Patricia Howey has supported families of children with disabilities since 1985. She has a specific learning disability and became involved in special education when her youngest child entered kindergarten. Pat has children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who have a variety of disabilities and she has used her experience to advocate for better special education services for several of them.
Pat is a charter member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), serving on its Board of Directors from 2000 through 2003. She has been a Commissioner on the Tippecanoe (County) Human Relations Committee, a graduate of Leadership Lafayette and Partners in Policymaking, and a member of the Wrightslaw Speakers Bureau. She has been on the faculty of the College of William and Mary Law School’s Institute of Special Education Advocacy since its inception in 2011.
Pat has an A.S. and a B.A. in Paralegal Studies from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, where she graduated magna cum laude. She is an Indiana Registered Paralegal and an affiliate member of the Indiana Bar and the American Bar Associations.
Pat began her advocacy career as a volunteer for the Task Force on Education for the Handicapped (now InSource), Indiana’s Parent Training and Information Center. In 1990, she opened her advocacy practice and served families throughout Indiana by representing them at IEP meetings, mediation, and due process hearings.
In 2017, Pat closed her advocacy practice and began working on a contract basis as a special education paralegal. Attorneys in Indiana, Texas, and California contracted with her to review documents, spot issues, draft due process complaints, prepare for hearings, and assist at hearings. In January 2019, she became an employee of the Connell Michael Kerr law firm, owned by Erin Connell, Catherine Michael, and Sonja Kerr. Her duties have now expanded to assisting with federal court cases.
Season 3, Episode 6: The Importance of Multidisciplinary Evaluations with Guest Speaker Dr. Chris Bogart of Sasco River Center
Season 3, Episode 5: Let's Talk About Autism Clinical and Educational Services with Special Guest Dr. John Molteni of Prism Autism Education & Consultation
Season 3, Episode 4: Let's Talk COPAA Conference 2021 with Guest Speak and CEO of COPAA Denise Marshall
Season 3, Episode 3: Comprehensive Evaluations In Light of the COVID Pandemic with Guest Speaker Dr. Elizabeth Kryszak
Season 3, Episode 2: From Parent to Advocate to BCBA - One Parent's Journey with Guest Speaker Sharri Lungarini, M.S. Ed., RBT
Season 3, Episode 1: Programming for Mental Health Issues During Covid for Families, Schools and Students with Guest Chris Abildgaard
Season 2, Episode 7: Let's Talk Occupational Therapy with Amanda Zecchin, M.S., OTR
Season 2, Episode 6: U.S Supreme Court Case Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District with Attorney Jack Robinson
Season 2, Episode 5: Let's Talk Speech and Language Services with Katie Curra SLP
Season 2, Episode 4: Let's Talk Inclusion with Guest Ashley Barlow
Season 2, Episode 3: The Attorney/Client Relationship: What To Expect at the Initial Legal Consultation with a Special Education Attorney
Season 2, Episode 2: Let's Talk Transition Planning During COVID with Guest Speaker Dr. Peter Gerhardt
Season 2, Episode 1: How To Effectively Organize Your Child's Records with Guest Attorney Jill Hornig.
Season 1, Episode 7: Can't Be Wrong When It's Wright - Pam & Pete Wright Discuss Strategies For Parents During School Closures In Response to COVID-19.
Season 1, Episode 5: Dr. Nick Gelbar on What's the Difference Between a Psychological, Psycho-educational and Neuropsychological Evaluation?
Season 1, Episode 4: An Interview with COPAA's Legal Director, Selene Almazan, Esq.
Season 1, Episode 3: Thinking of Hiring a Special Education Attorney?
Season 1, Episode 2: Coronavirus & Comp Ed: Ensuring Our Children with Disabilities Are Receiving a FAPE
Season 1, Episode 1: Intro to Let's Talk Sped Law!
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