Press Release
March 4, 2020
Dianne Phillips Honored for Pro Bono Work on Behalf of Children with Special Needs
BOSTON (March 4, 2020) – The Federation for Children with Special Needs has selected Holland & Knight Partner Dianne Phillips to receive its 2020 Founders Award. The award honors Ms. Phillips for her career-long commitment to providing pro bono representation that has benefited children with special needs and others.
In particular, the award recognizes Ms. Phillips’s involvement in representing a group of limited English proficient (LEP) parents in a lawsuit that claimed a school system failed to provide adequate translation and interpretation of documents and discussions during meetings, including involving special education services. As a result of this federal court action, the school system has substantially revised its policies and procedures, hired trained interpreters and trained bilingual staff, all to better serve LEP parents.
“Dianne has helped so many children – some with special needs, some unaccompanied minors, and others – that she truly has changed lives for the better,” said Pamela Nourse, executive director of the Federation. “On behalf of the Federation board and staff, we are proud to honor Dianne.”
“To have my efforts on behalf of special needs children and their families recognized in this way is truly an honor,” said Ms. Phillips. “The Federation does wonderful work and I am proud to have played a role, however small, in helping them fulfill their mission.”
The award will be presented at the Federation’s annual gala on Friday, May 8, at the Marriott Long Wharf in Boston. Learn more about the gala here.
In particular, the award recognizes Ms. Phillips’s involvement in representing a group of limited English proficient (LEP) parents in a lawsuit that claimed a school system failed to provide adequate translation and interpretation of documents and discussions during meetings, including involving special education services. As a result of this federal court action, the school system has substantially revised its policies and procedures, hired trained interpreters and trained bilingual staff, all to better serve LEP parents.
“Dianne has helped so many children – some with special needs, some unaccompanied minors, and others – that she truly has changed lives for the better,” said Pamela Nourse, executive director of the Federation. “On behalf of the Federation board and staff, we are proud to honor Dianne.”
“To have my efforts on behalf of special needs children and their families recognized in this way is truly an honor,” said Ms. Phillips. “The Federation does wonderful work and I am proud to have played a role, however small, in helping them fulfill their mission.”
The award will be presented at the Federation’s annual gala on Friday, May 8, at the Marriott Long Wharf in Boston. Learn more about the gala here.