Attorney Phillip J. Cohn

Connecticut and New York Special Education Attorney

Attorney Cohn handles many areas of education law, but he has a special interest in cases involving students with emotional disabilities. He has extensive experience fighting for students with emotional disabilities and resolving cases involving out-of-district placements, including residential programs. Attorney Cohn prides himself on making sure that school districts recognize and acknowledge that mental health issues fall under the purview of special education. He, also, believes that all parents should be made aware that school districts may be responsible for providing and paying for out-of-district placements under certain circumstances, such as in appropriate therapeutic day or residential schools.
Additionally, Attorney Cohn provides legal consulting services regarding tuition reimbursement, i.e., factors and circumstances that may render out-of-district, unilateral placements (such as day schools and residential programs) appropriate under special education law.

Areas of representation include:

1. Special education law disputes including claims under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”).
2. Education law disputes related to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“504”) and the American with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) which requires accommodations for students with mental health issues, life threatening food allergies, diabetes, ADD-ADHD, narcolepsy, and other neurological and medical conditions.
3. Education law disputes involving harassment, intimidation, safety, and bullying concerns.
4. Legal consulting regarding tuition reimbursement, i.e., factors and circumstances that may render out-of-district, unilateral placements (such as day schools and residential programs) appropriate under special education law.
5. Student disciplinary matters involving suspension and/or disciplinary hearings that could lead to expulsion at both the secondary and post-secondary level.
6. Criminal matters involving juveniles and adults.
7. Divorce and family law matters involving children with special needs.
8. Residency disputes with school districts.
9. Educational neglect and related investigations involving DCF and CPS.
10. Truancy issues involving the Juvenile Court.
11. Special needs and estate planning including wills, trusts, guardianship, and conservatorship.
12. Appeals to both state and federal courts involving special education related matters.

 

Other areas of focus include: boarding school placements, help for troubled teens, educational consultants, boarding schools, therapeutic interventions, help for troubled teens, troubled kids, at-risk children, psychological testing and assessment, wilderness programs, residential treatment centers, therapeutic boarding schools, outdoor schools, education consulting, schools for troubled youth, schools for troubled teenagers, school consultants, schools for troubled boys, troubled boys school, schools for troubled children, schools for troubled young adults, schools for troubled kids, help for troubled teenagers, help for troubled youth, special needs private schools, educational agents, special needs residential schools, private school placement, and school placement services.