ASK an Expert: Restraint and Seclusion: Legal Requirements in Iowa Schools

Part 1 of a 3 part Series:

Speakers:
-Nathan Kirstein, Attorney, Disability Rights Iowa
-Len Sandler, Clinical Professor of Law, University of Iowa Law School"

Nathan Kirstein graduated from Drake University Law School in May 2011 and was hired as a staff attorney at Disability Rights Iowa in October 2012. He primarily represents clients in the areas of legal rights violations in juvenile justice and child welfare facilities and students and families in special education cases. Previously he was a sole practitioner primarily representing clients in juvenile justice/child welfare cases, landlord/tenant cases, and wills/trusts. He also was the program coordinator for a gender specific after school program on the near North side of Des Moines.

Len Sandler joined the University of Iowa College of Law faculty in 1990 to direct one of the first HIV/AIDS law school clinics in the U.S. with students representing individuals and advocating for legislative and systems reforms. He later founded and supervises the award-winning Law and Policy in Action Clinic to give law students experience solving recurring, systemic problems that cannot be addressed through litigation. They teamed up with Disability Rights Iowa and private lawyers to overhaul the Iowa Department of Education rules about the use of seclusion and physical restraints in K-12 school. They provide no-cost consultant services to nonprofits, community groups, governments, and business on disability, civil rights, housing healthcare, elder abuse, LGBTO. and other issues. Sandler and his clinic students also represent and provide transactional services for families and present workshops on estate planning, guardianship, and other legal issues.

Links:

ASK Resource - (Access for Special Kids) Resource Center is a parent training, information, and advocacy center for families of children with special needs across the state of Iowa. ASK is a family-driven 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.