Susan Shirock DePaola, Attorney at Law

Susan Shirock DePaola resources and links to valuable sites

	Alabama State Department of Education
	Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
	Code of Federal Regulations
	Wrightslaw
	Advocacy Services for Children with Special Needs
	Internet Special Education Resources
	Understanding the Differences between IDEA and 504
	Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program

You may use and print off the following form letters to request records and/or an independent evaluation:

	Request for Records
	Request for Independent Evaluation
	Letter Requesting Evaluation

	Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys
	Council For Exceptional Children
	Autism Society of Alabama
	Learning Disabilities Association of Alabama
	Children & Adults with ADD
	Alabama Association of Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities
	Pathfinders of Alabama (Deaf-Blind)
	NAMI Alabama (mental health/emotional disturbance)
	Epilepsy Foundation

Susan Shirock DePaola is an attorney in Montgomery, Alabama who served for 10 years as a hearing officer for special education cases. In other words, Ms. DePaola decided special education cases like yours! She began serving as a lawyer representing parents and children in 1999.

She has a doctorate in elementary education and 10 years experience as a teacher and an administrator in public and private schools.

She has been practicing law since 1982 and has served as a consultant with the Southeastern Regional Resource Center, the Mississippi State Department of Education, the Virgin Islands Dept. of Education and she has taught special education law at the University of Alabama.

Her perspective is unique. With legal experience, classroom experience and her experience as a school administrator she can look at all of the facets of a problem.

As a parent of a student with a disability your case will receive close scrutiny and you will not be urged to file for a due process hearing unless Dr. DePaola is convinced that your case has merit. Any other approach simply creates bad feelings between the school system and parents.

The best case scenario is for parents and school system personnel to understand that we are trying to work together even though we may have disagreements at times which require outside resolution. Having a lawyer representing you does not necessarily mean a hostile relationship between the school system and you! Look for a lawyer to assist you who believes that it is a part of his or her responsibility to preserve your good relationship with school personnel.

Click here for Dr. DePaola's resume.

Susan Shirock DePaola is a special education attorney who served for 10 years as a hearing officer for special education cases. In other words, Ms. DePaola decided special education cases like yours! She began serving as a lawyer representing parents and children in 1999.

Located in Montgomery, Alabama, Susan S. DePaola represents clients involving special education for children throughout the state of Alabama including the counties of Autauga, Baldwin, Baldwin, Baldwin, Baldwin, Baldwin, Barbour, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Clarke, Colbert, Colbert, Conecuh, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Etowah, Franklin, Geneva, Houston, Jackson, Jackson, Jefferson, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lauderdale, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Limestone, Madison, Madison, Madison, Marshall, Marshall, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Montgomery, Morgan, Morgan, Pickens, Randolph, St. Clair, St. Clair, Shelby, Shelby, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, Tuscumbia, Walker, Walker, and Walker. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience.

No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. (Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct rule 7.2(e)(1997)). Susan S. DePaola, 1726 West Second Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36106, 334-262-1600.

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