COPAA is proud to present the Diane Lipton Award for Outstanding Educational Advocacy to Kathleen B. Boundy. Kathy is co-director of the Center for Law and Education.  For over two decades, she has advocated for the rights of children with disabilities through legislation, policy development, and litigation.  During the last two IDEA reauthorizations, Kathy worked tirelessly to keep the Act strong.  She has been steadfast in her efforts to prevent weakening of the No Child Left Behind Act for children with disabilities.  Kathy has been involved in litigating several important special education cases.  This award honors the memory of Diane Lipton, a member of the COPAA Board who championed the rights of children with disabilities until her death in 2002.  Diane began as a parent-advocate for her daughter, Chloe, who was segregated from her nondisabled peers. Diane was both an advocate and an attorney for Disabilities Rights Education & Defense Fund.  In her memory, COPAA’s award honors those who have made particularly outstanding contributions to protecting students' rights.

Awards for Distinguished Advocacy
For the Rights of Children with Disabilities:
Jim Comstock-Galagan, Courtney Bowie & Hector Linares

    COPAA is awarding a special Distinguished Advocacy Award to Jim Comstock-Galagan and Courtney Bowie of the Southern Poverty Law Center and Hector Linares of Protection and Advocacy, Inc.  They are the architects of the Louisiana project, “Stopping the Schoolhouse to Jailhouse Pipeline by Enforcing Federal Special Education Law.”  This project compelled the state to eliminate many illegal discipline and expulsion practices, provide appropriate services to students classified as ED, implement district-wide use of positive behavioral interventions for all students, and actively improve children's academic progress.  All three worked wholeheartedly to protect the rights of Louisiana children with disabilities in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath.

Beth Goodman Scholarship Fund

    For 4 years, COPAA has awarded Beth Goodman memorial scholarships to COPAA members who have made significant contributions to special education advocacy but could not otherwise afford to attend the conference.  The scholarship honors the memory of Beth Goodman, a member of the COPAA Board until her death in 2002. Beth was an outstanding attorney who dedicated her life to fighting for the rights of students with disabilities in Washington D.C. Fund donations are tax-deductible.  Thanks to all for your generosity.

Ken Archibald Memorial Scholarship Fund

    Last year our friend and Board member, Rose Marie Archibald, lost her beloved husband, Ken Archibald.  COPAA has created the Ken Archibald Memorial Scholarship Fund for the 2007 Conference to help defray conference expenses for attendees with incomes at or below the poverty level.  We express our gratitude to Rose Marie for creating the scholarship and to all who have donated. 

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