I offer a 45-minute phone consultation free of charge to all new and prospective clients. Prior to our meeting, you'll fill out a brief questionnaire about your child and situation. You'll come away from the consultation with recommendations and concrete next steps, including free resources and options for additional paid advocacy services from me.

When it comes to special education, the devil is often in the details of the paperwork - IEPs, evaluation reports, progress reports, and prior written notices (PWNs). I'll do an in-depth analysis of your child's records, we'll meet virtually for coaching, and I'll provide written recommendations for you to bring to your IEP team or district administrator.

I've been told that one of the most powerful supports I offer to parents is simply being by their side at the IEP table. In addition to record review and coaching, I can help you prepare a parent's agenda, take in-depth meeting notes, ask questions and raise concerns during the meeting, and provide follow-up coaching and communications. I tailor my role in the meeting based on your preferences and situation - whether you need a strong surrogate voice leading the conversation or a more secondary voice to your leadership.

Unfortunately, there are certain "magic words" that can make all the difference between another parent concern that goes ignored and the message that finally spurs an uncooperative team or administrator into action. I offer free templates for families to use, but I can also draft communications or even be the primary point of contact with the team when the task feels overwhelming to do on your own.

When disagreements or issues reach a point where they can't be worked out at the IEP table, I can provide individualized support for what to do next. I'll map out all the different options available to your family - legal and relational - and give you honest recommendations about which options are most likely to be successful, which will be most expensive and time-consuming, and which are most strategic in the long-term to effectively collaborate with your school or district.

Mediation is one of the most under-utilized advocacy tools available to families. I can help you engage in this voluntary process where a neutral mediator facilitates communication between you and the school district to resolve disagreements related to your child's IEP and experience at school. Mediation is often quicker, less adversarial, and more cost-effective than formal legal proceedings, promoting collaborative (and legally-binding) resolution.

You know the old adage, "The more you learn, the less you know." My rigorous training to become a COPAA-certified Special Education Family Advocate provided me an incredible depth of knowledge of special education law as well as invaluable mentorship to develop my advocacy skills. Perhaps most importantly, this training has given me the knowledge and experience to discern when my services are not appropriate and families need legal representation. I have a number of excellent special education attorneys that I refer families to when necessary, those who I trust will fight hard for you and who have the specialized expertise to do it well.

I love sharing the knowledge and strategies I've developed as an advocate to build our collective power to advocate for a more inclusive and accessible public education system. One way I do this is through workshops and presentations. I've partnered with nonprofits, clinics, and school districts to educate parents and providers on a range of disability topics.

I've been a part of a number of effective organizing efforts to address wide-ranging challenges - from helping families collaborate with their district to create a special education advisory committee, to organizing testimony at school board meetings or legislative committee hearings, to drafting systemic state complaints. Please reach out if you'd like a partner to launch an organizing effort for young people with disabilities and their families.