Carolyn Makens, as an attorney and parent of a disabled child, has a passion for protecting the rights of children with disabilities in their schools. 

She deeply believes that all children should be afforded the opportunity to receive an appropriate education at public expense.

Carolyn prior to moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the mid 90's worked in the Trust Department of a large regional bank in Nashville, Tennessee where she gained extensive experience working with children with disabilities through her work with  Special Needs Trusts. Upon moving to California, Carolyn spent a number of years staying home to raise and support her children who had various special needs. Ten years ago, she returned to work as an Advocate at a top special education law firm in the San Francisco Bay area who had a strong advocacy, litigation and appellate practice. Through her work at the law firm, she has gained extensive experience with IDEA, mediation, due process, and 9th circuit appellate cases. She decided to open her own Special Education Law Firm and Advocacy Practice in 2014 after successfully passing the California Bar.

Carolyn has extensive experience with special needs children who have been diagnosed with Aspergers, Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, Non Verbal Learning Disability, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, Motor Planning difficulties, Speech and Language Disorders, Dysgraphia, Various Genetic Disorders and Dyspraxia. She also has experience with appropriate Behavioral Intervention Plans and Behavioral Management Techniques for in the home and school setting. She has experience drafting due process complaints and is familiar with all aspects of the mediation and fair hearing process.

Carolyn has a strong interest in helping families, through all legal means available to them under the law, obtain a Free and Appropriate Public Education under IDEA. She has helped families obtain special education and related services that are provided at public expense, under public supervision and direction, and without charge.

The Law Office is located in Marin County adjacent to the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. Our area of practice is Northern California including the East Bay, South Bay, Oakland, San Mateo, Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Napa, Sonoma,  Eureka, Benecia, San Jose, Walnut Creek, Berkeley, Albany, San Ramon, Hayward, Fremont, Modesto, Stockton, Redwood City, Palo Alto, San Rafael, Concord, Antioch, Cloverdale, Sebastopal, Novato, Mill Valley, Sacramento, Brentwood, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin,  San Joaquin, Monterey, Santa Clara, Napa County, Sonoma County, San Mateo County, Santa Cruz, Corte Madera, Tiburon, San Anselmo, Kentfield, Nicasio, Belvedere, Fairfax, San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Sacramento and Solano County.