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Distinguish Difficulty From Suspected Disability: Making Defensible Decisions About IDEA,
Section 504, and SDI
Presented by Geneva Jones, Esq.
Thursday | November 5, 2026 • 2 - 3:30 p.m. ET
REGISTER NOWEvery educator knows the tension: Overlooking a suspected disability exposes the district to legal risk, but referring every struggling student leads to unnecessary evaluations and special education resources being stretched thin for students who truly need them.
In this interactive webinar, attorney and engaging presenter Geneva Jones will go beyond the basics of child find to tackle the harder question schools face every day: When does a student’s struggle actually suggest a disability? You’ll learn how to balance both sides of the child find dilemma — considering IDEA, Section 504, and general education supports without under-referring or over-identifying students.
Make more thoughtful, legally sound decisions about referral and evaluation by gaining this expert’s guidance to:
- Recognize when a student’s academic, behavioral, or emotional concerns create a reasonable suspicion of disability
- Distinguish a genuine suspected disability from learning differences, skill deficits, and other factors
- Use the need for specially designed instruction as a key part of determining whether IDEA may be the appropriate path
- Identify when a student’s needs may warrant evaluation under Section 504 rather than special education
- And more
About the Presenter
Geneva Jones is a nationwide expert on education law and one of the country's most influential school law attorneys. Known as the “Champion for Public Education,” her work in school law has a transformational impact on our nation’s educational system. Licensed in Texas, California, New York, and Washington DC, Geneva has worked with the Departments of Education in numerous states and educational institutions nationwide.
What makes Geneva special is her keen perspective as a parent of a child with a disability and the dynamic approach and skill set she brings to her law practice. She attended one of the only law schools in the country with a special education law program, and her entire legal career has been spent representing education agencies in their magnanimous calling to provide students with an education. Geneva explains the law in simple, common-sense language, illustrated with frequent examples from real-world experiences, and focuses on the legal framework's everyday implications.
Who Should Attend
- Special education directors and coordinators
- Section 504 coordinators
- Campus administrators
- School psychologists
- Counselors
- Educational diagnosticians
- Interventionists/MTSS coordinators
- Other school personnel involved in child find, evaluation, and referral decisions
Registration Information Main Site (required for Additional Site registrations): $295 per connection
Additional Site for Teleworker: $115 per connection
REGISTER NOW
Threat Assessment Best Practices:
Meeting District’s IDEA and Section 504 Requirements
Presented by Betsey Helfrich, Esq.
Thursday | December 10, 2026 • 2 - 3:30 p.m. ET
REGISTER NOWWhen a threat assessment involves a student with a disability, the process comes with legal obligations under IDEA and Section 504. Are you confident that your process is meeting those requirements while still addressing safety concerns? Join attorney Betsey Helfrich for a practical look at how threat assessments intersect with the rights of students with disabilities.
Drawing on recent case law and federal guidance, she'll clear up the confusion that trips up districts, including when a threat assessment is appropriate, when IDEA's disciplinary safeguards apply, how quickly a manifestation determination meeting must happen, and what a "direct threat" really means for schools. She'll also detail when and how to apply IDEA's disciplinary protections when removing a dangerous student.
Don't wait for a crisis to find out your process has gaps. Learn this expert attorney’s best practices to minimize legal liability and preserve students' right to FAPE, and leave knowing how to:
- Identify when a threat assessment is appropriate
- Support student well-being during the threat assessment process
- Comply with mandatory reporting requirements while protecting student confidentiality
- Recognize when to involve parents in the process
- Refine your school's threat assessment process
- And more
About the Presenter
Betsey Helfrich has dedicated her professional career to education law. She has successfully represented school district clients against a variety of claims in state and federal courts, as well as special education due process hearings and appeals, including in the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. She is a recognized leader in special education law, providing general counsel, litigation defense, and consulting for schools in all areas of the IDEA and Section 504. She also serves as an independent hearing officer under Section 504, assists schools with the drafting and implementation of Section 504 policies and procedures, and hosts numerous workshops regarding the IDEA and Section 504 for school personnel. Ms. Helfrich is also a frequent speaker at LRP’s National Institute on Legal Issues of Educating Individuals with Disabilities®.
Who Should Attend
- School administrators
- School counselors
- School nurses
- School psychologists
- School attorneys
- Special education directors
- Board Certified Behavioral Analysts
- Registered behavior technicians
- Section 504 coordinators
- School resource officers
- Special education teachers
- General education teachers
- Paraprofessionals
- IEP team members
Registration Information Main Site (required for Additional Site registrations): $295 per connection
Additional Site for Teleworker: $115 per connection
REGISTER NOW