The Medical Legal Collaborative for Education is a partnership between Learning Rights Law Center and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Started in September 2005 with the generous support of an Equal Justice Works Fellowship, LAMCE continues to provide legal services for special education issues.

Currently, LAMCE works with health professionals in several departments of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, including the HOPE (Hematology/Oncology Psychosocial and Educational) Program, the AltaMed General Pediatrics clinic, and the Spina Bifida clinic. LAMCE partners these health professionals to provide education advocacy and legal representation to Childrens Hospital patients with education needs.

The collaboration between health care providers and the legal community serves the best interest of the child patient, particularly considering that a child can spend a great deal of his or her day in the school environment. The services a child needs to benefit from his or her education depend upon the child’s unique needs, including health-related issues.

Special Education issues sometimes arise out of a lack of understanding of the child’s health and education needs. These issues include the following:

• Obtaining needed assessments (Psychological, Occupational, Physical, Recreational, etc) to determine areas of needs;

• Obtaining related services (Psychological, Occupational, Physical, Recreational, etc) to address areas of need;

• Representation at Individualized Education Program meetings where services and goals are decided;

• Representation during Resolution Sessions, Mediation and Due Process Hearings;

• 504 Plans;

• Placement Issues (From Least Restrictive Environment to Residential Placement);

• Services needed to keep child in Least Restrictive environment including:

• Services of an adult assistant; and

• Nursing services.

• AB 3632 Referrals to Department of Mental Health for County Mental Health Services; and

• Obtaining Accommodations and Modifications needed for a child to benefit from education, goals and objectives.

LAMCE continues to grow at LRLC and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

LAMCE is managed by LRLC staff attorney Jessica Toth.