Millennium Magazine_2ndEd

A Marquis Who's Who Magazine 211 F or many years, Howard Klebanoff was a litigator and dedicated his career to representing families of children with autism, deafness, attention deficit disorder, and physical disabilities. He sought to ensure that all children gained access to appropriate programming, services and placement in public or private settings. Additionally, he represented children who were harassed or bullied and children involved in various disciplinary proceedings, including expulsions. He was inspired to pursue this career by his own children, two of whom have disabilities. Before retiring, he was partner in a large firm in Hartford, which he left to form his own firm specializing in educational law. Recently named an independent state mediator by the State Department of Education for disputes under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Mr. Klebanoff earned a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut. He began his career in 1962 as an attorney for the U.S. Department of Labor and became one of the most prominent special education lawyers in Connecticut. In 1968, he was elected to the Connecticut legislature, serving in his role for eight years, and was chairperson of the House education committee during his second term. He also wrote the state’s landmark comprehensive special education law. Mr. Klebanoff has received many honors, including the President’s Award for Excellence from the Hartford County Bar Association, and the University of Connecticut established the Klebanoff Institute in his honor. Aside from his legal career, Mr. Klebanoff has been a visiting professor of education at Trinity College, an adjunct professor of education at Southern Connecticut State University, a lecturer at the Trinity-Rensselaer Institute for Community Education, and adjunct professor at many universities. He is a founder of the Conference of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, a national organization serving parent attorneys and advocates. He also helped found the Corporation for Independent Living, which has established hundreds of group homes for young adults with intellectual disabilities. Mr. Klebanoff was selected as the commencement speaker for the University of Connecticut Neag School of Education graduation program in May 2018. HOWARD KLEBANOFF ATTORNEY (RETIRED) West Hartford, CT