Discrimination

We represent children who have experienced discrimination in school because of disability, race, sex, sexual harassment or sexual abuse, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and other traits protected by law.

Unlawful discrimination in schools can be:

• Bullying or harassment because of race, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and other protected traits
• Restraint and seclusion because a child is disabled
• Abuse by teachers or aides because a child is disabled or is behaving in a way which is a manifestation of his disability
• Denial of access to a school provided aftercare program because of a disability
• Peer harassment (name calling, assaults, bullying) because of a disability
• Peer sexual harassment and teacher sexual harassment
• School administration, principal or teacher failure to investigate, respond to or prevent known abuse or harassment

Laws which prohibit such discrimination include:

• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act
• The District of Columbia Human Rights Act

We represent students and their parents in local and federal courts and filed complaints with the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and the District of Columbia Office of State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) which have resulted in schools entering resolution agreements with OCR and OSSE which required them to provide training, prepare and implement corrective action plans and submit to monitoring by the agencies.