Nevaeh* has never been this excited to go to school – something her grandmother, Ms. Black, couldn't have predicted at the beginning of the school year.

Elementary school was fine for Nevaeh. But by middle school, she became withdrawn and anxious. She had trouble concentrating and significant memory issues, unable to remember details even from memorable life events like her family's vacation to New York City to see “Frozen” on Broadway.

Ms. Black asked Nevaeh’s school multiple times for a formal cognitive and learning evaluation.

Black grandmother and teen granddaughter pose together at home smiling at camera

Through our medical-legal partnership with health clinics across the District, doctors and nurses refer their patients to us because they know the right supports can make a world of difference for a student – and that sometimes a lawyer is needed to make that possible.

While Nevaeh began therapy, Ms. Black worked with Children’s Law Center Staff Attorney Ashley Close to make sure Nevaeh would get the right support at school as well. The school finally agreed to give Nevaeh a comprehensive evaluation that led to a 504 plan – a plan that provided specific accommodations so her anxiety would be less of a barrier to learning.

Between therapy and her extra support at school, Nevaeh is thriving. She made honor roll for the first time, she’s gone up two grade levels in reading AND she’s excited to start high school in the fall with her 504 plan in place.

“She’s smiling more and has so much more confidence,” says Ms. Black. “Before, she thought she couldn’t do it, and now she knows that she can.”

At a time when DC's budget negotiations threaten even more cuts to critical services for students, Nevaeh is proving what is possible when we listen and take the time to prioritize a child’s needs. We are grateful to have been a part of getting Nevaeh’s education back on track and are working to protect behavioral health supports for all DC students.

Tracy Goodman

Healthy Together Director

Children’s Law Center

PS. Too often the District’s schools fail to provide students with physical, learning or emotional disabilities the right supports they need to succeed. Despite their tremendous efforts, those students often fall further behind and eventually become less engaged or struggle to keep up. Read our latest testimony sharing recommendations on how to keep students engaged and in school.

*We always provide clients the option to change their name when sharing their story. Pseudonyms and a stock photo have been used at the family’s request. All other details are true.

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