Special Education Law
Advocating for your special needs child can be frustrating, overwhelming, and exhausting. Quality special education services are intensive and expensive. Because local budgets are limited, you may feel your school district is not providing the services your child needs.
Gold Advocacy advises and represents families of students with disabilities in communities across Massachusetts with regard to their rights under the IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. From initial consultation and determining a child's eligibility through dispute resolution, Laura Gold works diligently at every stage of the special education process to acheive a positive outcome. She represents students with all types of disabilities and is committed to trying to insure that your child receives a free appropriate public education.
Ms. Gold represents both regular education and special education students on bullying and harassment issues, and disciplinary proceedings, including suspension and expulsion hearings and Juvenile Court matters.
Gold Advocacy is dedicated to seeing that students obtain that to which they are entitled to make effective progress academically, socially, and emotionally.
Attorney Profile
Laura Gold is a special education attorney and advocate licensed to practice in Massachusetts. She holds a Juris Doctorate from New England Law/Boston and a Bachelor’s degree from
Brandeis University.
Ms. Gold worked for 13 years as a supervising assistant district attorney in Essex County and prosecuted hundreds of criminal cases, including crimes against children, in both the District and Superior Courts. It was this passion for seeking justice that drew her to focus on special education law. On the Board of Directors for Massachusetts Citizens For Children since 2004, Ms. Gold has a passion for pursuing the rights of children. MCC is the oldest state-based advocacy organization in the country with the mission to improve the lives of the State's most vulnerable children.
As a Special Education Attorney, Ms. Gold has represented parents and their children at all stages of the special education process from initial request for services to IEP meetings to dispute resolution with the Bureau of Special Education Appeals. Attorney Gold has obtained appropriate placements within the student's district and many out of district placements both public and private for those students who cannot be effectively served within their own districts.
Ms. Gold is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Special Needs Advocacy network (SPAN). She was trained in advocacy by the Federation For Children With Special Needs (FCSN) and the Special Education Surrogate Parent Program (SESPP). She is admitted to practice in Massachusetts in both the state and federal courts and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Testimonials
“My child has significant special needs. We felt our child was not making any gains in her public school program and requested she be placed in an out of district private placement where we believed she would make progress. The school did not agree. I began to speak with many attorneys about our situation but when I spoke to Laura, she was compassionate, empathetic and I hired her because I felt she really understood our child’s needs...”
—J.R.R., Northshore
“We are so grateful for Laura! My family has worked with Laura over the past two years. ...She has been instrumental in making the IEP process understandable and smooth. She is a sharp negotiator and well-versed on both federal and state special education and disabilities laws. Laura is the type of attorney/advocate that you want on your team. She gets results!”
—S.B., Middlesex County
“Attorney Gold’s services were critical in getting the most favorable outcome possible in my son’s case. She was extremely knowledgeable and helpful throughout the whole process. But, most importantly, Attorney Gold helped my son and I feel more comfortable and less anxious over a very long, complex and stressful situation. I truly believe our outcome would not have been the same without her services and that the process would have been far more stressful and complex. I highly recommend her services.”
—D.C., Merrimack Valley
