Mary E. Broadhurst is an attorney who provides quality legal services in the area of special education to children and youth with disabilities. She is a 1990 graduate of University of Oregon School of Law. Licensed to practice law in Oregon, Mary was admitted to the Oregon State Bar in 1991; the United States District Court for the District of Oregon in 1992; and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1995.

Special education cases are complex in that they require an in depth understanding of both the nuances of educational theory and child development as well as a thorough comprehension of a rapidly evolving, and frequently contradictory, body of law. Mary's background makes her uniquely able to understand the issues facing families with children with disabilities. She was the oldest girl, the third child in a family of ten children. At the age of 13 Mary began working with children with disabilities at summer camps for children with disabilities. She attended a vocational high school where she received instruction in child development and was provided with 2 years of experience working with children, both those with and without disabilities.

Her first 2 years of college were at Fitchburg State College, Massachusetts, where she majored in Special Education. During this time she also worked as a crisis intervention residential counselor for adults with developmental disabilities. Resuming her schooling in California she continued to pursue a teaching degree and with one semester to go, switched majors to pursue entrance to law school. The majority of her undergraduate course work was in the field of teaching, giving her an understanding of the principles of education.

During law school she researched and wrote major portions of The Educator's Encyclopedia of School Law, for authors' Richard D. Gatti and Daniel J. Gatti. Mary also published an article entitled The Legal Limits of School Discipline for Children with Handicaps, 69 Oregon Law Review 117 (1990).

Also during law school she worked as a legal intern for the Oregon Advocacy Center, handling special education issues and representing a client at an administrative hearing. In 1992, she was the co-author of the Oregon Advocacy Center's Special Education: A Guide for Parents and Attorneys, 3rd Edition.

Mary has made many presentations in the area of special education. Her audiences have included parents, advocates, attorneys, and school district personnel. Mary has been a member of COPAA.net (Council of Parent, Attorneys, and Advocates) since its inception.

Since 1991, with the exception of two education related civil rights cases, Mary has exclusively represented individuals with disabilities in the area of special education. At present, her emphasis is a pro-active approach attending eligibility, IEP, and placement meetings where it is her goal to ensure that the collaborative process intended by Congress is used to make decisions thereby strengthening the role of parents. A second area of emphasis is securing District payment for residential placements for students who are not receiving benefit from their educations and who are in need of residential treatment to address their behavioral issues.