This is a redacted version of the original hearing officer decision. Select details may have
been removed from the decision to preserve anonymity of the student. The redactions do not
affect the substance of the document.

HEARING OFFICER DECISION/ORDER
CHILD’S NAME: C.M.
NORWIN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT (ODR FILE NO. 6499/05-06 LS)

Date of Birth: xx/xx/xx
Type of Hearing: Closed
Dates of Hearing: 7/28/06; 8/14/06

I. PARTIES TO THE HEARING

PARENT:

Ms.

PARENT REPRESENTATIVE:

John Rushford, Esquire DODARO, CAMBEST ET AL., 1001 Ardmore Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15221-5233 412-243-1600 office@dodarocambest.com

DISTRICT CONTACT:

Dr. Mary Anne Hazer
281 McMahon Drive
North Huntingdon, PA 15642-2403

DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE:

Michael Brungo, Esquire
MAIELLO, BRUNGO, & MAIELLO 1 Churchill Road
3301 McCrady Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15235-5137 412-242-4400
mlb@mbm-law.net

DATE TRANSCRIPT RECEIVED:

August 19, 2006

HEARING OFFICER:

Dorothy J. O’Shea, Ph.D.

August 24, 2006

Date of Decision/Order

HEARING OFFICER DECISION/ORDER
CHILD’S NAME: Student
NORWIN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT (ODR FILE NO. 6499/05-06 LS)

II. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Student was an xx (xx) year old, eligible student during the 2005-2006 school year. In April of 2006, Ms. (i.e., Student’s mother) made a due process hearing request, opining that Student’s attendance at [redacted] School, an Approved Private School (APS), did not provide Student with the opportunity to relate to neighborhood peers. Her mother argued that Student endured a lengthy bus ride to and from the APS due to its proximity, approximately 13 miles from the Norwin Area District (i.e., the District). Student’s mother requested Student’s placement at an “autism specific” school run by [redacted] Human Services (HS), contending that the HS School would be better able to meet Student’s needs according to Student’s most recent re- evaluation report (ER) and her Individualized Education Program (IEP).

IV. ISSUES

The parties agreed to the hearing issues on the record (NT 19-20):

 Is Student’s placement at APS given its proximity to her home, not appropriate based on her needs?

 Is Student’s placement at the Human Services School (HS School), an appropriate placement that is less restrictive than her current APS placement?

 


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