Winkelman v. Parma City School District

[Guest guest]

Supreme Court agreed Friday to consider an appeal from an autistic

child and his parents, who want to sue over his school accommodations

without hiring a lawyer.

Jeff and Sandee Winkelman say they cannot afford an attorney to argue

their court case against the Parma, Ohio, school district over the

education of their son, .

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the parents had to

find a lawyer, although other federal courts have ruled differently

in cases under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act.

The Bush administration urged justices to take the case, saying

Congress clearly intended parents to be able to represent their

children in such court proceedings.

The Winkelmans contested Parma's plan to educate at a public

school. They wanted the district to pay for his $56,000 yearly

enrollment in a private school that specializes in educating autistic

children.

Whether should have private schooling at public expense is not

before the Supreme Court, only his parents' right to go into federal

court without a lawyer.

The Winkelmans have spent about $30,000 in legal fees since first

contesting 's treatment in 2003. Jeff Winkelman has taken a

second job while his wife has researched previous court rulings and

written her own filings.

The case number is Winkelman v. Parma City School District, 05-

983.