SUCCESS STORY

Lani’s six-year-old son Robert started school soon after his father was arrested for domestic violence. Coupled with his diagnosis of attention deficit disorder (ADD), Robert soon began experiencing behavioral issues at school. Despite knowing about Robert’s problems, Robert’s teacher consistently abused him verbally in front of classmates, refused to let him attend school trips, and often sent him to the principal’s office. Lani, a single mother who spoke Tagalog and limited English, tried to transfer Robert to another classroom, but the principal refused. What could Lani do to ensure that her son receive the education he deserved?

How Legal Aid Helped
As part of our Kids in Crisis Project (KIC), Legal Aid helped Lani advocate for Robert’s well being in meetings with the school and the special education director of the school district. As a result of Legal Aid’s guidance:

• The school administration put in place specific procedures for all potential disciplinary actions for Robert.

• The administration also agreed to have a translator available during future conversations with Lani.

• The principal offered to change Robert’s teacher and invited Lani to sit in on classes and visit with teachers, so that she could choose the best classroom for Robert the next school year.

Today Robert is thriving in his new learning environment and getting the attention he deserves.

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