Katrina’s son struggled in school.

You could say his struggles were because of his neurodivergence – he has autism – or because of his speech and language disability. Or you could say it was because his public elementary school didn’t have the capacity to handle his needs well. You could point to the fact that he had been bullied and assaulted at school: what kid could thrive under such circumstances?

It was never just one issue: these challenges accumulated and had exponential impacts on one another. Over time, Katrina’s parenting responsibilities prevented her from consistently working, increasing the family’s struggles.

What can a parent do under these circumstances? How can she ensure her child gets the chance to learn and grow?

Katrina found her answers with The Legal Aid Society’s Education Law Project (ELP), which provides advocacy for the education needs of children and youth in New York City.

When Katrina first reached out to the ELP almost a decade ago, her family was in crisis. Her son wasn’t getting the supports he needed at school. Katrina’s parenting responsibilities prevented her from consistently working. 

Susan Horwitz, now the Director of ELP, assists the parents of students with disabilities who are not getting the supports and services they are entitled to under the law – exactly what this family needed. She worked to get a referral for a neuropsychological evaluation to pinpoint his educational needs, secured a spot at a private special education school when he entered sixth grade; and obtained $15,000 in Social Security benefits that helped pay for after-school tutoring and camps.

Adonis, Susan, and Katrina

Katrina tells us that “Without Susan, my son wouldn’t be grown into the young man that he is today.” That young man is now a college graduate – he received his bachelor’s in humanities from Beacon College in May 2025. Susan worked to ensure that he received all the supports and services he was entitled to under the law. Once those supports were in place, Katrina’s son was able to do the rest of the work: apply himself, study hard, and succeed in middle school, high school, and college. 

When her son had the proper services in place, Katrina was able to make the time to continue her own education. She earned a paralegal certificate and now works as an advocate at Queens Legal Services for families who need similar educational support. 

Katrina and Susan are still in touch, and Susan has been so glad to see her former clients thriving.