BSEA

"BSEA Hearing Officer Amy Reichbach held that the communications and materials of non-lawyer special education advocates are subject to the protections of the work product doctrine.  The hearing officer reasoned that such protection is necessary in order to minimize the potential chilling effect…

Parent requested a combined high school/college program with a tutor and other supports for her 17 year old son with Aspergers. Lexington proposed Pathways as the appropriate placement.  The HO agreed with Lexington that student required a therapeutic placement with same age peers and language…

Ruling on request for clarification of FAPE and eligibility for specific services from parents and the town of Shrewsbury concerning a six year old boy.  The H.O. summarized, "As applied to the instant dispute, ...there is no requirement that Shrewsbury provide occupational or physical…

Hearing Officer (HO) determined that parents were entitled to reimbursement for program they privately provided for thei son, who was a 13 year old boy with severe neurological deficits, including apraxia, gross motor and need for help with activities of daily living (ADL's).  The district…

Decision concerns a 21 year old student with severe ADHD and low average iq.  Parents placed him unilaterally at the Riverview School GROW program as a residential student and sought reimbursment from Natick.  The HO determined that the town had to reimburse parent for Riverview tuition…

Sole issue was if the district had to pay for an independent evaluation (IE) for a child who received free or reduced price lunch or whose parents were below 400% of poverty.  The HO determined that Massachusetts law gives such parents the right to a publicly funded IE even if they do not…

Question if student required a residential placement as requested by the mother through her attorney, Tim Sindelar.  Stuident is an 8 year old 2nd grade student with psychiatric disabilities and "profound deficits in self-regulation."  The HO determined that with intensive home-based…

The HO decided that Belmont's behavior intervention plan (BIP) was overly restrictive, and he denied the town's request to force its implementation. Decision involved a 10 year old, 5th grade boy who had ODD and difficulty controlling some aggressive and risky behaviors.  The BIP…