For the next generation coming into FAPE/504/ADA 2014-2015 and beyond.
If you had a chance to speak to an established group of advocates to indoctrinate them into our mindset of improving and advancing existing advocacy for students with LTFA, how would you want it presented in terms of group goals? I know what I think but should I decide to submit a paper to present at a respectably-sized conference for parent attorneys and advocates I would definitely consider input on structure and material. I have reason to believe that I can get a very legitimate, well-respected co-author as long as I do the work.
By the time of the conference the Fox Chapel oral arguments (Sept 12 in Philly) will already have been made and a decision possibly rendered. For registering a topic in order to present I have 3 days to decide.
The goal is to reach that audience of existing civil rights and special education attorneys and advocates that, IMO, need a little injection of FAS methodology in order to clarify the issues concretely for IgE-mediated allergies, further advancing and improving the advocacy that exists. My experience thus far is a lot of them are awesome on energy and desire to help but misunderstand a lot about how to advocate for food allergies and what that means in terms of accommodations and inclusion. The sense I get are there aren't too many in our advocacy organization with first hand experience of anaphylaxis and 504s.
I will tell you that what I see shaping up is essentially the direction of FA advocacy being whittled down to stock epinephrine + safe snack list = job done no need to address prevention and equal access for any other area deemed pesky or inconvenient. Great for Mylan's PR to be the life-saver. Unfortunately, we get on the Max's birthday track where prevention through strict avoidance is de-prioritized or completely ignored.
I name the enemy deliberate indifference and possibly, law firm ethics and expenditures that may require FOIA for audits. If my sources are accurate OCR is not prioritizing disability cases. It may come down to finding a way through the CPM or some of the recent cases to make claims that are of interest to DOJ. I'm fuzzy on where class action is possible and if so how structured.