schedule transportation and arrange other business operations. Students would return to school on April 9, unless extending the closure is needed in response to the situation with the virus at that time.

03/23/2020

Monday, March 23, 2022:
As directed by Governor Wolf, our office is closed, but our work continues. Even during this period of statewide school and work closures and recommended social distancing, we know that people have pressing questions and legal needs. We are working remotely on our existing cases and providing services to new clients to the best of our ability.

For the time being, E-mail is probably the quickest way to reach us. Lorrie and Nancy can be reached at [email protected] and [email protected]. We will be responding to telephone calls as well, so please do not hesitate to contact us if you require assistance.

Please stay healthy and safe.

03/20/2020

No rest for the weary, as our most vulnerable children remain in the cross-hairs. This is simply unconscionable, not to mention counter-productive and discriminatory.

Subject: Urgent Action Needed to Protect Rights of Children with Disabilities 03/19/2020

Good evening,

We are writing because the rights of all students with disabilities are in jeopardy. We learned today that there is a bill before Congress which would give the Secretary of Education, currently Betsy DeVos, the power to waive IDEA requirements for at least one year. This is being proposed as part of a stimulus bill intended to address the COVID-19 outbreak. If this bill passes, schools will no longer be responsible for identifying students who need special education, evaluating them, or providing them specialized instruction and related services.

Congress needs to hear from parents like you, who are intimately familiar with the challenges students with disabilities face and how important special education is.

Here are 3 ways you can take action:

1. Send your Senator an email (see draft email below). Find out who your Senator is here: https://www.senate.gov/…/contact_informati…/senators_cfm.cfm.

2. Send your Representative an email (see draft below). Find your Representative here: https://www.house.gov/representati…/find-your-representative

3. Call your representative directly on U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

DRAFT Email

DATE

Dear Senator/Representative:

While the COVID-19 outbreak has placed a tremendous and unprecedented strain on schools and districts, it is imperative that we work together to find solutions that allow children to receive equitable access to an education and the services that support them without undoing all of their civil and educational rights.I am writing as a concerned (parent/teacher/child advocate) to urge you to reject any provision that would provide waiver authority to the Secretary of Education regarding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Over 7 million children rely on IDEA to receive special education supports and services.

I hope you will help schools by providing states with additional funding that can be used to provide teachers and school leaders and families with the tools they need to connect to teach and support students. Schools can also be supported with funding to provide extended school year to students and other compensatory services

Please support the students with disabilities and their families that rely upon the IDEA to have equitable access to an education

Sincerely,

(Your name)

03/20/2020

No rest for the weary, as our most vulnerable children remain in the cross-hairs. This is simply unconscionable, not to mention counter-productive and discriminatory.

Subject: Urgent Action Needed to Protect Rights of Children with Disabilities 03/19/2020

Good evening,

We are writing because the rights of all students with disabilities are in jeopardy. We learned today that there is a bill before Congress which would give the Secretary of Education, currently Betsy DeVos, the power to waive IDEA requirements for at least one year. This is being proposed as part of a stimulus bill intended to address the COVID-19 outbreak. If this bill passes, schools will no longer be responsible for identifying students who need special education, evaluating them, or providing them specialized instruction and related services.

Congress needs to hear from parents like you, who are intimately familiar with the challenges students with disabilities face and how important special education is.

Here are 3 ways you can take action:

1. Send your Senator an email (see draft email below). Find out who your Senator is here: https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.

2. Send your Representative an email (see draft below). Find your Representative here: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

3. Call your representative directly on U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

DRAFT Email

DATE

Dear Senator/Representative:

While the COVID-19 outbreak has placed a tremendous and unprecedented strain on schools and districts, it is imperative that we work together to find solutions that allow children to receive equitable access to an education and the services that support them without undoing all of their civil and educational rights.I am writing as a concerned (parent/teacher/child advocate) to urge you to reject any provision that would provide waiver authority to the Secretary of Education regarding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Over 7 million children rely on IDEA to receive special education supports and services.

I hope you will help schools by providing states with additional funding that can be used to provide teachers and school leaders and families with the tools they need to connect to teach and support students. Schools can also be supported with funding to provide extended school year to students and other compensatory services

Please support the students with disabilities and their families that rely upon the IDEA to have equitable access to an education

Sincerely,

(Your name)

_Senators of the 116th Congress