Since 1999, when my son was diagnosed with autism, I expanded my practice to include education law and began representing families in Special Education CPSE and CSE meetings, impartial hearings and special education litigation.
I have lectured on general and special education topics including "the Dram Shop Act", "Attorney Internet Marketing in the 21st Century", "How to effectively work with your School District to obtain Special Education Services for your child", "Bullying and the Special Needs Child" and "Special Education: One Parent’s Perspective." My lectures have been presented at the Columbian Lawyers Association of Suffolk County, the New York State trial Lawyers Association, the Long Island Autism Fair, the Lindenhurst Union Free School District, the Cody Center for Autism, the South Huntington Union Free School District, the Three Village School District SEPTA, the South Country SEPTA, West Islip SEPTA, the Lawrence UFSD SEPTA and the Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Association (AHA), Inc.
I am a Trustee of the South Huntington Union Free School District Board of Education, the Co-Chairperson of Corporate Fundraising for Autism Speaks Long Island, a Member of the Board of Directors and Fundraising Committee for the Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Association (AHA), Inc., a Member of the Review Board of Awe in Autism; the Chairperson of the Special Needs Faith Formation Committee at St. Elizabeth’s Roman Catholic Church; and a coach for the Special Needs CYO Soccer and Challenger baseball programs in South Huntington, New York. I was also the Past Chair of the Fundraising Committee of the Cody Center for Autism & Developmental Disabilities at Stony Brook University.
In February, 2010 my essay about starting a special needs baseball program, "Today I bought a mitt", was published by the Suffolk Lawyer. I have since published four additional essays about parenting a child with autism: "God and the Special Needs Child; one father's journey of faith", "Fixing the hole in my bucket", "Gifted Child", and "Why I walk for Autism Speaks."
I was honored by the American Dance Theater of Long Island on October 1, 2010 at its 10th Anniversary Gala as the recipient of the ADTLI Director's Award which is presented to an individual who shares ADTLI's vision and passion to "give back" to charitable causes benefitting children, families, communities and society by contributing time and talent to make a difference, across Long Island, in the lives of others well beyond the art of dance.
