#AdvocacyMatters: Expanding Education Advocacy

October 2, 2026 / #AdvocacyMatters

Of all the types of work we do, education advocacy consistently ranks among the most in-demand. IEPs, extended school year, compensatory education, and suspension issues can leave many families feeling like they don't know where to turn.

We're grateful to have additional supports available in this area, like our Special Education Fellow position that has been supported by private grants for several years now. Even with this extra help, the demand for this support often outpaces what our team can handle.

In fact, we're currently wrapping up a week-long pause on new education-related intakes to allow our team time to catch up. The demand is obviously much larger what our team can take on alone.

With that said, we're proud to share that our series of Free Education Clinics is set to kick off for a new year. Hosted in collaboration with The Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities and Abdnour Weiker, these free clinics give parents and guardians an opportunity to meet with a special education advocate or attorney in an open and welcoming environment to ask questions and discuss specific challenges related to education.

"The Special Education Legal Clinic has grown into a fun and safe learning space where parents, advocates, educators and attorneys come together once a month to get a little boost in their understanding of what it takes to support a child with a disability. It is one of the best things on my calendar each month," said partner Mark Weiker. "It has been incredibly satisfying to see how many community members have benefited from the workshops and individual guidance sessions since then. We hope to keep it going, for free, for several more years."

"Creating a free and open space where parents and families can learn, ask questions, and consult with professionals is a key component of our work in this space," added Jennifer Martinez, DRO Senior Attorney and Education & Employment Team Leader. "Partnering with OCECD and Abdnour Weiker to continue these clinics will help us reach more families with vital support and information."

The new session of clinics kicks off on Monday, October 19th with "Special Education: Myth vs. Fact - what families need to know," hosted by DRO's Tammie Sebastian. You can learn more about these clinics and register to attend by visiting www.lawyers4students.com/legalclinic.

#AdvocacyMatters