Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Special-Needs Advocates Pack 1-2 Punch With BREN Clinic
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 5 years ago on
October 28, 2019

Share

Parents of special-needs children in the Valley have two bright, organized, and hardworking advocates in their corner.
Meet Jodie Howard.
After battling school officials to obtain needed services for her autistic son, she enrolled at San Joaquin College of Law to gain the knowledge to help him and others like him.


Listen to this article:
 


Portrait of GV Wire News Director Bill McEwen
Bill McEwen
Opinion
Meet Alissa Malakan.
When her daughter was diagnosed with autism, it seemingly took forever to get the services she needed.

Nonprofit Funds Classes for Special-Ed Parents

Howard graduated from SJCL as valedictorian and oversees the college’s new BREN Clinic. Its mission is to arm families with information so that members with intellectual and developmental disabilities can “obtain the education services, community services, and related support they need to reach their full potential.”
The BREN Clinic’s initial funding — $150,000 — comes from a nonprofit established by Malakan’s family and other families affected by autism. That nonprofit, Growing Resources for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, also is providing scholarships for 10 local graduate students seeking master’s degrees in special ed and speech therapy.
Together, Howard and Malakan, are determined to see that all Valley families of special-needs children receive the services they need and are legally entitled to.
“With my daughter, it took forever to receive that diagnosis and then it took forever to get services,” Malakan says. “It was just wrong, and I realized how far our area is behind where autism is concerned. I met a lot of families that had the same concerns. We decided we couldn’t wait, and we started GRAND.
“Our goal is to have developing kids in mainstream classrooms, for parents to know what their rights are, and how to go about getting those needs met.”
Howard’s decision to enter law school stemmed from her battles with Sanger Unified about her son Bren’s education. Now 15, he communicates through sign language and by typing. He now attends Buchanan High School in Clovis Unified.
“He is non-verbal, but he has communication skills,” Howard says. “As a parent, it shouldn’t be such a difficult battle. But it’s hard sometimes; the school and parents don’t always agree on what a child needs. Sometimes, there is a (legal) right the school is violating. We should be working together as a team to get what’s best for the child.”

Howard Authors Guide for Special-Needs Families

At one point, Howard went before an administrative law judge and won a request for more therapy for her son. But along with that victory, she said, came the realization that other families weren’t getting the help they needed.

Photo of the cover of A Parent Guide To Special Education Law & Proactive Advocacy
During her final year at San Joaquin College of Law, Jodie Howard authored a handbook for parents of special-needs children.
With the support of her husband, Rob, she applied to law school. Not only did she excel at SJCL, but Howard somehow found time to author “A Parent Guide to Special Education & Proactive Advocacy.
“When I was in my final year of law school, I went to the dean of academics (Justin Atkinson) and asked if I could replace water law or something else with a research project,” Howard says. “That turned into a paper, which turned into a book.”
People reviewing the book on Amazon have found it helpful.
Wrote one reviewer: “Finally! An easy to follow, concise guide through the myriad of the legalize of special ed. No longer in the dark and confused as a parent. Better prepared to be assertive in the child’s best interest. Kudos to Ms. Howard!”

Big Demand for Classes

Under the supervision of an attorney, Howard piloted the BREN Clinic by teaching parents’ right classes at SJCL. They filled up quickly and received positive feedback. The clinic’s next step is providing legal help for special ed families. Right now, Howard awaits the results of her California bar exam because she needs to be admitted to the bar to provide those services.
“We (advertised) on Facebook and within a week we had reached capacity,” Howard says.
The demand continues. In fact, advance registration has filled the spring 2020 classes, and names are being taken for a waiting list.
“I know there’s a need because I’ve lived it,” Howard says.

GRAND Seeks a Valley-Wide Impact

Malakan, meanwhile, is on the hunt for more donors. She wants GRAND to have a Valleywide impact, especially in rural areas where services are hard to find or nonexistent.

“I am hunting everybody down and asking for help. Everyone who has heard our story has been very generous. We would like to reach the rural communities.” — Alissa Malakan, founder of the GRAND nonprofit
“I am hunting everybody down and asking for help,” Malakan says. “Everyone who has heard our story has been very generous. We would like to reach the rural communities.”
Another goal is offering BREN Clinic classes in Spanish.
“That’s definitely on our radar,” Malakan says. “We need to find a Spanish-speaking attorney with a good heart.”
Photo of Jodie Howard in a law library
Jodie Howard teaches special education law and advocacy training classes at the San Joaquin College of Law’s BREN Clinic. (SJCL)
Correction: An earlier version of this column wrongly attributed Howard’s motivation for enrolling in law school over battles with Clovis Unified. 

DON'T MISS

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

DON'T MISS

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

DON'T MISS

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

DON'T MISS

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

DON'T MISS

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

DON'T MISS

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

DON'T MISS

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

DON'T MISS

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

DON'T MISS

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

DON'T MISS

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

UP NEXT

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

UP NEXT

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

UP NEXT

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

UP NEXT

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

UP NEXT

What Kind of Trouble Is Miguel Arias Trying to Stir Up This Time?

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Shot to Death at NW Apartment Complex Is Identified

UP NEXT

SJV Water Founder Lois Henry Receives Prestigious Reporting Award

UP NEXT

Local Candidates Make Final Pitches at Fresno Hispanic Foundation Event

UP NEXT

California’s Transition Off Carbon Fuels Could Be a Monumental Disaster

UP NEXT

MAGA Hats OK at Polls, but Electioneering Is Strictly Prohibited

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

2 hours ago

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

3 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

15 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

15 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

16 hours ago

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

16 hours ago

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

16 hours ago

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

16 hours ago

What Kind of Trouble Is Miguel Arias Trying to Stir Up This Time?

16 hours ago

MrBeast Probe Ends With Some Employees Fired but Finds No Proof of Sexual Misconduct Allegations

17 hours ago

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

Peanut butter is a childhood staple for many in the United States. Whether it’s a classic PB&J sandwich, a fluffernutter, cookies ...

1 hour ago

1 hour ago

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

1 hour ago

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

1 hour ago

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

2 hours ago

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

3 hours ago

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

15 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

15 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

16 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

Search

Send this to a friend