Diane Wiscarson’s Reviews

I called at 9am. someone woman said lawyers in meeting.
I called at noon. Someone woman said lawyers are in meeting still.
Someone called me at 3pm. Male voice. He asked me questions. Then asked me who I have trouble with. He asked me 30 minutes of questions and said, we think your case is too hard for us to do. Then refer me to someone else.

Diane Wiscarson is a well known Attorney with a passon for helping families and individuals with Special Needs receive the appropriate services and legal advice needed to turn a bad situation into a positive outcome. She gets straight to the point and never backs down when defending your childs rights to an FAPE. I was so impressed with the way that she put's her whole heart into something and the final results reflected such a positive outcome for both sides. I left our mediation knowing that things would be changed for the better and that if I ever needed someone to have my back again that she's just a phone call away. I most definitely would recommend her to everyone, especially thoses who have children with Special Needs. Our children's disabilites are going to be unique and ever changing and we need someone by our side to represent them in these tough times. Thanks again, Diane and staff for always being so positive and listening to a parent concerns.

Hired Diane in 2011 to help me obtain services from our School District for my severely learning disabled son. She took over for my previous lawyerwho was not getting the job done. She worked tirelessly with the district to rewrite my son's IEP, and make sure that services were being provided. When the services proved inadequate, she recommended a private school which specializes in helping students with dyslexia, and then worked with me through a mediation process to require the district to pay for the new school.

Throughout the process she and her staff were reliable, knowledgeable and compassionate. She provided information and options, but did not push me toward actions I would have been uncomfortable with. She was tough, but not unprofessional, when dealing with teachers and district staff. Her rates were reasonable and she was careful with my money.

I have recommended her to two friends with similar problems and they have both been satisfied with her services.

My son is now thriving in his new school and I owe a lot of his success to Diane.

I contacted Diane after having repeated concerns with my son's school personnel regarding various legalities of his IEP. Diane was extremely knowledgeable in all facets of his situation & advised me appropriately re what issues to pursue. She knows many of the ESD players involved & this proved insightful. When the ESD learned Diane was on board they immediately towed a much straighter line. Her record of settling out of court further underscores her reputation as a formidable advocate for SpEd kids. If you are dealing with tough issues concerning your child's education I highly recommend contacting Diane. Her non-nonsense demeanor serves to cut to the meat of the matter directly, which translates into a more cost-effective endeavor. Diane, & her office staff & environs are exceedingly professional & efficient, & I felt very confident in entrusting my son's situation over to her practice. THANK YOU, DIANE!

I contacted Wiscarson Law via the internet. I got a quick response and an appt was set up within a week or so. During the guardianship process I was kept informed on a regular basis. Whenever I contacted them, I had a response w/i the day or within 24hrs. They accomplished the guardianship process with a minimum of fuss, well within the cost estimate I was given. I was kept informed monthly of the costs associated, and each billing was specific and detailed. But the best part was having someone who really knew what they were doing walk me through this process, which was quite emotional as well, and feel confident that everything was in good hands. If you have special needs kids and need help with an IEP, guardianship, or finding those resources in the community that your child needs and is entitled to, well there are few that practice that type of law with any competence. Wiscarson Law can do this for you. They have done all of the above for me and both of my children. They have both required assistance, as have I, in getting them the services they were entitled to through the school and the state. I do not know what I would have done without their help.

Diane was extremely knowledgeable, effective, and strategic in helping us resolve our issues with our son's school. Once Diane got involved, the school district's attorney had to get involved, so we ended up with effectively TWO advocates explaining to the school that it had legal obligations regarding our child's Individual Education Plan. We thought that Diane would come in with a hammer, but we were completely and happily wrong. Diane treated the entire team - us, our child's teachers, the school administrators, and the school district's attorney - with great courtesy and brought a collaborative problem-solving spirit that proved extremely effective. While we are happy that we have resolved the issues with the school and have closed the case with Diane, we would hire her again in a New York minute.

Diane dealt with the school district, obtained an educational plan for my child and special education assistance, and he went from failing his high school classes to four As and a C. I am a paralegal and could not get them to budge. I only wish I had known about her when the trouble first started in middle school and not waited so long.

Diane Wiscarson won my trust when she said, "I am going to fight for you and your son". I knew she was speaking from her heart. She is compassionate and yet very knowledgeable of the special education
process. She had the tenacity to not give up until we were able to get
the services needed.
I would highly recommend her to any parent, wanting a highly skilled
advocate for your child and an ally for you as the parent. Navigating through the special education process takes an expert and can be very overwhelming for the parent. I knew that Diane was on my team
with her confident and persevering attitude and am greatly thankful to
have had her support and input about every aspect of the process.
Finally, I consider her a great education attorney and am very grateful
for the referral to her.

Ms. Wiscarson helped guide us and our middle grade son to the proper educational setting. He has emotional issues and had a difficult time in a typical school setting. We strongly feel that our school district would not have been as cooperative if Ms. Wiscarson was not there to assist us.

Diane has been our attorney for several years, assisting with our child's ongoing Special Education needs. Diane is knowledgeable, professional, and her help to our family has been invaluable. She is truly a gem!

We first hired Diane 11 years ago. Our son is disabled, and didn't have a voice in the educational process. Diane became his voice: knowledgeable, effective and respected by the district we were working with. After achieving a meaningful IEP, appropriate placement, and reasonable accommodation, we continued to invite Diane to the annual IEPs as a kind of 'insurance' -- district compliance with the law and respect for our son always increased when she was in the room.
When our son moved to a facility three hours away, Diane provided the legal oversight and advocacy necessary to ensure a meaningful transition to the new school district. Her knowledge of our son and his educational history made her an outstanding advocate in that process and gave us the confidence to ask for and acquire every appropriate resource and accommodation possible.
We have referred three other families to Diane, always stipulating that Diane's first priority is to ensure that the student receives the fullest and fairest education required by law. She's extremely careful to tell parents what they should expect, what they can achieve/acquire for their child, and what the limitations of the system are.
Having Diane at the table meant I didn't have to take notes, didn't have to wade through the jargon of the educational system, didn't have to decode or decipher conversations about services, didn't have to write the letters, didn't have to make the phone calls, didn't have to schedule the meetings, and most importantly, didn't have to become an expert at the law. I was free to listen, to ask questions, to give information, and to bring cookies to the meetings. Diane did the heavy lifting, held the irons to the fire, and allowed me to make cordial relationships with the educators in the room -- invaluable to our son, as he was unlikely to make friends of his educators on his own.
And, after eleven years, Diane stands firm as a comrade in arms -- it's nice to know someone has your back!

Our son has asthma, and Diane made his entry into a new elementary school so much easier. Diane is exceptionally knowledgeable and very direct (something I appreciated since time = money). Diane also genuinely cares for her clients, the children and youth. Her work is not only a job, it's her passion. Without a doubt, our son's first school year would have been far more difficult without Diane championing his IEP. I feel fortunate that we have access to such a caring and hard-working attorney.

Diane is a friendly and respectable professional who goes above and beyond to assist people in every way they need. She possesses intense knowledge of Education Law and school procedures. She was instrumental in assisting us in getting my son’s IEP in place after a cross country move where he almost got lost in the system from the transfer. Her ability to connect with her clients and her ability to manage meetings and processes, are truly superior. I can’t thank her enough for everything she has done for my son. I have enormous respect for her and confidence in recommending using her services! My only regret is that we didn’t hire her sooner!

Supported us and our son in obtaining access to appropriate Special Education services. Worked with district through the IEP process. When that failed to correct needed program and support, filed Due Process on our son's behalf with the state. Walked us through the process explaining our options along the way and helping us with those decisions.. Fees and expenses clearly presented up front. Billing was accurate and fair. Also assisted in helping us file for guardianship for our adult son. Went smoothly and was completed in a timely manner. Felt comfortable and confident in Diane Wiscarson's ability to be our representative in these two legal matters. Would recommend her without reservation.

We needed an attorney to help us deal with special education law in Washington state. Diane Wiscarson knew the law inside and out and assisted in getting a very good program for our son while holding the school district accountable. She was easy to get ahold of and responsive.

Diane was always professional and an aggressive advocate for her clients, while being sympathetic and empathetic to parental concerns for the child. I would recommend Diane to any parent looking for assistance for their children as she will handle the case with the same attention and passion as she would a case for her own child.

Our family was in crisis when we met Diane and she assisted the family through multiple layers of issues while advocating for proper school accomodations.

Diane will advocate for all children to receive a free and appropriate public education and she is passionate about her belief in assisting children in reaching their maximum academic and personal potential.

If a case proceeds to a formal hearing or litigation you could not be in better hands than having Diane as your attorney.

CJR dealt with Diane for (4) years and Diane's top priority is how her client is doing in every way. She is top notch professional, classy and gets done what needs to be done in a professional way. Her prices are fair and whenever a problem came up, she took care of it right away. Due to her and my sons hard work, he just graduated high school and without Diane's services he would not be graduated today! Thanks so much - your the best!!

I have (2) "special" children. When I found that the school district was illegally changing my son's IEP (Individualized Education Plan), I complained up the chain of command to resolve the minor issue that was created. Unfortunately, instead of solving the problem like most parents expect, my school district refused to correct the problem, to be in compliance with Oregon regulations. There came a point in time when it became clear a lawyer was mandatory to help my child. I was given Wiscarson Law Firm as an avenue for resolution by another parent who had used their services. The Firm was prompt, thorough, and effective. In the end, Ms. Wiscarson came to my small town, which was a 6 hour drive each way, and was able to secure excellent results to benefit my son. This is the only firm in Oregon I will ever recommend to you, and as a parent advocate I am sure I will be directing other parents to their firm as necessary. I expect at some point, I will use the firm for a second time with my other "special" child. Please, contact this law firm first! Don't waste a moment on any other lawyers. Contact them and your decision will be made.

Diane is an absolute Godsend to our family. Our son {who was 13 at the time} was failing the 8th grade because his school was not following his IEP. We retained Diane and within a month, our son went from a 1.7 GPA to above a 3.0! As much as we were strong advocates for our son, Diane was there to make sure the system was working FOR him! She thoroughly reviewed all documentation and was steadfast in meetings. She didn't take any crap from anyone and made sure that his best interests were looked after. Our youngest son has just qualified for an IEP and you can bet that if he has any struggles with his school following his IEP and working FOR him, we will be calling Diane! She is the BEST!

We retained Diane to represent us in a dispute with a school district.Diane pit us at ease, gave us great advice, made us feel our opinions were being heard. She had a thorough grasp of the applicable law. She provided excellent advice as she took us through the hearing stage. She was well respected by opposing counsel as well as school district personnel. The case was satisfactorily settled. In addition , the manner in which she conducted herself allowed us to work with the school district to provide some options for our son

My husband and I engaged Ms. Wiscarson's services to ensure our son was provided the best support through our school district for his disabilities which are Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD). Diane thoroughly reviewed our son's Educational Plan and explained where the school district was meeting our sons needs and where they were falling short. She scheduled a meeting with the school district, laid out our concerns and provided follow through until all our needs were met. Diane was affordable, professional, knowledgeable and kept us informed throughout the process. We are very greatful for her services.

Diane is the key to getting our special ed sons education back on track.She was able to spot the many issues we had with our school and was able to get the situation under control.She was always there to keep us updated and able to explain things to us that we did not understand.We have always felt that she has our sons best interests at heart.We could not have gotten through this mess without her help.We can never thank her enough for all the help she has been to our son. Thank you Diane .You are the best.

I hired Diane to review my daughter's IEP, make suggestions, attend IEP meetings, and make requests of the school district. Diane always responded to my email and telephone messages within 24 hours. She maintained a professional and congenial manner. She was effective and knowledgeable. I am very grateful to Diane for helping me through a very rough year. The outcome couldn't have been better.

After battling with the public school system for 7-8 years about what constitutes "free and appropriate" for our son, we finally met Diane. She explained what ground would be worth trying to gain and what would be best left untouched. We appreciated her honesty and candor and willingness to work with us and our son to find an a suitable academic placement, rather than the options that were being offered by the district. We made the calls and attended several meetings, and he has been accepted into a program we believe in.

Several months later, I was going through a similar problem at the graduate level. After attempting to get it resolved through the appropriate channels, I called Diane Wiscarson, and she guided me through the mess. I couldn't be more pleased with the outcome, despite her thoughtful, unassuming nature.

I would not choose any other educational lawyer for my family. Diane Wiscarson is brilliant!

Even though I'd worked in a school, had been part of an IEP team and was, as a result, probably more adept at navigating the system than most, I found myself frustrated and helpless when I participated as a grandparent in my grandson's IEP meetings. My grandson is on the autism spectrum and, in spite of the fact he is considered to be high functioning and of average intelligence, he made almost no progress in two years of his public school placement. Evaluations were completed, recommendations were made and then not implemented. Our frequent visits to the classroom confirmed our fears that he was not receiving the services he needed to progress and instead withdrew into his own world while in the classroom. An independent evaluation recommended a specialized classroom setting not available in the District. We began to research private school programs and found one where my grandson has thrived. We consulted Diane who did a thorough case review and advised us about how we could proceed with the District to obtain the free and appropriate education that is my grandson's right under Federal law. I followed her direction and it resulted in a financial settlement,a percentage of his tuition, that I believe is fair.

The only regret I have is that we did not contact Diane sooner. I initially hired an advocate whose intervention made it evident that the district would need the threat of due process before considering realistic services for my grandson. Diane's expertise was evident immediately and gave me confidence in taking the necessary next steps. She provided a great deal of service for a very reasonable fee. She dealt with us with compassion that is likely born out her own experience as the parent of a child requiring IEP services. She interacted with a genuineness that certainly does not correlate with my stereotype of her profession. I recommend her without hesitation to anyone having difficulty acquiring FAPE for their student.

Diane was outstanding in her knowledge and understanding of educational rights, student needs, and how they applied to our individual case. Her communication, follow through, and persistence was always in the forefront, as well as, her attention to detail and follow up after the fact. Diane kept us updated and informed which was a great help with a busy schedule and family life.

There are no words that can adequately describe the frustration I felt in trying to get the educational needs of my daughter met. It had become a full time job for me and I was still failing miserably.

It was very hard for me to go to Diane and hire her. This was partly because I felt that I had failed my own child and it was partly because I knew that it would create more tension and strife between the district and me. But it was the very best thing I could have done for my daughter because it was the beginning of a better future for my daughter.

Diane worked her way through the issues we had. She worked her way through the legal processes that were necessary for us to move forward. She did it with determination. She did it with complete competence. She did it telling us honesty about what we could and could not expect legally. And she did it with her heart.

When everything was finished my daughter received the educational services that helped her to progress and learn to the level of her abilities.

Some people tell me I beat the district. Some people tell me that I am a hero. Others say that I am a role model for other parents. None of that is important to me. What is important to me is that I am a parent of a beautiful daughter with a disability. She now has many more opportunities open to her in her life because of the education that she has been able to receive.

She would not have those opportunities available to her without the help of Diane Wiscarson. In my book Diane is the hero.

Though I have been an active advocate in the lives of my children, and I had been to many IEP meetings, I found myself struggling to convince the district of my son's needs. Year after year, we'd have the same issues, and year after year I'd fight to get my son qualified services. He had been diagnosed by three separate physicians at separate times . . . .all with the same diagnosis. There was no question of my son's disability. However, it wasn't until I hired Diane that we finally made some progress.
Some of the things that I truly appreciated was Diane's consistency, her honesty, and her persistence. There were many times negotiating with the district was not enough. It took Diane's expertise and experience in working with districts, schools, and parents to keep the districts and schools accountable for following through with implementing the IEP as required. She was able to locate where they were not in compliance and request they correct any deficits. Should the district be unable to honor the requests, Diane could communicate our needs to appropriate personnel to either state our intent to file a complaint or to reach settlement agreements.
Diane has always maintained the utmost in professionalism and accurate guidance. She gives sound and realistic advice. She does not give false hope or give up on justifiable and valid issues. Also, she understands how difficult and challenging the process can be of making sure children are receiving the education and services they deserve. She brings assurance when things aren't going right. She listens and responds accordingly to what the family specifically needs.
She is truly a strong, reliable, and knowledgeable resource for any and all special educational needs or concerns. I have appreciated her advocacy during the years I have retained her services.

Words can not express the gratitude that I feel for Diane. Our son's IEP was a legal mess and we were powerless to help him. In second grade our son was in danger of becoming institutionalized on behalf of the schools ignorance. It was the last thing he needed and within minutes Diane knew this.

To say Diane fought hard simply does not give her enough credit. Diane poured her heart and soul into our son's education. Because of her tenacity, drive and passion for doing what is right our son's IEP was fixed and he was in the proper schooling.

5 years have passed and a few times we have had to call upon Diane for advice and help. It has never taken more than a quick email or phone call and honest answers are given and action, when needed is taken.

Our son now has a wonderful education and I think of Diane not just as an attorney but as a true God send. The words "Thank You", in my opinion are simply to small to express the thanks we feel for her.

When you want the best for your child retain Diane Wiscarson to be your child's advocate! I was referred to Diane Wiscarson by Garvey Shubert Barer. I have twins with life threatening nut allergies and they were having many reactions at school resulting in epi pen treatments and 911 calls with ambulatory transportation to the ER. I had believed that since they were in public school they had many rights. I was incorrect. Diane helped me sort out the rights that they actually did have and put them to work for my children and She stopped me from trying to use rights that I not only did not have, but that would have lead my children to have to be taught at home by a tutor 1 hour a day. If the tutor was only available for 7-8pm then that is when the tutor would come and that would be their education. She managed their 504plan which kept them safe at school and set up a proper protocol during a reaction. She truly cares about your child/children and I have referred her to other people with children who have autism, ADD or need any type of IEP or help with the school and all of those people have been extremely happy with Diane and her results.

Ms. Wiscarson is a fantastic resource that every parent should know about. I had some questions about the steps involved with my son's IEP. I found her to be extremely knowledgable and helpful. She helped me to be more informed about the IEP process. She gave me strength and support to feel confident in the whole process.

In 1995, my children were diagnosed with autism. They were roughly 2 and a half and 3 and a half at the time. That diagnosis began the worst year of my life as I tried to learn what autism was and what to expect from my children with autism. I rapidly learned that there was no help to be had. The schools and the medical community thought “Rain Man” was the only example of autism. Once I learned that neither had any idea of what to do to help my boys, it became a constant battle to get their needs met everywhere. For years, I studied education law, taught the teachers how to handle my children (and a few others) and sought a pediatrician who would admit to having no idea how to help, but at least wasn’t negative about my ideas on what should be done for them.
When everyday life is added to this mix, it’s no wonder that I could see myself rapidly aging through lack of sleep and stress. I went to bed every night wondering what else I could do to make the world nicer and easier for my boys. The year my mother was dying from cancer and I made a trip from Oregon to Virginia about every five weeks, one of my sons was in a horrible situation at school and had to be removed and home schooled while the district and I found an appropriate placement. By then, my oldest boy was being told that extended school year service wasn’t needed when one entered high school, just as if he was no longer autistic. Not only did I look old to me, but my boys kept trying to smooth out each new wrinkle. It was very sad.
Then I found Diane Wiscarson. I had thoughts of suing the school district as I once again learned a valuable lesson…the parent who works day and night in order to help their kids succeed in the classroom is punished by the system who feels they no longer have to help. Diane helped me to understand that the justice system would probably agree with the school district and that strengthening the IEP was the way to get appropriate services. Over time, Diane became a” virtual” face-lift for me. I no longer had to keep up with the law. She did. I no longer had to be sure to say the right thing in the right tone in order for us to all work together. She did. I actually dared to be the socialite and princess I always knew myself to be, because Diane was going to be Perry Mason (who never lost a case).
I now get to work on things with my boys which I am much happier to do…social skills and life skills, and I even take a little time for me because Diane is keeping up with the law and is advocating for my children. I have even begun to delete Wright’s Law emails as I have Wiscarson Law on my side. This is a huge emotional achievement.
I feel and look younger and healthier all because I know that Diane is looking out for my family. What a relief to have formed such an alliance. We've worked together for 3 years now and I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have her help and expertise.
Life is good, due in no small part to having an attorney who knows what to do to protect my children and does it well. You too, can be this fortunate. All you have to do is hire Diane. I assure you that you won't regret it.

Our school district denied an IEP when it was clearly needed and warranted. I did not know where to turn for help because I thought that the school district had the last word on eligibility for an IEP and I did not know there was such a thing as an Education Attorney. I spoke to a professional who works with kids with disabilities and mentioned my problem with the school district and she gave me Diane Wiscarson's name. What a relief! Diane gathered all the needed documentation and within days the school district agreed that an IEP was indeed the appropriate education plan! During the process of working with Diane, I discovered that she actually was more knowledgeable about the education rules and requirements than the school's IEP team including the school psychologist who initially denied eligibility for an IEP. Nobody at the school seemed to care, but when I spoke to Diane, it was obvious that she cared.

Although I have never hired any another attorney, Diane is the complete opposite of all the money grabbing, ambulance chasing, in-it-just-for-themselves lawyer stereotypes. She's compassionate, honest, fair and extremely knowledgeable. If you do not actually need a lawyer, Diane is the first to tell you; yet if you do, she's straight forward about what you can expect and what she can actually accomplish. If there is a way she can save you money, she is on it. She truly is a gem; there really is no reason to look any further.

Diane sold our family out to the school district. She was more concerned about getting our case settled than in our childs rights. She pushed us several times a day to settle our case and as a result we are now paying for our childs private school education. I would not recommend this attorney.