Advocating for appropriate education for children in Georgia since 1984.
Located in Lawrenceville, Georgia, I travel extensively throughout the state working with individual families in an effort to obtain appropriate evaluations and educational services from local school districts for their child or children with disabilities in accord with the Individuals with Disabilities Educational Improvement Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Families Education Rights Privacy Act (FERPA).
I specialize in representation of student interests in Section 504 plan meetings, IEP and BIP meetings, Manifestation Determination Review meetings, mediations, and in Juvenile Court proceedings. In addition, I offer creative solutions based upon my extensive experiences, share information and resources with clients and do my best to educate family members regarding their rights and those of their disabled child.
I am especially well suited for this practice because I have walked in the shoes of many of my clients as I, too, am a parent of 2 sons, one of whom has multiple special needs, and I, too, had to fight for his rights, services and supports as he was educated in the public schools.
Contact
☎ CONTACT
(770) 339-9854
jeanestes@bellsouth.net
Areas of Practice
Special Education
The world of special education is ever changing and evolving, with new techniques and methodologies found to be effective every year. With the consistent introduction of new case law, technology, and educational trends, the opportunities for children with disabilities grow, but so do the costs, complexity and resistance to change. That’s where I come in.
training
Because parenting a child with disabilities is a life- long commitment, I enjoy sharing information that I have acquired in order to enable other parents to better advocate on their children's behalf and to empower them to ask questions and obtain sufficient information in order to make informed decisions on behalf of their family member. I provide tailored interactive training on a variety of subjects, in order to cover identified topics, answer specific questions or meet specific needs.
guardianship, conservatorship, powers of attorney
When children reach the age of 18, in the eyes of the law, they become adults and acquire the right to make contracts, the right to make their own medical and financial decisions as well as the right to determine where they will live, etc. Since many of our children are unable to make or to communicate decisions of such importance, I assist parents in determining what choices must be made and inform and assist them in completing the necessary steps to protect their adult children with disabilities.
Juvenile court
As academic pressures increase for students, without appropriate positive behavioral supports, disruptive behaviors can increase too. Coupled with the sharp increase in bullying behaviors that occur in schools today, students with disabilities sometimes find themselves with charges being brought in Juvenile Court. I have successfully represented the interests of several such students and obtained for them fair resolutions.
“The best index to a person’s character is how he treats people who can’t do him any good, and how he treats people who can’t fight back.”
Let's Talk.
The best ways to contact me are by telephone or email followed by a phone call. I typically will ask you several questions about your situation and then explain my process, describing my hourly rate and retainer fee. My initial consultation is provided at no charge.