Christine Lai is the cofounder and Executive Director of the Special Education Legal Fund, Inc (S.E.L.F.). S.E.L.F. was founded in 2018 by parents for parents in need with children in the special education system who require legal assistance to secure a free and appropriate public education for their child. In this episode, Christine shares what inspired her to launch SELF, how her grantmaking organization supports parents who need legal aid or advocacy, and why SELF families find this grant funding invaluable.  

Key Takeaways:

• The SELF grant application process is open to families who live in Connecticut or Westchester County and whose income is below 300% of the federal minimum poverty level. The student must have an individualized education plan (IEP) for the attorney grant and an IEP or a 504 for the advocacy grant.

• “Families are the lifeblood of our organization, we have been blessed to be a part of their lives when they needed the support.”

• SELF reviews grant applications monthly, nine months out of the year. They take in applications, conduct an interview process, and turn the grant approval process around by the end of the month. Since their founding, SELF has awarded 300 grants. 

• “The journey's long. The journey can be a challenging one, but what I'd say is trust your gut. You are your child's best advocate, and you are also your child's best expert. If you feel like something's not quite right, it probably isn't quite right. So, trust your instinct, trust your gut.”

Links from the episode:

• Special Education Legal Fund

• Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates