Amanda Simmons
Appointed to California Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH)
Special Education Advisory Committee

Ambika Law is proud to share that founder and children’s rights attorney Amanda Simmons has been selected to serve as a member of the California Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) Special Education Advisory Committee.

The Advisory Committee provides non-binding recommendations to improve California’s special education hearing and mediation processes, helping shape how disputes between families and school districts are handled throughout the state. Members serve two-year terms and are selected based on their experience, involvement in the special education system, and commitment to improving outcomes for students and families.

For Amanda, this appointment is deeply meaningful.

“As both an advocate and a survivor-advocate, I know how overwhelming and isolating the special education system can feel for families,” Amanda shared. “I’m honored to contribute to conversations about how these processes can become more accessible, responsive, and trauma-informed for the children and parents navigating them.”

The OAH Special Education Advisory Committee includes parents, advocates, attorneys, and other stakeholders from across California who are committed to improving dispute resolution in special education matters. The committee meets twice annually and provides recommendations regarding hearing procedures, mediation practices, accessibility, and systemic improvements.

Amanda’s appointment reflects her longstanding dedication to protecting the rights of children with disabilities and supporting families through IEP disputes, due process hearings, school discipline matters, and civil rights violations in educational settings.

As the founder of Ambika Law, Amanda has built a trauma-informed law practice focused on ensuring vulnerable children receive the educational support, protections, and advocacy they deserve. Her work combines strategic legal representation with a deep commitment to accountability, inclusion, and systemic reform.

Ambika Law remains committed to empowering families, improving access to justice, and helping shape educational systems that better serve all children.