New York Special Education Attorneys

Manhattan Office
315 Madison Avenue
(corner of 42nd street)
New York, NY 10017
TEL. (212)807-5525

We also have offices in:
(click for directions)

Queens, NY - Main Office
88-02 136 Street
Richmond Hill, NY 11418
TEL. (718) 206-1555

Westchester Office
75 South Broadway - 4th Floor
White Plains, NY 10601
TEL. (914) 819-5787

Long Island Office
1225 Franklin Avenue, Suite 325
Garden City, NY 11530
TEL. (516) 512-8967

Brooklyn, NY Office
1172 Coney Island Avenue, 2nd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11230
TEL. (877) LAW-NOW9

Learning Disabilities

New York Learning Disabilities Attorney
We are committed to assisting all eligible children and their families, including children with:

ADD and ADHD
Autism
Mental retardation
Traumatic brain injury
Speech or language impairments
Reading Problems
Dyslexia
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Visual impairments
Hearing impairments
Emotional disturbance
Physical handicaps
Specific learning disabilities
Asperger's Syndrome
Other Health Impairments
Pervasive developmental disorder (PDD)
Psychiatric problems
Asperger's Disorder

This is a neurobiological disorder that generally impacts social interactions. Non-verbal Learning Disability and Autism are often confused with this condition, but the real difference is in the intensity of the symptoms. Asperger's Disorder falls between a Nonverbal Learning Disability and Autism, with Autism deemed the more severe disorder. There is, however, usually no delay in intellectual potential or general academic skills.

Some of the symptoms of Asperger's Disorder are:

Difficulty with nonverbal communication.
Poor social skills and peer relationships.
A flat affect to others (often indifferent or even sad with normal and/or happy things)
Inflexible or difficulty in moving from one task to another and/or handling changes in routes.
Poor understanding of the personal space of others.

Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and/or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are neurobiological disorders that arise from the part of our brain that controls impulse control and attention. There are different varieties of ADD/ADHD: (1) Inattentive Type, and (2) Hyperactive/Impulsive Type. The symptoms can be verbal, physical or both.

Some of the symptoms for the Inattentive Type are:

Difficulty paying attention, sequencing tasks and memory
Difficulty with time management.
Difficulty with following directions.
Very laid back.
Forgetful.
Poor self-esteem.
Tentative or non-risk taker.
Some of the symptoms for the Hyperactive/Impulsive Type are:
Inability to sit still without fidgeting, taking turns and completing tasks.
Always on the go, non-stop behavior.
Reckless and out of control behaviors, at times.
Difficulty stopping themselves at times.
Poor reading comprehension while having good reading skill in isolation.
Low frustration level.
Angry and aggressive behavior (usually due to frustration).

Autism

Autism is a congenital (from birth) or developmental disorder that usually appears by age three. As in the case of most learning disabilities, it manifests itself from mild to severe. Autism is biological and affects the normal development of both social and communication skills.

Some of the symptoms of Autism are:

Difficulty with verbal and nonverbal communication.
Difficulty with social interaction, and often a lack of empathy to others (preferring to be alone).
Often marked by repeated body movements, such as: rocking, hand flapping, toe walking, and/or Manipulation of objects.
Difficulty in moving from one task to another and/or handling changes in routes.

Central Auditory Processing Disorder

This is a neurological disorder that affects the ability to manage and perceive auditory information. Although a child receives the information (through hearing it), the child's brain is unable to process the information correctly. Sometimes the brain can process the information but there is a delay.

Some of the symptoms of an Auditory Processing Disorder are:

Poor auditory memory.
Difficulty paying attention.
Often marked by the child asking for the information/question to be repeated
Poor phonemic awareness.
Poor ability to sequence auditory instruction.
Hypersensitivity to sounds.
Complaints of headaches in crowded areas.

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a neurological disability that affects reading (and in turn spelling and writing). It is noteworthy that this condition is not due to a lack of intelligence or improper instruction from others. It is also called a Developmental Reading Disorder.

Some symptoms of Dyslexia are:

Difficulty with spelling.
Difficulty with reading comprehension
Poor phonics awareness.
Low self-esteem.
Often marked by the child knowing the alphabet only by rote.
Disorganized, absentminded.
Acting out behavior

Dyspraxia

This involves a lack of development in the neurological system causing an interruption in the brain's ability to communicate with the motor activity of the muscles. Individuals with this disorder have difficulty sequencing tasks, such as putting on clothes or getting dressed in the morning; also, such persons are challenged by coordination involving their hands, fingers and feet.

Some of the symptoms of Dyspraxia are:

Difficulty with coordination, such as holding objects including pens, pencils and crayons; and/or difficulty using their arms and hands to throw or catch a baseball, basketball or other object; and/or difficulty walking, skipping, or running.
Often marked by confusion in directionality, such as not knowing right from left, north from south.
Poor short-term memory
Hypersensitivity to certain tactile stimuli, such as touching or holding certain fabrics or material including rayon, silk or denim.
Difficulty with reading and writing, as well as math equations.

Non-Verbal Learning Disorders

Non-verbal learning disorders are neurological disabilities in which the child has difficulty communicating through facial expressions and/or body language.

Some symptoms of non-verbal learning disorders are:

Poor gross and fine motor coordination.
Often marked by difficulty with personal space and therefore interacting with others.

Verbal Learning Disorders

Verbal learning disorders is the broad category of neurological disorders that arise from the manner in which a child's brain stores, processes and retrieves information.

Verbal learning disabilities can surface in children with a variety of levels of intelligence, including those with average, above average, or even superior intelligence. The child has a particular problem speaking, and this impacts social interaction with the outside world.

Some of the symptoms of verbal learning disorders are:

Difficulty processing, verbalizing and /or repeating instructions.
Often marked by slowness in completing sentences, tasks and/or work.
Disorganized in their thought processes, reasoning and/or problem solving.
Poor short-term and/or long-term memory.
Often developmental delay in motor functioning and/or language & communication skills.
Poor social judgment, weak peer relationships, inappropriate behavior and poor adjustment to environment.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Goals of an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) are to utilize an array of assessments to produce strategies for learning. Often, a structured environment and/or non-public school are required. Tutoring is also considered a strong adjunct to the classroom setting. Assistive technology may be an additional tool to assist the child in learning; some of these modalities include but are not limited to: quiet separate testing room, assistance with reading, books on tape, assistive technology, assistance with writing and spelling during exams and papers, extended time on exams and assignments, time shifting of exams, assistance with classroom note taking, alternative testing format, access to alternative format of material, and assistance with time management.

DUE PROCESS

Children's due process rights are also at stake in the school environment. Such rights raise questions about unreasonable searches and seizures, whether a child can be subjected to corporal punishment, and what rights apply to a child who has been suspended or expelled. Issues concerning students' rights to be safe in and around the school continue to emerge as tragic incidents of school violence increase.

The delay in identifying students with learning disabilities has prevented the majority of these students from ever closing the achievement gap with their classmates and placed them in the situation where they have to constantly struggle in school and struggle with homework.

Robert Aronov & Associates, P.C. represents families and students to enforce their educational rights. Services include consultation about legal rights and strategies to enforce them; assistance with the process of formulating evaluations and individualized education plans; negotiation with school districts to obtain the receipt of appropriate educational services, programs and placements; and litigating claims at all levels of the administrative and court systems.

Call Robert Aronov & Associates, P.C. if your child has a learning disability or problem and is not making progress in his or her current school program or if the Committee on Special Education has not provided the services your child needs.

Call 877-LAW-NOW9

Robert Aronov & Associates, P.C. Can Help You.

Our educational lawyer serves the entire New York area including Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester. Contact the Law Offices of Robert Aronov & Associates, P.C. by phone or e-mail today to schedule a consultation.

Please be advised that the information contained in this web site is general information regarding the law. Nothing contained herein constitutes the formal rendering of legal advice, nor can the creation of an attorney/client relationship be formed by merely visiting this web site. The law can be quite complex and nuanced and is constantly changing.

If you wish to discuss a legal matter with Robert Aronov & Associates, PC, please call us at 877-LAW-NOW9, and we will arrange for a consultation.