Melanie E Dunn

My practice is dedicated exclusively to the representation of parents and students in special education disputes throughout Connecticut.  My office is located in Manchester, and serves as a satellite for our firm's Hartford area clients, with our primary office located in Mystic.

If you're reading this, you likely have a child with a disability who receives a 504 plan or IEP through your local school district, or know someone who does.  You may not have been aware, at least until recently, that there are attorneys, as well as non-attorney educational advocates, who help parents navigate the educational programming and placement process. 

Some of the legal issues that arise under IDEA and Section 504 are easy to resolve yourself -- but many are not.  Or sometimes, what starts out as an easy, straightforward modification of an IEP goal, addition of a related service, request for an increase in instructional time, or discussion of a private special education school placement turns into a huge, time-consuming, emotional, complicated, and frankly soul-crushing mess.

I am a former board of education attorney who went into business for myself in 2013, making the switch to fighting for parents who are trying to secure a free appropriate public education, known as FAPE, for their children with special needs.  In 2014 I was hired by Andy Feinstein, and together we are working toward securing brighter futures for children with disabilities.  We handle PPT meetings, mediations, due process hearings, student discipline matters, and anything and everything having to do with the world of education law as it relates directly to students and their families.

Parents:  you are, first and foremost, your child's best advocate.  But sometimes you need support in your advocacy efforts -- someone to be your loudspeaker when you feel that you have been silenced, or worse, when everyone is hearing you but no one is listening.  We are looking forward to meeting with you and discussing how we can help, or where you can go for help if you're not yet ready for an attorney.