Gary S. Mayerson

Firm Founder

Firm Founder Gary Mayerson is a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
Gary founded the firm more than 25 years ago as the nation's first civil rights law firm dedicated to representing individuals with autism and related developmental disorders. The firm has grown to become the five attorney boutique law firm now known as Mayerson, Mure' & Hobbs. To date, Gary and the firm have litigated more than a thousand cases and appeals in 35 states. The firm also consults internationally with American families living and working abroad who are planning a return to the U.S.

In recognition of the critical nature of the evaluation process, Gary and the firm's litigators have developed excellent relationships with leading professionals in the field who have the training and experience to make highly individualized recommendations based on the nuances that will distinguish one student's needs from another.

Gary is the author of two books: "Autism's Declaration of Independence" and "How To Compromise With Your School District Without Compromising Your Child." Gary also wrote the "ABA Litigation" chapter appearing in Dr. Ivar Lovaas' book, Teaching Individuals With Developmental Delays, the "Legal Considerations" chapter appearing in the Second Edition of Dr. Donna Geffner's book, Auditory Processing Disorders, the "Autism in the Courtroom" chapter appearing in the Fourth Edition of Dr. Fred R. Volkmar's seminal treatise, Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders, and the foreword to Dr. Steven Blaustein's textbook, Diagnostic Report Writing In Speech-Language Pathology.

Gary also wrote "Generalization After Endrew F: Shrinking The Gap Between Access and Outcome For Students Diagnosed With Autism," a law review article published by New York Law School.

Gary has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Gary is responsible for scores of reported federal court decisions, including Deal v. Hamilton County, the very first autism case to ever reach the U.S. Supreme Court and Doe v. Darien, where a federal jury in New Haven, Connecticut found that a young boy with Down Syndrome had been sexually abused by his classroom paraprofessional. To make that finding, the jury had to reject the defendants' dangerous argument that because of his diagnosis and challenges, this young man lacked the capacity to understand or tell the truth.

Gary's work also was instrumental in T.K. v. NYCDOE (unaddressed complaints about bullying as a "FAPE" deprivation), R.E. v. NYCDOE and C.F. v. NYCDOE (cases rejecting school district's attempts to rely upon "impermissible retrospective evidence" at trial), T.M. v. Cornwall (least restrictive environment mandate as applied to the student's extended school year), L.B. v. Nebo School District (pertaining to "supported inclusion" and Congress' "least restrictive environment" mandate), V.S. v. NYCDOE (parents have a procedural right to evaluate the school assignment) and Starego v. NJSIAA, a federal court settlement affording Anthony Starego, a 19-year-old high school placekicker with autism, an unprecedented fifth season of interscholastic competition (incredibly, that additional season had a storybook ending, with Anthony and his team going on to win the State Championship 26-15 after Anthony contributed points from two successful field goals!).

Gary is especially proud to have spearheaded the settlement of a federal class action lawsuit that continues to help tens of thousands of New York City students with autism and other disabilities finally receive the special services they are entitled to under the law to make the transition to adulthood.

Gary has testified before Congress on the subject of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act ("IDEIA"). At the invitation of the United Nations, Gary spoke on the subject of facilitating inclusive education in developing countries. He made a similar presentation to Ukraine's First Lady during one of her official trips to the United States.

Gary has been interviewed by the Today Show (NBC), Dan Rather (HDNet), Katie Couric, CNN, PBS, HLN, ABC, NPR, The Economist, New York Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, Congressional Quarterly Researcher and The New York Times, among other media.

In 2025, after being peer-nominated and vetted by an attorney led research team, Gary was for the fourteenth consecutive year named by Super Lawyers Magazine as one of the top civil rights attorneys in the New York metropolitan area.

Gary has received awards and recognition from the McCarton Foundation, the Manhattan Childrens Center, the IDEAL School and the Elija Foundation. Gary served on the national board of Autism Speaks for twelve consecutive years and headed its Federal Legal Appeals Project, a pro bono initiative at the federal level. In five out of six Supreme Court amicus filings, the legal position that Gary and the firm advocated for prevailed.

Gary currently serves as the board chair of Job Path, a Manhattan based not-for-profit formed 45 years ago that is dedicated to securing and supporting meaningful employment opportunities and greater independence for adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Gary is proud of the fact that, today, Job Path supports more than 300 young adults in positions of gainful employment.