SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW FOR FAMILIES
Ms. Salonus’ practice in special education law encompasses claims arising under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). She also handles matters related to the abuse of children by schools and cases involving retaliation against parents and teachers for advocating for children with special needs. Thus, whether your situation requires consultation to determine your child’s legal rights in a given situation, legal assistance at your child’s IEP meeting, or the filing of a due process hearing or federal lawsuit, The Salonus Firm can provide you with strong and compassionate representation.
If your child has special needs, you should be vigilant about whether they are receiving the individualized education and/or related services that they deserve. Under the IDEA in Tennessee, there are categories under which a child may receive special education or related services, including intellectual disability, hearing impairment, emotional disturbance, deafness, deaf-blindness, autism, multiple disabilities, visual impairment, traumatic brain injury, speech or language impairment, specific learning disability, other health impairment, orthopedic impairment, developmental delay, functional delay, or intellectually gifted.
If you believe that your child qualifies under one of these categories, you may ask that an evaluation be done by your child’s school to determine whether your child is eligible for special education and the development of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) under the IDEA. If your child has a disability and the school determines your child does not qualify under the IDEA, your child may still be eligible for accommodations and services under Section 504 and/or the ADA if your child needs accommodations or services in order to meet their educational needs as adequately as their non-disabled peers. If you have any concerns regarding whether your child should be eligible or should be receiving services under any of these laws, contact us.
We serve clients throughout Western and Middle Tennessee including those in the following localities: Madison County including Jackson; Bedford County including Shelbyville; Davidson County including Antioch, Goodlettsville, Hermitage, Madison, Nashville, and Old Hickory; Dyer County including Dyersburg; Henderson County including Lexington; Henry County including Paris; Rutherford County including Murfreesboro; Shelby County including Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Cordova, Germantown, Memphis, and Millington; Williamson County including Brentwood and Franklin; and Wilson County including Lebanon.
EMPLOYMENT LAW FOR EMPLOYEES
Tennessee employment lawyer Jessica Salonus represents employees in cases involving all forms of discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, hostile work environment, the FMLA, whistleblower claims, ERISA disputes over benefits, severance negotiations, and non-competition clauses.
Federal anti-discrimination laws include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), among others. These laws prohibit discrimination against workers and job applicants on the basis of certain protected characteristics, including race, national origin, religion, color, sex, age, and disability. Discrimination includes taking any adverse action against an employee or job applicant, including firing, termination, passing someone over for promotion, refusing to hire someone, or withholding benefits of employment. Discrimination may also encompass harassment of an employee.
For example, sexual harassment is prohibited under Title VII. There are two types of sexual harassment: hostile work environment and quid pro quo harassment. The former occurs when the harassment is severe or pervasive, while the latter occurs when some aspect of employment is conditioned on accepting or giving sexual favors. Most anti-discrimination laws, including Title VII, also prohibit retaliation. Retaliation occurs when an employer tries to punish an employee for engaging in a protected activity, such as filing a charge of sexual harassment.
If you believe you have been the victim of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any other unlawful employment practice by your employer, The Salonus Firm has the experience and knowledge necessary to protect your rights. However, there are short timelines which must be met in order to preserve these types of claims, so contact the firm as quickly as possible to determine what steps must be taken to ensure your rights are protected.
We serve clients throughout Western and Middle Tennessee including those in the following localities: Madison County including Jackson; Bedford County including Shelbyville; Davidson County including Antioch, Goodlettsville, Hermitage, Madison, Nashville, and Old Hickory; Dyer County including Dyersburg; Henderson County including Lexington; Henry County including Paris; Rutherford County including Murfreesboro; Shelby County including Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Cordova, Germantown, Memphis, and Millington; Williamson County including Brentwood and Franklin; and Wilson County including Lebanon.
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