Police searching for man who assaulted woman, hit her with vehicle in Laurel

Attorney foresees issues with IEPs during fall semester

CONCERNS FOR VIRTUAL LEARNINGCONTINUE TO GROW- ESPECIALLYFOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIALNEEDS.

WMAR-2 NEWS ERINMACPHERSON JOINS US LIVE WITHWHAT A LOCAL ATTORNEY WHOFOCUSES ON HELPING THOSEFAMILIES, SAYS HAS BEENHAPPENING WITH HIS CLIENTS.ERIN?IF YOU HAVE A CHILD WITHSPECIAL NEEDS YOU'RE WELLAWARE OF IEP'S OR*INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATIONPROGRAMS. IT'S THE FOUNDATIONOF YOUR CHILD'S EDUCATION.

ANDTHE ISSUE NOW IS, PARENTS SAYVIRTUAL LEARNING CAN'TDUPLICATE WHAT STUDENTS GETFROM IEP'S.

THEY SAYS THESESTUDENTS AREN'T GETTING THESUPPORT OR STRUCTURE THEY NEEDSO THEY'RE REGRESSING WHEN ITCOMES TO THEIR DEVELOPMENT ANDTHE FAMILIES ARE WORRIED.

WESPOKE WITH WAYNE STEEDMAN, ASPECIAL EDUCATION LAW ATTORNEY- WHO BELIEVES EVERY PERSONDESERVES AN OPPORTUNITY TOLEARN AND GROW.

HE SAYS THESESTUDENTS ARE SIMPLY NOTGETTING THE SERVICES THEY WEREBEFORE - PRECOVID - AND SOMEOF THESE KIDS - HIS CLIENTS -HAVE EVEN WOUND UP IN THEHOSPITAL FOR PSYCHIATRICREASONS.

STEEDMAN SAYS RIGHTNOW MANY OF THESE STUDENTS AREGETTING NOTHING OUT OF THEIRVIRTUAL EDUCATION - NOTBECAUSE THE SCHOOLS AREN'TTRYING BUT BECAUSE THEY'RELIMITED ON WHAT THEY CAN DO -THAT'S WHERE HE COMES IN.

HEWANTS TO WORK WITH OTHERSPECIALIZED ATTORNEYS ANDSCHOOLS.

If therewe are going to, instead offiling a lawsuit, wesay lets meet, we will have ameeting to discuss the chilIEP and whats being done andwhat isnwe can do to fix that ALL OFTHOSE MEETINGS WILL BE VIRTUAL-- AND HE'S HOPING THEY WILLBECOME A PERMANENT OPTION FORFAMILIES - AND CAN HELP UNTILTHEY CAN GET THE SERVICES THEYTRULY NEED.

LIVE- EMAC.OUR VIRTUAL SCHOOL S