Littman Krooks Partner Amy C. O'Hara recently attended the Special Needs Alliance meeting. The Special Needs Alliance is a national organization comprised of attorneys committed to the practice of disability and public benefits law. This organization is by invitation only of which Amy C. O'Hara has the privilege of serving as President Elect of their Board of Directors. The SNA invests time and resources in Congress on proposed legislation which affects our clients and practices. The following is a summary of current bills the SNA is tracking which may benefit individuals with disabilities, and aging clients.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) protects the rights of students with disabilities and requires the appropriate local agencies to identify, evaluate and refer children suspected of having a disability to determine eligibility for services. The IDEA protects students up to age 21 and in some cases, older.

National Autism Awareness Month raises public awareness about autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) during the month of April. One of the many ways support is shown worldwide is through the Light it Up Blue campaign, initiated by the United Nations and nonprofit organization, Autism Speaks. Each year on April 2, buildings around the world illuminate a blue light and communities come together to pledge their support.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Littman Krooks is proud to be a Bronze sponsor of NAMIWalks Westchester. The walk will be held on Saturday, May 20th at 9:00 a.m., at Ridge Road Park, Hartsdale, New York, the future site of the Westchester Healing Garden. NAMI is a grassroots organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all individuals and families whose lives are affected by mental illness and co-occurring disorders.

Partner Marion Walsh will speak on a panel sponsored by the Special Education Legal Fund on May 3rd at 7pm on “Preparing for College: A Parent’s Guide.” Explore the ins and outs of preparing for college to help ensure success for your student with emotional and learning needs.

LK is sponsoring the BluePath Service Dog walk on Sat., May 13, 2023 at FDR Park in Yorktown, NY at 10:00  The family-friendly event will raise funds in support of BluePath's mission - to provide autism service dogs, offering safety, companionship and opportunities for independence. Come join us and you can register here:  https://www.bluepathservicedogs.org/events