Nora Ann Belanger Law Office

In the crucial "Lawyers Near Me" category, parents seeking to secure appropriate educational services for their children with disabilities often find themselves in a complex and emotionally charged landscape. The Law Office of Nora Ann Belanger, located in Norwalk, CT, stands as a beacon of specialized legal expertise, dedicated solely to empowering parents and safeguarding the educational rights of children with disabilities. Attorney Nora Ann Belanger, drawing upon her unique background as a former special education teacher, offers a compassionate yet formidable approach to navigating the intricacies of special education and disability rights law.

The office is situated at 161 East Ave #104, Norwalk, CT 06851, USA. This location in Norwalk, a vibrant city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, provides an accessible and professional setting for families seeking specialized legal counsel. While specific details about the office environment are not extensively detailed, the nature of the firm's practice strongly suggests a welcoming and supportive atmosphere, designed to put parents at ease during what can be very challenging times. The mission of the firm, which is to empower parents to become lifelong advocates for their child, implies a collaborative and educational environment where clients are not just represented, but also informed and strengthened.

Attorney Nora Ann Belanger has precisely limited her practice to special education and disability rights law for over eighteen years. This singular focus is a significant feature, ensuring that her clients benefit from deep and current expertise in a highly specialized field. Her services are comprehensive and cover all critical stages and aspects of ensuring a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for children with disabilities. Key services include:

• Assistance at PPT/IEP Meetings: Guiding and representing parents during Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meetings where Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are developed, reviewed, and revised. This is crucial for ensuring the IEP adequately addresses the child's needs.
• Resolution Sessions and Mediation: Facilitating alternative dispute resolution processes to reach agreements between parents and school districts without resorting to formal hearings.
• Due Process Hearings: Representing parents in formal administrative hearings when disputes with school districts cannot be resolved through other means.
• Manifestation Determination Meetings: Providing legal counsel during meetings to determine if a student's behavior that led to disciplinary action was a manifestation of their disability.
• 504 Hearings: Advocating for students' rights under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination based on disability.
• Federal Court Litigation: Prepared to take cases to federal court when necessary to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities.
• Legal Consultations and Record Review: Offering expert advice and meticulously reviewing educational and medical records to build strong cases.
• Referral and Evaluation Processes: Guiding parents through the process of obtaining appropriate evaluations for their child and ensuring schools follow proper procedures.
• Development of Goals and Objectives: Assisting in the formulation of measurable goals and objectives within IEPs that genuinely meet the child's individual needs.
• Appropriate Services and Placement: Advocating for the correct services and educational placements that are least restrictive and most beneficial for the child.
• Discipline Issues: Addressing disciplinary actions against students with disabilities, ensuring their rights are protected.
• Transition to Adulthood: Providing guidance on preparing students with disabilities for post-secondary education, employment, and independent living.

A significant feature and unique selling proposition of Nora Ann Belanger Law Office is Attorney Belanger's background. She holds a law degree from Pace University School of Law, where she served as Executive Editor of the Pace Law Review. Crucially, she also holds a teaching degree in special education and was employed as a special education teacher for several years, beginning in 1975 when the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) was first introduced. This direct experience on the other side of the educational system provides her with invaluable insight into school operations, teaching methodologies, and the practical challenges and opportunities within special education. This dual perspective allows her to understand not just the legal statutes, but also the pedagogical and systemic realities that impact children with disabilities.

Attorney Belanger's expertise and dedication extend to national and international platforms. She presents both nationally and internationally on special education legal rights, with presentations in Poland, Latvia, and India. This demonstrates her recognized authority in the field and her commitment to advancing disability rights on a broader scale. Her professional affiliations are extensive, including the American Bar Association, Connecticut Bar Association, Fairfield County Bar Association, Professional Advisory Board for Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities, and the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA). She was admitted to the United States Supreme Court in 2015, highlighting her distinguished legal career. She was also quoted in The New York Times article, "Accommodations Angst," in 2010.

The firm is not just Nora Ann Belanger; it consists of two attorneys, as well as paralegals and support staff, ensuring a robust team approach to client cases. Attorney Taubner, another attorney at the firm, changed her legal focus to special education and disability rights law after defending her own family's educational rights, adding another layer of personal understanding to the firm's empathetic approach. Valerie Pomeroy, M. Ed., a special education advocate and certified special education teacher, further strengthens the team as a client advocate, bringing additional expertise in IEPs, 504 Plans, and school-based services.

For parents searching "Lawyers Near Me" for special education concerns, Nora Ann Belanger Law Office offers unparalleled specialization, a unique blend of legal and educational expertise, and a profound commitment to client empowerment. The mission "to empower parents to exercise their legal rights to a free and appropriate public education for their child with a disability" is more than a statement; it's a philosophy that guides their practice. The goal is to enable parents to become lifelong advocates for their child, ensuring services and programming meet individual needs. This supportive and educational approach can be incredibly reassuring for families feeling overwhelmed by the special education process.

To contact Nora Ann Belanger Law Office, prospective clients can use the provided phone number: (203) 854-8597 or mobile phone: +1 203-854-8597. While specific client testimonials were not provided in the prompt, the firm's focused mission, Attorney Belanger's extensive experience and specialized background, and her national and international recognition strongly convey a practice dedicated to providing high-quality, empathetic, and effective legal representation for children with disabilities and their families in Connecticut and beyond.