NYC Settlements Update
Speculation is swirling. Is a political war between Mayor de Blasio and Comptroller Scott Stringer the reason why the Comptroller has not signed and returned scores of stipulations of settlement entered into between parents of children with disabilities and the New York City Department of Education?
We do not know for sure. What we do know is that whatever the reason for the delay, the effect is the same – families with children with disabilities are suffering as either the intended or unintended victims of the Comptroller’s failure to sign off on settlements.
Due to the unexplained delay, some impartial hearing officers now are requiring parents to go through with an actual hearing. At this point, this may be the speedier route to resolution and parents finally seeing the funding they were promised by the NYC DOE.
While we continue to rattle the cage on our end with the NYC DOE’s attorneys and their supervisors to obtain countersigned stipulations of settlement, we encourage YOU (parents) to contact the Comptroller’s Office directly to explain the delay, how it is affecting you and request that the Comptroller expedite the review of your child’s settlement. Being seen as a group force may make a difference.
If you have any media contacts please ask them to investigate and report on this situation.
You can reach the Office of the Comptroller at (212) 669-3916. Please provide the Comptroller’s Office with your child’s date of birth and nine-digit NYC ID number (found on your child’s IEP).
My daughter is learning disabled and her needs were ignored by the school district for years. They never followed her recommended IEP, and when the elementary school gave her a 504 plan, at the start of Middle School the district removed the Plan without notifying me or my husband. The district gave my daughter a middle school diploma even though she had bad grades the whole time.
We were new to the country, the system, and most importantly, to the diagnosis. We had identified what services our son needed but we did not know if we would be able to get them for him. This generated a great deal of anxiety and we knew things could go either way and that thought terrified us. As a parent of a child with autism, you have many battles to fight on your own. Tracey not only managed to ease our fears on a legal level but she also did on an emotional level. She was our support. She had our back and she was going to do all she could to fight for our son to get the services he desperately needed. She never gave up, she was sharp yet dignified and graceful in all her dealings. She always figures things out and is not outsmarted! She has optimism, empathy and legal prowess – a winning combination! As a result, we got the services we needed for our son. We also were given a great deal of support, comfort, advice, and information that would help to make life with autism easier. She made the entire process as effortless as possible and for that, we will be forever grateful!
We are elated with Tracey’s commitment to our son. We had settled earlier than ever before, received excellent guidance and communication, and feel we are in the best of hands. The fact that her fees are substantially more affordable than any other attorney we’ve worked with is a true blessing. Thank you, Tracey, you are THE best.”
I met Tracey through a family who was helped by her. My family was at a crossroads because our daughter was told she could no longer attend the school which she had been attending since Pre-K. Tracey was God sent. I remember meeting with her at her office. She was calm and attentive. She listened to me and promised no miracles, but a guarantee that she would work tirelessly on our behalf. Less than three months later, our case was settled. Tracey also defended me when the IEP meeting was set on a date that was not convenient for us. We really feel comfortable with Tracey and will be with her for the long haul. This practice puts clients first.
During an emotionally frustrating time for our family fighting for our family and fighting for our son’s rights, we did not know where to turn. I was stressed out before I approached Tracey. She gave me straightforward answers and advice on what I had to do to handle the district and their unfair behavior towards us. Talking to Tracey made me feel that she had experience doing her job. She gave me solid guidelines and replied to my emails, containing my questions and concerns, immediately. During the case, Tracey listened to my concerns and took my suggestions when she saw it could help our case. That showed me that she is very pragmatic and appreciated my input. Having Tracey on our team helped me with legal vocabulary and to get to know the law better. As a result, with her guidance and representation, we have a successful settlement with the district. Now that this burden is out of our way, we can concentrate on our son’s continued success. In the future, if I ever have any questions or concerns, I know I am calling Tracey without any worries or reservations. I have already recommended her to my friends in need of a good special education attorney and I will continue to do so in the future as well.