Curriculum Vitae
Dina C. Kaplan
Attorney at Law
P.O. Box 9055
Calabasas, California 91372
Tel: (818) 222-8118
Fax: (818) 222-2201
Email: specialkidslaw@gmail.com
Website: www.specialkidslaw.com
BACKGROUND
Dina C. Kaplan has more than thirty three years of litigation experience. She was a civil litigator specializing in Real Estate, Construction and Personal Injury law for fourteen years.
In 1994 Ms. Kaplan had a son who was born with multiple physical and developmental disabilities. Her son, Brandon, has inspired her to make a difference in the lives of children with special needs. She refocused her law practice to special education law and civil rights for children with disabilities. Currently, her practice consists of representing children with disabilities in Individualized Education Program meetings, Mediation, Resolution Sessions, Due Process Hearings and State Level Complaints. She also represents and advises families in matters concerning Regional Centers, California Children’s Services, Medi-Cal and private insurance.
Ms. Kaplan’s journey advocating for her son made her realize how difficult it is to access services for children with special needs. As a result, in 1996 she started a non-profit organization, The K.E.N. Project, which provides support, education and training to parents of children with special needs and professionals who work with children with special needs.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
THE LAS VIRGENES SPECIAL EDUCATION, PTA: Dina Kaplan was the President of LVSEPTA from its inception in October 2003 until October 2006. LVSEPTA was the first, district-wide Special Education PTA in California. The mission of LVSEPTA was to facilitate parents, school and community working together to enhance the lives of children with special needs. LVSEPTA provided parent education programs, fundraising for special projects and awards for exceptional educators.
BRANDON’S VILLAGE: Ms. Kaplan was instrumental in bringing this project to the City of Calabasas. The City of Calabasas, the Las Virgenes Special Education PTA, the Talbert Family Foundation, and Shane’s Inspiration combined their efforts to build the first universally accessible playground in the city. This playground is over seventy percent accessible for children of all abilities. The playground was named Brandon’s Village in honor of Ms. Kaplan’s son, Brandon. The Kaplan family received the 2006 Humanitarian Award from the City of Calabasas in honor of their achievement in bringing this wonderful playground to the city. On the first Saturday of every month, The K.E.N. Project, a non-profit organization run by Ms. Kaplan, coordinates play dates at the playground. They are called Brandon’s Buddies and they provide an opportunity for disabled children to play with their able-bodied peers and engage in arts and crafts projects, face painting, snacks and goodie bags. For more information email Dina at brandonsbuddies@pacbell.net.
EXCEPTIONAL PARENT: Dina was awarded the Exceptional Parent Maxwell J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award on July 30, 2008 at the Disability Awareness Night at Dodger Stadium in recognition of her competitive spirit and effort on behalf of the disability community.
EDUCATION
Juris Doctor, San Fernando Valley College of Law, Encino, California. Graduated: June 1980. California State Bar Exam: July 1980. Admitted to practice: December 1980. California State Bar Number: 93693
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Graduated: June 1977
ACADEMIC HONORS
Moot Court Honors invitee.
Vice-President, Environmental Law Society.
Law Review participant. Law Review Article published in San Fernando
Valley Law Review, Annual Edition 1980, Volume Eight, entitled:
“Marital Rape in California-For Better or For Worse.”
Bancroft-Whitney Award for Scholastic Achievement in Federal Income Tax.
Bancroft-Whitney Award for Scholastic Achievement in Remedies.
SPECIAL TRAINING
Hastings College of Advocacy-San Francisco, California, Intensive trial techniques training workshop;
Certificate of Completion of Beginners Workshop in August 1983 and the Advanced Workshop in
March 1987.
CAREER PROFILE
1995 to present: Attorney specializing in special education law and children’s rights for children with disabilities. Ms. Kaplan represents families in Due Process proceedings regarding their children’s Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and their right to a Free, Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). She also assists families with issues concerning the Regional Centers, Medi-Cal, California Children’s Services and private insurance.
1996 to present: Ms. Kaplan is the founder and Executive Director of The K.E.N. Project which is a non-profit parent training organization that provides advocacy training and information to families of children with disabilities and professionals who work with children with disabilities. Ms. Kaplan leads monthly meetings for parents and professionals which include training, information, guest speakers, and support. Ms. Kaplan also speaks at conferences and workshops regarding advocacy and special education law. Ms. Kaplan also coordinates Brandon's Buddies, interactive play dates for children with and without disabilities.
1981-1995: Ms. Kaplan was the Chief Trial Attorney for the Law Offices of Jack A. Thompson and the Law Offices of Ralph J. Rubenstein in Encino, California. She handled all trials, mediations, arbitrations, settlement conferences and discovery. She specialized in matters involving real estate, construction and personal injury.
1986-1995: Ms. Kaplan sat as Judge Pro Tem in the Los Angeles Municipal Court and the Small Claims Court hearing all different kinds of cases from rental disputes to business disputes. She was also on the Los Angeles Superior Court Arbitration panel where she acted as the Arbitrator on numerous personal injury and real estate matters.
1980-1981: Ms. Kaplan was an associate attorney in the Law Offices of S. Myron Klarfeld, Beverly Hills, California where she handled matters involving primarily business and personal injury.
1978 (summer): Worked as a legislative intern for the National Park Service in Washington, D.C. Duties included attending hearings, writing legislative briefs and information regarding the National Parks.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
The following is a list of speaking engagements that Ms. Kaplan has had since 1998:
06-04-98 Lowman Special Education Center, Parent Support Group
02-10-99 Asperger’s Parent Support Group
02-17-99 Neighborhood Youth Association
02-24-99 California State University, LA, Early Intervention
03-07-99 Autism Parent Support Group, CSUN
05-10-99 Neighborhood Youth Association
08-08-99 Autism Parent Support Group
08-15-99 NLACRC, Parent Support Group
09-25-99 CHAAD Program
10-09-99 Tourettes Syndrome Conference (info. table only)
10-16-99 Foothill SELPA Program (info. table only)
11-04-99 West Valley Special Education Parent Support Group
11-11-99 UCLA, Social Skills Parent Group
02-06-00 Bureau of Jewish Education, Inform-a-Thon
03-10-00 CHAAD
03-25-00 Autism Conference, ASLA
04-06-00 Westside Regional Center
04-22-00 Festival Educational (info. table only)
06-02-00 Festiva Educativa
09-12-00 Feeding Conference
11-18-00 Los Angeles County Office of Education (info. table only)
12-02-00 Educational Therapists Conference (info. table only)
12-5-00 Bureau of Jewish Education
01-19-01 Santa Clarita SELPA (info. table only)
03-15&22-01 Jewish Family Services West Hills
04-28-01 Festival Educational
05-05-01 L.A. Council of School Nurses
06-08-01 CHADD
06-09-01 Fiesta Educativa
10-20-01 Association of Educational Therapists (info. table only)
10-17-01 Parent meeting at Bridges Academy
02-07-02 UCP Westside Parent Support
02-27-02 FACT Parent Support Group
03-23-02 CICC Conference
04-05-02 Association of Educational Therapists
04-11-02 CHADD (Valley)
04-12-02 CHADD (Conejo)
08-09-02 Child Development Institute
11-02-02 Child Care Resource Center
11-09-02 Family Focus Empowerment Center
03-12-03 Foothill Autism Alliance
04-27-03 Medical Home Project Conference
05-19-03 Inservice at Bridges Academy
09-07-03 ADHD Conference for CHLA/USC
09-12-03 CHADD of the Conejo
10-18-03 CICC Conference @UCLA
10-18-03 Stillpoint Resources Conference
11-14&16-03 Booth at Autism Conference
12-06-03 Whittier Autism Group
03-02-04 Action Support Group Granada Hills
03-03-04 Action Support Group Chatsworth
03-06-04 Family Focus Conference Granada Hills
03-20-04 Family Focus Conference Santa Clarita
05-14-04 CHADD of the Conejo
09-28-04 Pediatric Therapy Network
10-16-04 Stillpoint Resources Conference (info. table only)
11-06-04 CCRC conference
05-19-05 Wilber Avenue support group
08-25-05 Canoga Rotary Club
08-30-05 NLAC Regional Center training (part one)
09-22-05 UCP Westside Support Group
10-27-05 NLAC Regional Center training (part two)
10-29-05 Ride-On Presentation
11-15-05 AET Valley Group
01-10-06 Kiwanis Club of Calabasas
02-24-06 Family Focus Empowerment Center
03-25-06 Whittier Law School Symposium
04-24-06 Alliance for Children’s Rights
05-19-06 NLAC Regional Center, Parents Support Group
07-13-06 Alliance for Children’s Rights, Part Two
09-14-06 UCP Westside Support Group
10-21-06 Family Focus Empowerment Center Conference
01-20-07 Because I Love You (BILY)
07-01-07 NLAC Regional Center Parent Program Series
07-22-07 NLAC Regional Center Parent Program Series
07-28-07 NLAC Regional Center Parent Program Series
08-18-07 NLAC Regional Center Parent Program Series
04-30-08 NLAC Regional Center Training for Case Workers
03-06-09 Cultivar y Crecer, Spanish Speaking Support Group
06-02-09 Because I Love You (BILY)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA – member since December 1980
COPAA - Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc.: an independent, non-profit organization of attorneys, advocates, and parents whose mission is to secure high quality educational services for children with disabilities.
CAPCALAW – California Parent-Child Attorneys Network: a collaborative, statewide organization which monitors, analyzes, and responds to both legislative and policy initiatives which would affect the education of students with disabilities in California.
THE K.E.N. PROJECT – Executive Director since 1996 – provides advocacy training, referrals and support for parents of children with disabilities. Provides Brandon’s Buddies Play Dates for children with and without disabilities.
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