Why have an Advocate?
As a former special education teacher with a Master’s Degree in Special Education, I thought I was empathetic and could understand how parents felt in an IEP meeting. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The day I sat as a parent in my own child’s IEP meeting, various feelings hit me like waves. I was overwhelmed, I was scared, I was nervous, and I didn’t feel I was heard. I couldn’t even process what was being said because it was all too much. My husband was in the meeting as well, and knew something had to be done.
I immediately contacted an advocate. After we had our consultation through the following IEP meeting, I felt empowered and calm. When we entered the IEP meeting, a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I sat through the meeting feeling confident and heard. I was able to contribute, but had someone else carrying the burden. She advocated for my child in ways unimaginable...
With the knowledge I had, I still felt overwhelmed prior to having an advocate. How do parents without my background feel during their child’s IEP meeting? They possibly do not have the knowledge or training I received while in my Master’s program nor the experience I had gained during the years I had taught. How can I serve them?
I want to empower you as a parent. I want to help you walk confidently into and through an IEP meeting. I want to educate you on various tools and resources that will help your child. I want to help identify where your child currently is functioning. My goal is to help you find the best trajectory to ensure your child meets their full potential. My goal is to help your child meet or exceed expectations.