Cheri Belkowitz is the Managing Member and founder of Belkowitz Law, PLLC. She is an education attorney who practices throughout Virginia and in Washington, D.C. Cheri is a zealous advocate for children with disabilities and their families in all school-related matters. She represents families in special education law matters arising under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. 

Cheri is active in the special needs community, and she served four terms as Chair of the Fairfax County Public Schools Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (a school district with approximately 28,000 students with disabilities). She also served as a member of the Fairfax Equity Stakeholders Committee and as a Director on the Board of The Arc of Northern Virginia. Cheri is presently the Vice-Chair of the Fairfax County Police Civilian Review Panel, and she currently serves on the Board of the Fairfax Special Education PTA (“SEPTA”). Among other recognitions, Cheri received the JCC of Northern Virginia (“JCCNV”) Finkelstein Award for her service, leadership, and program development in the special needs community and the SEPTA “Community Champion Award” in 2020 for her exceptional commitment to the special needs community in the public schools. In 2022, Cheri received the SEPTA “Genie” Award for her outstanding educational programming for the special needs community.
 
Cheri is a sought-after presenter, and she speaks multiple times a year on various topics related to special education, including special education for military families. Cheri was invited by the Secretary of the Air Force as a civic leader to participate in the National Security Forum at Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, to share perspectives with senior military officers on strategic leadership, national security, and global security. Cheri has presented on various topics, and she has presented many times for military families, JAG attorneys, and other professionals by speaking at COPAA Conferences, at Exceptional Family Member Program ("EFMP") events, as a faculty member in the PELE Clinic’s Military Boot Camp through William and Mary Law School, and as a presenter for the American Bar Association. Most recently, she served on the faculty at the 78th Annual Legal Assistance Course at the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School where she taught special education law to JAG attorneys from all military branches.
 
Cheri graduated cum laude from Brandeis University, and she earned her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Syracuse University College of Law. Cheri served as Notes and Comments Editor of The Syracuse Law Review and was a member of the Justinian Honorary Law Society. At graduation from law school, Cheri was awarded the Dean’s Most Outstanding Contribution Award. Cheri grew up in Livingston, New Jersey, and she currently lives in Fairfax Station, Virginia. She and her husband, Harold, have three children.

Melissa K. Waugh (she/her/hers) is a skilled attorney in practice for over twenty years. She has practiced special education law for the last thirteen years. Melissa represents parents at IEP meetings, in mediation, with state and federal complaints, in due process hearings, and in federal and state litigation. Her representation includes matters arising under the IDEA, the ADA, Section 504, and Title IX. Melissa graduated cum laude from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree with a focus in biology, chemistry, and physics. Melissa received her Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from the University of Houston Law Center in 2000. While attending law school, Melissa served on the Houston Journal of International Law as Articles Editor, the Student Bar Association as 1st Vice President & Section Representative, the Honor Court as a Justice, the Health Law Organization, and the Public Interest Law Organization. She also won first place in the Tom Newhouse Mediation Competition. Melissa also holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Texas-Health Science Center. Melissa and her husband, Lt. Col. Bryan "Marty" Waugh (Ret.), are the parents of two amazing children who happen to have special needs. After adopting their children from foster care in 2010 and being exposed for the first time to special education and IEPs, Melissa quickly realized how complicated this area of the law is and the dire need for more attorneys representing the interests of parents of children with disabilities in our schools. Melissa started her own law firm to assist families of children with disabilities and has served as a Guardian ad Litem for children in court. She joined Belkowitz Law, PLLC in 2018. Melissa regularly presents to parent and professional groups and has served as faculty for COPAA, the Institute for Special Education Advocacy at William & Mary Law School, VPLC Annual Statewide Legal Aid Conference, the University of Richmond School of Law Special Education Symposium, and the National Business Institute. She is a long-time member of COPAA, and a member of the Special Education Advisory Committee (“SEAC”) for Loudoun County Public Schools. Melissa is licensed to practice law in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.

Dr. Diana Naddeo is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Dedicated to seeing “the whole child,” she takes a special interest in pediatric psychological assessments that focus on emotions, personality, learning, and behavior. She integrates all of this information to understand her patients in a culturally sensitive manner.

Dr. Naddeo is well versed in psychiatric diagnosis, educational assessment and a wide range of treatment approaches, using this information to create a useful and effective plan for patients and their families. She also values the relationship between herself and her patients, and strives to create a warm, accepting and easy-going atmosphere while also emphasizing the need to undo old patterns of behavior that are barriers to healthy fun

Stacey Tié is a professional Non-Attorney Special Education Advocate at the Law Office of Laura Heneghan, LLC. Stacey has been practicing Advocacy professionally since 2019. She has completed coursework related to special education advocacy through the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) Special Education Advocacy Training (SEAT) 2.0. She also completed Wrightslaw’s Special Education Law & Advocacy Training. Stacey received her certification in Mental Health First Aid USA through the National Council of Behavior Health. She has completed 60+hours of training in Orton Gillingham. She is a member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA). Stacey has an associate’s degree in Theater from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and a Bachelor in Business Finance from Pace University.

Sandra Dixon Shove is a former elementary educator, a non-attorney special education advocate in private practice, and a longtime Autism Society affiliate leader.

 She has 12 years of experience teaching, 13 years advocating for children with a variety of disabilities, and more than 14 years supporting and mentoring parents, as well as developing and presenting community awareness programs countywide as an Autism Society leader.

Ann Simun, Psy.D. has been working professionally with children with learning and behavioral challenges since 1989. She is a licensed psychologist (PSY20113), with a specialization in neuropsychology. She is also a credentialed and experienced School Counselor, School Psychologist, and Licensed Educational Psychologist, making her eligible to conduct IEEs for school district matters. 

Dr. Simun is a member of the American Psychological Association, National Academy of Neuropsychology, and International Neuropsychological Society. She regularly presents at conferences nationwide and provides training for school districts, parents, advocates, and nonprofit disability agencies. Dr. Simun conducts neuropsychological and psychoeducational assessments, provides expert witness and consultation services, conducts formal observations, and teaches psychoeducational assessment at the graduate level.