Education is a crucial and fundamental right of all children. Done correctly, it inspires self-confidence, creativity, teamwork, self-advocacy, and resilience. However, children who learn differently are often denied an appropriate public education.
We aim to change that.
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Our mission is to advocate for the individual educational rights of children with disabilities while assisting parents in navigating the special education process.
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Our founding partners, Tracy Hartlieb and Cera Horste, are deeply committed to protecting the educational rights of children with disabilities. Both former attorneys of JCFS Chicago’s Legal Advocacy Center, they are experienced in representing parents of children with disabilities in a wide range of special education matters, including evaluation and eligibility, Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), 504 Plans, school placement, and mediation.
In the summer of 2020, Tracy and Cera established Hartlieb & Horste, LLC to meet the increasing need for special education advocacy due to COVID-related educational shifts such as the move to remote learning and delays in in-person assessments. In the spring of 2022, Tracy and Cera welcomed Verity as a third partner. Now, at Hartlieb Horste & Sandell, Tracy, Cera, and Verity provide effective, top-quality legal services to parents of children with disabilities across northern Illinois in a wide range of special education legal matters.
