Reviews

Law firm at your finest

I contacted Mark Woodsmall around 12 years ago, when it was obvious that my son with autism as well as high cognitive abilities was having a hard time accessing his education, mostly due to atypical behaviors. After being ignored by the district, even when my son was lost in their care, I knew we needed help. Mark was the perfect fit for us. He was amazing to watch in IEP meetings, and I learned so much from him. He is calm, rational, and knows how to work with a team, which is what IEP meetings should be. I distinctly remember a meeting where Mark’s calm, rational thoughts helped the district to propose a solution to an issue. It was as if Mark had done a Jedi mind trick! They proposed exactly what we had entered the meeting knowing that we needed as an outcome for our son. Mark taught me patience. It takes time to get an IEP just right, but with Marks’s help, it will get there. After many evaluations, IEP meetings, multiple instances of filing for due process, and twice going to mediation, my son got everything he needed for him to access his education. He actually had FAPE. With Mark’s help, I learned how to navigate the system for my son. All along the way, multiple times in this process, I remember Mark asking if I felt if I could handle the meetings on my own now, without his direct help. I told him that he was in it for the long haul! However, what Mark does is amazing. Without even saying it, he tries to empower the parents to learn to advocate for themselves. He slowly starts to remove himself so that the parents can navigate the system on their own, empowered with the skills they need by watching and learning from him. Mark slowly faded out of our IEP meetings, and we as parents were able to continue getting everything our son needed, in a calm, professional, patient way, the Mark Woodsmall way. When we were just starting this process in kindergarten, I remember everyone I talked to about my son’s situation said that I had no chance of getting even a district provided, untrained, one-on-one aide for my son for key parts of his day. With Marks help, my son was able to have an ABA trained, one-on-one aide from an independent agency for his entire school day, from elementary school through middle school, at district expense, which was what he needed. The aide was only removed when my son no longer needed an aide. Had I just gone with the district’s offer, my son would have been placed in the SDC class in order to have the support of an aide to help with his behaviors, which would not have been appropriate for him. My son is where he is today due to the help of Mark Woodsmall and his team. I have referred many parents to Mark, and some have actually called and used him. I hope that this review can help other families who I don’t personally know. As a family friend and retired district administrator once told me (who was on the opposite side of the table from Mark on many instances), “Mark Woodsmall will get your son EVERYTHING that he needs.” This retired administrator was not from our district, and was happy for my son’s sake that I had found Mark. Deciding to let Mark help us was one of the best decisions I could have made in my life, for my son’s life.

Mark and his staff are amazing! Legal matters are stressful. Family matters are stressful. Combine the two and it is a wonder they are able to handle things with such grace and professionalism. Our son Nicholas was falling behind in school and my wife and I could not figure out why. When we went to the teachers and principal of his school for some answers, we were given a lot of empty promises and wishful thinking (translation: bureaucratic delays). Mark identified the quickest route between our worries and a true solution and he fought with the school on our behalf. Empty promises get you nowhere and mark made sure they set goals that could be measured and met. It took some time, but the end result is that our son is no longer the exhausted, beaten down, and helpless student that he once was. In addition, we are no longer the exhausted, beaten down, and helpless parents that were unable to guide him out of his dilemma. It turned out that our son had a learning disability that required early intervention from the school and that no matter how much effort we were putting in as parents, it was not enough to correct the course he was on. Because Mark worked with school administrators and staff to implement a plan of action, our son is now an honor society student who has the confidence and strength to succeed in school on his own. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for saving our child and giving his life a new direction. We hope this review gives others an idea of how valuable Mark and his staff are to families facing similar challenges.

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Amazing education law attorneys.

The best lawyers!

My son has been represented by Woodsmall Law Group on multiple occasions over the last 6 years, from helping us deal with the ever so confusing IEP process, to providing information on setting up a Special Needs Trust for my son’s future. I have always been extremely satisfied with their services every time. Mark Woodsmall, and the associates who have worked with us, have all been excellent! Always very professional, yet personable, informative, and highly knowledgeable about special education law, and so much more. Mark has helped us with past IEPs, and has represented my son on (2) separate occasions, in which, a Due Process was filed, but did not end up going to court, because Mark was able to successfully settle on an Agreement with the Pasadena Unified School District, that resulted in my son finally getting the support he needed to, at the least, have a chance to succeed. What is really unique about Mark, is the vast knowledge he possesses, that exceeds beyond just Special Education Law. Mark has a deeper understanding of WHAT constitutes an “individualized “ education plan...and how the goals, objectives, and “other related services” CAN, and SHOULD, be supporting that plan... As a pediatric OT AND mother, I was most impressed with Mark’s ability to carefully break down, synthesize, and make sense of my son’s IEP, from the lens of an occupational therapist, speech therapist, educator, and parent, who also fought for his child’s needs too. With that, he knew exactly what was needed for my son in regards to academics, to social/emotional growth, and so much more. We are truly grateful, and so appreciate what Mark, his team of attorneys (esp. Nelson and Justin), and staff have done for my son...We have always felt very supported and understood, even in the most difficult of times for my son and family, which will ALWAYS be remembered...The commitment to their clients, and passion for what they do, has surely made us clients for life!

Tenemos la mejor parte de una decada trabajando con los abogados de Woodsmall Law Group. Nuestra familia lucha para que mi Hija, con descapacidad, obtenga los mejores servicios en educacion en su districto escolar. Sin la ayuda de Mark Woodsmall y sus amables abogados no hubiera sido posible obtenerlos. Son responsables, amables, respetuosos, y luchadores. Los recomendamos a cualquier familia en la busqueda de un buen abogado para sus hijos. Gracias Woodsmall Law Group!!

I was unsure where to find a reliable source to address several advocacy questions. Fortunately, I came across WOODSMALL LAW GROUP while searching through COPAA website. The ethical and empathetic consultation I received from meeting with Mr. Mark Woodsmall in such a short amount of time was godsent. The team of professionals on staff are clearly dedicated to serving the needs of special needs families. I left with realistic options I didn't know existed and that will serve our families individual needs. So glad that I was able to locate this amazing group of professionals.

My husband I have worked with the Woodsmall group for nearly 7 years. and honestly, if I could give them 10 stars I would. As a parent of a child with multiple disabilities , Mark Woodsmall and Nelson Chu have helped our child get the proper educational placement , obtain multiple services, including Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, mutiple Independent Evaluations that helped drive appropriate goals and compensatory services. All the above would not have been possible without Mark and his caring staff. Mr. Woodsmall and his associates have not just helped our child, but have walked side by side with both my husband and myself through the minefield of advocating for our amazing daughter.

Best law firm! Honest, efficient, professional and trustworthy!