Educational Advocacy
and Consulting

The IDEA and State law impose upon each school district the duty to actively and systematically identify, locate, and assess all children with disabilities or exceptional needs who require special education and related services, including children with disabilities who may be homeless or migrant, wards of the state, or not enrolled in a public school program.  (20 U.S.C. §1412(a)(3); 34 C.F.R. §300.125; Ed. Code §§56300, 56301.)  

Navigating special education can be overwhelming, but you don't have to do it alone.  An experienced advocate can help guide you on your journey. Using a child-centered approach, we offer a wide range of advocacy and consultation services using including but not limited to:

Paralegal and Strategic
Litigation Support

We provide a wide range of legal support services in administrative, state and federal court proceedings, including but not limited to legal writing, drafting legal pleadings, discovery, interviewing clients and witnesses, working with expert witnesses, trial preparation and strategic litigation support.  Contact us now to learn how we can assist you with your litigation needs. 

Training and Mentorship

Knowledge is power!  

The key to effective advocacy is knowledge.  Learn tools to assist you in advocating on behalf of your child with disabilities; educating and guiding parents how to navigate the special education system, how to navigate federal and state education laws, how to prepare for IEP and 504 meetings, and how to write effective and persuasive parent letters.  Training workshops and mentoring can be individualized to your needs. 

WHY DO I NEED AN ADVOCATE?

The discussions about ones’ child are an emotional ride.  I know this from being in countless IEP meetings for my own child and hearing school staff talk about my son--how draining it is to hear the opinions of others.  You are in a meeting that is scheduled maybe for two hours and within a short time frame, you are asked to process and review tons of paperwork with terminology you may not understand and asked to make decisions which will impact your child’s future.  Of course, you can delay the efforts, but delay has a developmental impact on your child’s education and possible services.  

An advocate does much more than just advise you of your child's rights.  An advocate is there for you and to ensure that your voice is being heard--empowering you to participate and be the expert of your child, among school staff and those whose responsibility it is to deliver services that your child is entitled to.  It is important that we find ourselves not looking at the combativeness that can occur between a school district and a family but when possible, building a trusting and transparent relationship which will benefit your child.  When the school district falls short of this obligation, an advocate is there to assist you in considering other options.