Although I am a special needs and elder law attorney by trade, I also volunteer in my community in the fight against human trafficking. Human trafficking is when a victim is forced, tricked, or coerced into labor or sex work by someone who is exploiting them. I have been involved in this work since 2009 and am now known as an expert in the field. I have had the honor of working directly with many human trafficking survivors of all different backgrounds, ages, economic statuses, and cultures, and they all had only one trait in common--they had a vulnerability that a trafficker used to exploit them. That vulnerability may be a drug addiction, an inability to speak English, extreme poverty, or in some cases, a developmental disability. Unfortunately, I have seen an overlap between my career and my volunteer work. Whether it be financial abuse, physical abuse, or human trafficking, people with disabilities can be particularly vulnerable to various types of exploitation.

Is your child's IQ is well below average? Does your child's IEP exempt your child from standardized tests or note that she should take modified assessments? Is she "pulled out" into a resource room for any academic subject, such as Math or Language Arts? Is it clear from her homework that she is unable to learn at the same depth or speed as her typical peers? If your answer to any of these questions is "Yes," then ask the IEP Team...