Melissa K. Waugh, JD, MPH
Attorney at Law
Presentations
Presenter, All About IEEs, 2024 COPAA Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, March 7, 2024
Presenter, What is Specially Designed Instruction?, 2024 COPAA Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, March 10, 2024
Presenter, IEEs in the Trenches: Common Conflicts with LEAs, 2023 COPAA Conference, San Francisco, California, March 4, 2023.
Presenter, All About IEEs, 2023 COPAA Conference, San Francisco, California, March 2, 2023.
Presenter, All About Independent Educational Evaluations, 2022 COPAA Conference, Boston, Massachusetts, March 3, 2022.
Presenter, What To Do When the School Says "No", CASA of Central Virginia, February 18, 2021.
Presenter, The Legal Framework for IEP's and Section 504 Plans, CASA of Central Virginia, February 4, 2021.
Presenter, Your Transition Toolbox, The William & Mary Law Institute of Special Education Advocacy Conference, Janaury 14, 2021.
Presenter, IEP Transition Toolbox, 22nd Annual COPAA Conference, Baltimore, MD, March 8, 2020
Presenter, Understanding the IEP for Lawyers, National Allies for Parents in Special Education, Charlotte, NC, October 6, 2018.
Presenter, Managing Client Relationships, National Allies for Parents in Special Education, Charlotte, NC, October 6, 2018.
Child Find: From the School House and Beyond, National Allies for Parents in Special Education, Charlotte, NC, October 6, 2018.
Presenter, Special Education Law for Legal Aid Attorneys, Virginia Legal Aid Society, Suffolk, VA, February 23, 2018.
Discipline of Students with Disabilities, Special Education and Advocacy Training: An Introduction for Practitioners and Advocates, Norfolk, VA, November 5, 2017 (presented with Dr. Jeffrey Katz, Licensed Clinical Psychologist).
Preventing the School-to-Prison Pipeline, Special Education and Advocacy Training: An Introduction for Practitioners and Advocates, Norfolk, VA, November 5, 2017 (presented with Cheryl Poe, Special Education Advocate).
Strengthening the FAPE Requirement, Special Education and Advocacy Training: An Introduction for Practitioners and Advocates, Norfolk, VA, November 5, 2017 (presented with Andrew Pappert, J.D.).
Special Education: Strengthening the FAPE Requirement, Local Government Attorneys of Virginia, Lynchburg, VA, June 30, 2017.
Unravelling Free and Appropriate Public Education (“FAPE”) Complexities, National Business Institute (NBI), Roanoke, VA, June 8, 2017.
Essential Components of a 504 Plan, National Business Institute (NBI), Roanoke, VA, June 8, 2017.
Navigating Funding Streams for Mental Health Support, 21st Annual Robert E. Sheppard, Jr. Juvenile Law and Education Conference, Richmond, VA, May 13, 2016.
Advocating for Children with Disabilities, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Lynchburg, VA, October 11, 2016.
Special Education Law and Advocacy, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Lynchburg, VA, September 10, 2014.
Concerns for Development: When and How to Refer a Child for Early Intervention Services, The Alliance for Families, Lynchburg, VA, February 18, 2014 (presented with Ms. Polly Smith, Lynchburg City Schools).
Special Education Law and Advocacy, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Lynchburg, VA, October 2, 2013.
Advocating for Children with Disabilities, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Lynchburg, VA, October 19, 2012.
Special Education Advocacy, Presbyterian Homes, Lynchburg, VA, April 17, 2012.
Publications
Melissa K. Cantrell, The Taming of E-Health: Asserting U.S. Jurisdiction Over Foreign and Domestic Websites, 103 W. Va. L. Rev. 573 (2001).
Melissa K. Cantrell, International Response to Dolly: Will Scientific Freedom Get Sheared?, 13 J.L. & Health 69 (1998-1999).
Press and Media
Evan Goodenow, LCPS special education plan approved, understaffing concerns raised, Loudoun Times, April 26, 2023
Nour Habib, Experts say 'missteps' were likely in how school addressed special needs of Richneck student, Daily Press, Jan. 28, 2023.
