ADVOCACY FOR KIDS

ntaining an atmosphere of team effort with the school system by clear and respectful communication. Laurie’s background as an attorney, and her decision to practice as an advocate in the spirit of collaboration, brings a unique skill set to Advocacy for Kids. In addition to her varied work vigilantly advocating for children with special needs in school districts thought the State, Laurie has completed coursework related to special education advocacy and has also been extensively trained by well regarded clinicians on proven advocacy strategies and effective programming for children with disabilities. Laurie is a member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, the Council of Exceptional Children, Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation, and the Fairfield Special Education Parent Teacher Association. Laurie graduated with a BA, Magna Cum Laude, from Brandeis University, and has a JD from Emory University School of Law. Prior to entering the field of advocacy, Laurie practiced law as a both a criminal and civil litigator, and is a member of the Florida, New York and Connecticut Bar Associations. She resides with her husband, son and daughter in Fairfield, Connecticut. Kristin Berry is a professional Non-Attorney Special Education Advocate who has been assisting Connecticut families in securing appropriate educational services for their children with disabilities since 2007. She combines her advocacy experience with the education she gained from completing Special Education Advocacy Training (SEAT). SEAT was a year-long course funded by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services awarded to the University of Southern California, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities in partnership with the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA). The training provided for extensive classroom instruction by an attorney and an advocate and a practicum in a special education law firm. Kristin completed her practicum with Andrew Feinstein, Esq. of the Feinstein Education Law Group. She also completed Wrightslaw’s Special Education Law & Advocacy Training. As the parent of a child with disabilities, she also understands the process from a personal perspective. Kristin received her Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from Saint Michaels College in 1993 and lives with her husband, two sons, a daughter and two dogs in Fairfield, CT.