Donate today and your gift will be matched! Multiply your impact ➜

On Tuesday we shared the story of seven-year-old Armani and her mother, Ms. Johnson, who faced incredible hurdles advocating for Armani’s education. 

Despite Ms. Johnson’s tenacity in meeting after meeting, the school only agreed to provide needed services once we took them to court.



“The system makes it almost impossible for parents to advocate for themselves successfully.” – Children’s Law Center attorney Sarah Remes 

We reach thousands of students every year through individual assistance, but we are also trying to improve special education services across DC so students don’t need a lawyer. This year, we’ve shared policy recommendations with the DC Council and we continue to partner with parents, pediatricians and lawmakers to advocate for a comprehensive plan to improve special education so that students with disabilities don’t lose learning time.

Help Children’s Law Center reach children like Armani and advocate for city-wide changes so that more DC kids can thrive at school.

“You have to get told ‘no,’ you have to be rejected, you have to go through court cases and trials and meet with lawyers,” Ms. Johnson said, describing her advocacy for Armani’s education. 

Children and families deserve better. We need your help to ensure students like Armani are encouraged – not shut down – in getting the supports they need to thrive in the classroom. 

Please consider making a year-end gift. And if you donate today, your support will be matched and you can multiply your impact!*

With gratitude,  

Tracy Goodman 

Healthy Together Director 

Children’s Law Center 

P.S. If your employer is participating in our Champions for Children campaign, your gift also counts toward your team’s total!  

*Thanks to Diana and Stephen Goldberg, eligible gifts will be matched up to a combined $150,000 through 12/31/24.  

Help Children’s Law Center reach children like Armani so that more DC kids can thrive at school with your donation today ➜

After an early autism diagnosis, Armani had lots of support from family and her medical team. 

But not long into kindergarten, it was clear her school wasn’t providing the services Armani needed. They even took away her alternative communication device, one of her only ways to communicate since she is mostly non-speaking. When this led to meltdowns, the school isolated her and left her in crisis.

Ms. Johnson reached out to Children’s Law Center and worked with supervising attorney Sarah Remes to advocate for Armani.   



“Once Sarah got into our life – snap – things started changing for the better,” Ms. Johnson said. 

Together, they successfully advocated for: 

• New evaluations to better understand Armani’s sensory and communication needs,   
• An updated education plan to address those needs, and   
• A new school placement where Armani could get the right support.  

Armani started at her new school over the summer. She’s finally getting the one-on-one support and services she needs to learn. 

Help us reach more children like Armani in 2025. Please consider making a year-end gift today. And if you donate by December 31st, your support will be matched and you can multiply your impact!*

With gratitude, 

Judith Sandalow

Executive Director



P.S. If your employer is participating in our Champions for Children campaign, your gift also counts toward your team’s total!

*Thanks to Diana and Stephen Goldberg, eligible gifts will be matched up to a combined $150,000 through 12/31/24.  

Learn more about Armani and her mother's advocacy ➜