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 ver...y 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 wi...th 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 u...pdated 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.