Ambika Law Contributes to New Illinois Legal Accountability Guide Supporting Survivors of Conversion Practices

Ambika Law, PC is proud to announce that our founder, Amanda Simmons, served as a contributor to the newly released Illinois “Conversion Therapy” Legal Accountability Guide, a comprehensive resource designed to help survivors, attorneys, and mental health professionals understand their rights and pursue accountability when harmful conversion practices occur. This guide marks a significant step forward in protecting LGBTQ+ individuals and strengthening the legal tools available to challenge these discredited and dangerous practices. 

The guide was developed through a coalition of leading legal, mental health, and LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations—including The Trevor Project, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), the National Association of Social Workers–Illinois (NASW-IL), Equality Illinois, the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois, Illinois Pride Connect, and the American Bar Association’s Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (ABA SOGI).

Amanda participated in drafting the guide as a representative of the ABA SOGI Commission, contributing her expertise in trauma-informed legal advocacy, institutional abuse, children’s rights, and survivor-centered accountability frameworks. As the press release announces, the guide provides “critical pathways for justice and accountability” for survivors in Illinois. 

About the Illinois “Conversion Therapy” Legal Accountability Guide

The newly released guide offers clear, accessible information for:

• Survivors seeking to report violations or pursue civil remedies

• Attorneys navigating licensing complaints, consumer fraud actions, and malpractice claims

• Mental health professionals providing trauma-informed and affirming care

It includes:

• Legal definitions of conversion practices

• Detailed strategies for filing complaints with the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR)

• Civil legal pathways under the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act

• Trauma-informed recommendations for supporting survivors

• Documentation checklists and procedural timeline

The coalition’s press release emphasizes the urgency of this work: Illinois has prohibited conversion practices for nearly a decade, yet new research shows a resurgence of these harmful interventions, often operating in subtle or deceptive forms. 

Amanda Simmons’ Role and Perspective

Amanda’s contribution reflects her deep commitment to protecting vulnerable youth and survivors of institutional abuse. As an attorney and advocate, she has spent her career supporting clients through complex trauma, navigating systems that have historically failed children, and developing legal strategies that promote dignity, autonomy, and safety.

In her work with the ABA SOGI Commission, Amanda advances national policy efforts to protect LGBTQ+ individuals from institutional harm—aligning with Ambika Law’s mission to provide trauma-informed, justice-oriented legal representation for children and survivors of abuse.

Why This Work Aligns with Ambika Law’s Mission

Ambika Law was founded to champion the rights of children, survivors, and families who have been harmed by systems meant to protect them. Our practice focuses on:

• Special education and disability rights

• Institutional child abuse

• Trauma-informed advocacy

• Survivor support through civil rights frameworks

The Illinois Legal Accountability Guide represents exactly the kind of interdisciplinary, survivor-centered resource that aligns with our vision for meaningful systemic change.

Read the Full Guide

The complete Illinois “Conversion Therapy” Legal Accountability Guide is now publicly available and can be accessed through the coalition organizations. It is intended for survivors, attorneys, clinicians, and anyone seeking to understand legal pathways for accountability.

https://www.naswil.org/post/coalition-launches-powerful-new-weapon-against-conversion-therapy

About Ambika Law: 

At Ambika Law, PC, we deliver comprehensive legal services for families with special needs children, focusing on educational law, children’s rights and institutional child abuse. Guided by our core values of trauma-informed, compassionate, responsive, and resourceful lawyering, we create a supportive and proactive legal environment, ensuring our clients feel heard, understood, and effectively represented.

About Amanda: 

Amanda Simmons is a lived experience advocate and founder of Ambika Law, an educational law firm focused on special education and school injury claims.  She is also a 2024-2025 American Bar Association Fellow focusing on institutional child abuse and has presented at conference including the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, the National Association of Women Judges, National Association of Counsel for Children and frequently publishes on legal topics related to the troubled teen industry.  She is passionate about protecting youth and devotes her practice to ensuring the safety of our most vulnerable children.