Yesterday, in a jaw-dropping first, one of our cases was not assigned a hearing officer because there are currently none available to hear cases in NYC. In a form letter, the Impartial Hearing Office alerted us that it has instituted what amounts to a waitlist for its backlogged cases. This is a violation of the civil rights of students with disabilities.
We are taking immediate action. Today, we wrote to government officials in New York State and at the New York City Council to enlist their urgent attention and assistance. We are examining all legal options for our affected clients. We will keep you updated.