Practice Areas
Special Education Advocacy and Law (IDEA)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) entitles each child with a disability to a free and appropriate education (FAPE). FAPE is measured by meaningful progress appropriate to the child's unique circumstances. If your child is struggling and you suspect your child may have a disability, or your child has an individualized education program (IEP) but does not seem to be making progress, you have legal options. We are here to support you through advocating at IEP meetings, representing you at due process hearings, or navigating federal appeals to ensure your child receives the tailored and appropriate education they are legally entitled to.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. This includes elementary schools as well as undergraduate and graduate programs. Unlike the IDEA, which requires school districts to identify students with disabilities, Section 504 places the responsibility on YOU to request reasonable accommodations. If you need help crafting a strong accommodation request, have had a request denied, or have experienced any other form of disability-based discrimination, we are here to assist you.
Medical Insurance Disputes
When your insurer denies your healthcare claim, we’ll guide you through your options, which may include supplemental submissions to the insurance company or formal appeals. With a track record of successfully challenging medical necessity denials, including those for private duty nursing, we are well-equipped to advocate for your rights and secure the coverage to which you are entitled.
Guardianship
The state considers an individual who has turned 18 to be an adult capable of making their own personal and property decisions. However, a child or other loved one with an intellectual or developmental disability may not be able to make sound decisions on his or her own behalf upon reaching the age of 18. If you have an adult child who is unable to manage their own affairs due to disability, you will need to petition the court for legal guardianship to ensure you can continue to make decisions for that adult child. Please reach out to learn more about the different types of guardianships and the process for obtaining guardianship. We are here to assist every step of the way.
Special Education Law and Medical Insurance Dispute Resolution Lawyer
About Law Office of Elana Simha LLC
Elana Simha, Esq. is the attorney behind Law Office of Elana Simha. When you reach out, you'll connect directly with Elana, ensuring personalized and attentive service every time!
Special Education Law and Medical Insurance Dispute Resolution Legal Team
Meet the team
Elana Simha is principal attorney at the Law Office of Elana Simha. Ms. Simha founded the law firm to effectuate positive change for individuals and families contending with legal issues on top of disability or medical concerns. Ms. Simha feels strongly that education is empowering, and takes the time to explain the law and the way it applies in a particular case to each client.
Prior to founding the law firm, Ms. Simha litigated cases under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) as an attorney for a New York special education law firm and enforced Section 504 and other civil rights as an attorney-advisor for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Ms. Simha has successfully appealed medical insurance denials, and she understands firsthand the toll arbitrary “medical necessity” denials take on patients and their families. Ms. Simha also practiced in the business litigation arena, drafting complaints, motions, and appeals in both federal and state matters. Ms. Simha’s business litigation experience refined her ability to look at cases from multiple vantage points and to think of creative solutions to complex problems. Most recently, Ms. Simha served as investigative counsel for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.
Ms. Simha attended the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where she was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society. In addition to her law degree, Ms. Simha earned a master’s degree in education and special education from Hunter College in New York City and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Stern College for Women. All of Ms. Simha’s education converges in the law firm’s practice areas, abetting her acquisition of a nuanced understanding of the educational and medical underpinnings of her clients' legal claims.
Bar Admissions
New York, 2012
Maryland, 2024
US District Court for the District of Maryland, 2024
Memberships
New York State Bar Association
- Elder Law and Special Needs Section -
- Health Law Section -
Maryland State Bar Association
Maryland Special Education Lawyers (MDSEL)
Council of Parents Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)