Melissa Waugh

Contact Melissa

[email protected]

Direct: (703) 200-9042

Publications

  • Hank Bostwick, Courtney Pugh, LaTonya Slade, Sara Platenberg & Melissa Waugh, The Challenges of Meeting the Needs of Virginia Students With Disabilities Through Individualized Education Programs, 27 Rich. Pub. Int. L. Rev. 2 (2024).
  • 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).

Melissa Waugh

Attorney

Presentations

  • IEEs—A Powerful Tool in a Parent’s Toolbox, The Special Education & Advocacy Conference, The Collaborative IEP, February 18, 2026
  • Consent: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, 27th Annual COPAA Conference, Irvine, CA, March 8, 2025
  • All About IEE’s, ½ Day Pre-Conference Seminar, 27th Annual COPAA Conference, Irvine, CA, March 7, 2025
  • Parents’ Rights Regarding Educational Records in Virginia:  FERPA, IDEA, VA SPED Regulations, and VFOIA, VPLC Annual Statewide Legal Aid Conference, Williamsburg, VA, October 18, 2024
  • Advanced Special Education Advocacy: Preparing for Due Process and Beyond, Panel Discussion, VPLC Annual Statewide Legal Aid Conference, Williamsburg, VA, October 17, 2024
  • Parents’ Rights Regarding Educational Records in Virginia: FERPA, IDEA, VA SPED Regulations and VFOIA, LAJC EdLaw Taskforce Meeting, Richmond, VA, August 6, 2024
  • What is Specially Designed Instruction? 26th Annual COPAA Conference, Atlanta, GA, March 10, 2024
  • Consent: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, 26th Annual COPAA Conference, Atlanta, GA, March 9, 2024
  • All About IEE’s, ½ Day Pre-Conference Seminar, 26th Annual COPAA Conference, Atlanta, GA, March 7, 2024
  • What to Do When the School Says “No”, University of Richmond School of Law Special Education Symposium, Richmond, VA, October 27, 2023
  • Navigating the IEP and IEP Meetings – Panel Discussion, University of Richmond School of Law Special Education Symposium, Richmond, VA, October 27, 2023
  • Working A Special Education Case in the Commonwealth – Panel Discussion, VPLC Annual Statewide Legal   Aid Conference, Richmond, VA, October 19, 2023
  • IEE’s in the Trenches, 25th Annual COPAA Conference, San Francisco, CA, March 2, 2023
  • All About IEE’s, ½ Day Pre-Conference Seminar, 25th Annual COPAA Conference, San Francisco, CA, March 2, 2023
  • All About IEE’s, ½ Day Pre-Conference Seminar, 24th Annual COPAA Conference, Boston, MA, March 4, 2022
  • What To Do When the School Says “No”, CASA of Central Virginia, February 18, 2021. 
  • The Legal Framework for IEP’s and Section 504 Plans, CASA of Central Virginia, February 4, 2021.
  • Your Transition Toolbox, The William & Mary Law Institute of Special Education Advocacy Conference, January 14, 2021.
  • IEP Transition Toolbox, 22nd Annual COPAA Conference, Baltimore, MD, March 8, 2020
  • Understanding the IEP for Lawyers, National Allies for Parents in Special Education, Charlotte, NC, October 6, 2018.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.