Gina M. DeCrescenzo is the founder of GDPC. She built the firm on years of civil litigation experience and an unparalleled passion for improving the lives of children.
Gina received her Juris Doctor from Pace Law School and her Bachelors of Science from Fordham University. She is admitted to the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the State Court of New York, and the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. She is a member of the Federal Bar Council, Disability Rights Bar Association, American Bar Association’s Children’s Rights Litigation Committee, New York State Bar Association, Westchester Women’s Bar Association’s Education Law Committee, Dutchess County Bar Association, Hudson Union Society, Columbian Lawyers’ Association, and the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (“COPAA”) where she serves on their Publishing and Training Committees. Gina also serves on the Board of Directors of Family Focus Adoption Services and Parents United Learning the Special Education System (“PULSES”).
Before founding GDPC, Gina worked as the only Special Education Attorney at a private litigation firm in Dutchess County, New York and before that as the sole Special Education Attorney at Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (“LSHV”) representing low-income children and young adults with disabilities throughout Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties. At LSHV, Gina was responsible for countless education cases, as well as Office of Mental Health, Office of People with Developmental Disabilities, and Supplemental Security Income denials.
Prior to her work exclusively with children and young adults with special needs, Gina represented hundreds of clients in eviction proceedings and foreclosure actions, gaining national recognition. Coverage in the New York Times can be seen here: [11/15/2011] and [2/7/2012].
Gina has gained local and national recognition for her work as an attorney. In 2019, she was honored as a Changemaker for Children by the internationally renowned organization Save the Children for her legal work related to children with special needs. In 2017, 2018, and 2019, she was named a Super Lawyer by her peers and she was named a Lawyer of Distinction in Special Education Law. She is also considered a Top 40 under 40 National Trial Lawyer. She regularly lectures to parents, attorneys, and organizations throughout New York State on special education-related issues.
In short, Gina has dedicated her life's work to advocating for children with special needs.
Often times, even with the best advocacy, parents are unsuccessful in their search for an appropriate school or doctor or provider who can serve their child's unique needs. That is why, in addition to founding GDPC, Gina co-founded a first-of-its-kind special needs search engine called All Children Learn (ACL). ACL's powerful search engine takes the guesswork out of searching and finding appropriate and local schools and providers. Check it out today: www.allchildrenlearn.com.
