Learning Rights Law Center - Rez Ed American Indian Program

Rez Ed Tribal Advocates Training Program

The goal of this program is to provide intensive, hands-on special education advocacy training to selected tribal representatives of a participating tribe. Trainees participate in a year-long program that includes 40 hours of workshops, at the tribal site or, if preferred, at Learning Rights Law Center. LRLC will stay in contact with the trainees to provide advice and support throughout the year. By the end of the program, the tribal representatives will have learned to effectively advocate, on their own, for member children with disabilities in their tribe. This program is intended to support the tribe's self-sufficiency and respect tribal self-government while advancing education and disability awareness.

Rez Ed Tribal Advocates Training Pilot Program with the Pinoleville Pomo Nation

LRLC's Melissa Canales launched this program with the Pinoleville Pomo Nation in April 2007. It has proved to be a great success. Many children who were not identified as having disabilities have now been assessed and provided services. Other students have been represented at school and IEP meetings by the tribal representatives. Many more have been given advice about their education related issues. Many thanks to Pinoleville for taking part in this program.

Rez Ed Brief Services Clinic Series - Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties

LRLC is launching its Rez Ed Brief Services Clinic Series. LRLC will conduct a series of 10 advice clinics for American Indian youth and their families who have legal issues or need legal advice about an issue related to education. Families who participate in any of the clinics will be able to get free legal advice about any school issues.

Our first clinic is scheduled for May 16, 2008 at the LRLC offices in downtown Los Angeles.

If you are an organization that would like to host a clinic at your location, please call Melissa Canales at (213) 489-4030.

Coming soon in June 2008!

Rez Ed Edition of the Learning Rights Law Center Special Education Toolkit

We are in the process of creating the Rez Ed Edition of the Learning Rights Law Center's Special Education Toolkit. This edition will contain information specifically geared toward American Indian students eligible for special education and those professionals working with the American Indian community.

Rez Ed Founder, Melissa Canales, graduated in 2006 with a Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School and she has a bachelor’s degree in Astrophysics from University of California at Berkeley. She has worked in special education law since 2005, conducting legal research, attending IEP meetings, drafting compliance complaints, representing clients at due process hearings, filing federal and state litigation, and presenting at several California conferences. Melissa has been a part of the Edelman's Children's Court ICWA Community Coalition. Through her work, she has gained an appreciation of the unique issues facing American Indian youth. She embraces the opportunity to continue to work together with American Indian youth and tribes to achieve better educational outcomes for Indian children. She thanks everyone at Pinoleville for giving her the opportunity to work with them, and extends a special thanks to Chairperson Leona Williams for her support of the Rez Ed program.

Melissa can be reached at 213-489-4030 or melissa@learningrights.org

Learning Rights Law Center

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