Why I Do This Type of Law:
I started my law practice because I truly believe that failure is just another data point. In other words, failure tells us what isn't working -- it's up to us to figure out why and what will work.
I believe in educating clients, schools, and universities so that students with disabilities can learn and succeed.
I believe K-12 students facing suspension or expulsion deserve to learn.
I believe that college students facing academic misconduct charges also deserve to learn, and need a vigorous defense.
Effective educational advocacy begins with knowledge – knowledge of the law, educational practices and disabilities. The law changes, educational practice changes, and our knowledge of disabilities is getting more nuanced every day. I continue to take classes on all three to keep up. A full list is below, and is updated regularly.
A Little About Me:
I grew up in California and graduated from Smith College in Massachusetts, where I balanced college with forest fire fighting during the summers. Following a Masters in Library Science from the University of Pittsburgh, I graduated from Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University. I've clerked for the Ohio Supreme Court, supervised mediation students at OSU Moritz College of Law, advocated for special education students at Louisin Child Advocacy, and for all students as an education attorney at Albeit Weiker, LLP. I started my solo practice in February of 2019.
I live in Bexley with my daughter, two sons, and two dogs. With the gradual realization that my daughter's struggles in reading were a form of dyslexia, I dove into special education, first for her, and then for others facing similar challenges. When I advocate for families, I do it from a parent and a legal perspective.
To check out my full resume, see: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-haynes-936544144/
The following are legal and educational training programs I have completed:
Special Education and Disability Law Training:
Free and Appropriate Public Education, 1 hour
Child Find, 2 hours
Evaluations, 3 hours
504s, 3 hours
IEPs, 3 hours
Confidentiality and Procedural Safeguards, 3 hours
Discipline and Expedited Hearings, 3 hours
Non-Public Schools and Special Education, 3 hours
Conflict resolution and Special Education, 3 hours
Ohio Special Education Law, 7.5 hours
Resolving IEP and Section 504 Disputes, 6 hours
Guardian Ad Litem training: Understanding Child Protective Services, 3 hours
Guardian Ad Litem training: Ethics and Professionalism, 3 hours
Fundamentals of Adult Guardianship Education Program, 6 hours
Education and Disability Training:
Reading disabilities:
Using the Woodcock Johnson IV Assessment for the identification of Dyslexia, 2 hours
Foundational course in the Wilson Reading System, 3 days
Improving Reading Comprehension Skills for Grades K-3, 5 hours
Linking Vocabulary to Comprehension: Practical Ideas and Activities, 2 hours
English Language Learners and Special Education
NOBIDA Conference, 2 days (Dyslexia)
Language and Literacy, 3 hours
Literary Instruction: Addressing the Needs of Diverse Learners, 2 hours
Autistic Spectrum:
Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence, 1.5 hours
OCALI Conference, 2018, 3 days (Autism)
OCALI Conference, 2019, 3 days (Autism)
Attentional disabilities:
A Parent's Guide to Understanding ADHD, 2 hours
Progress monitoring and data collection in IEPs, 3 hours
Strategies to Support Inclusive Practices and LRE Decisions, 2 hours
Got Data? Understanding Special Education data, 3 hours
Developmental issues:
Guardian Ad Litem training: Developmental Disabilities-Navigating the Special Ed Process & Accessing Community Supp, 3 hours
Guardian Ad Litem training: Understanding Child Development, 3 hours
Adult Guardianship Continuing Education: Developmental Disabilities, 3 hours
Behavior and Mental health issues:
School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), 6 hours
Stop Bullying Now: Strategies for Keeping Students Safe, 2 hours
Guardian Ad Litem training: Divorce-The Impact on Children, 3 hours
Guardian Ad Litem training:Psychiatric Disorders in Children, 3 hours
Guardian Ad Litem training: Psychiatric Issues & Adolescents, 3 hours
Parent and Community: Trauma-Informed Parenting, 2 hours
Vision and Hearing Issues:
Providing Services to Children with Vision and Hearing Challenges, 3 hours
Transition issues:
Transitioning from high school, 6 hours
The Services Continuum: Middle School to High School to College, 2 hours
Assistive and Computer Technology issues:
Assistive technology, 4 hours