The Federal Legal Appeal Project, organized under the auspices of the Autism Speaks Family Services Committee, offers free legal support to families whose Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA)-based hearings have been decided at the administrative level and appealed to the federal level. Families whose cases meet these criteria are invited to submit their cases for consideration. Not all cases will be accepted.
All cases submitted for consideration to the Federal Legal Appeal Project will be reviewed by a screening committee comprised of attorneys representing several law firms, who have generously donated their time to Autism Speaks. Cases must have reached the federal appeal level to be considered. Other key criteria the committee will take into consideration include: whether the issues involved are legal important and likely to impact the wider autism community; the anticipated consequences of taking or not taking the appeal; and the financial hardship posed on the family to continue the appeal process in the absence of financial or other assistance.
Please click here to download the application form (PDF). Send the completed application form along with copies of any appeal filings to:
Autism Speaks Attn: Nora Marcus 2 Park Avenue, 11th floor New York, NY 10016
Once the screening committee has received your completed paperwork, you should receive a reply indicating if your case has been accepted, within 60 days.