No. I am a non-attorney advocate, which means I do not provide legal advice or legal representation. However, I am knowledgeable in special education law and can refer you to a special education attorney if your situation requires legal action.

I help families who are just starting the special education process, those who feel their child's current IEP isn't working, and parents who feel unheard or overwhelmed in school meetings. Whether your child has a new diagnosis or you've been navigating the system for years, I can help.

I got into this work the same way most parents find me. I was fighting for my own child. When my son needed IEP services, I experienced firsthand how confusing, exhausting, and often discouraging that process can be. I had to learn the system, push back, and figure out how to be heard. That experience drove me to get trained as an advocate so I could help other families do the same.

Yes. My children are neurodivergent, and navigating the special education system as their parent is what brought me to this work. I also received my own autism diagnosis as an adult, which gave me an entirely different lens on what it means to move through systems that weren't designed with neurodivergent people in mind. When you sit across from me, you're talking to someone who has been in your seat.

I have experience working with a wide range of disabilities and diagnoses, including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, specific learning disabilities such as dyslexia and dyscalculia, anxiety and other mental health diagnoses, speech and language impairments, and more. If you're not sure whether I can help with your child's specific situation, I'm happy to talk it through.

I am based in Middle Tennessee, but I work with families across Tennessee and can provide virtual consulting services to families anywhere in the country.

Every family's situation is different, so my services are tailored to your needs. I can review your child's IEP and records, help you prepare for an upcoming meeting, attend meetings with you (in person or virtually), assist with written communication to the school, and provide ongoing support throughout the school year.

Both. For families in Middle Tennessee and surrounding areas, I can attend IEP and school meetings in person. For families elsewhere in Tennessee or across the country, I attend virtually. Either way, you have an experienced advocate at the table with you.

I can do both, depending on what you need. Some families want me present and actively participating in meetings. Others prefer that I work behind the scenes reviewing documents, preparing them for meetings, and advising on next steps. We'll figure out the right approach for your situation together. One added benefit of working with me is the relationships I've built over time with people inside local school districts and central offices. I know how these systems work from the inside, and in many cases I know the people at the table personally. That history and those relationships can make a real difference in how smoothly and quickly things move for your family.

During our initial consultation, it helps to have a general sense of your child's situation, including their age, school district, diagnosis if they have one, and what's been happening that prompted you to reach out. If you have existing IEP or 504 documents, evaluation reports, or correspondence with the school, those are helpful to share, but you don't need to have everything organized before we talk.

I communicate by phone and email, and I do my best to be responsive and easy to reach. We'll establish clear expectations for communication when we begin working together so you always know how and when to get in touch.

Yes. Everything you share with me about your child and your family's situation is kept strictly confidential. I will not share your information with anyone, including the school, without your knowledge and consent.

My services are fee-based. Rates depend on the scope of support your family needs. I offer an initial consultation so we can discuss your situation and find the right level of support before you commit to anything.

Yes. I offer an initial consultation so you can share what's going on, ask questions, and decide if working together is the right fit for your family.

Simply reach out through the contact form on this site. We'll set up a time to talk about your child's situation and figure out the best next steps together.

Yes. A denial doesn't have to be the final word. I can review the school's evaluation and eligibility decision, help you understand whether the denial was appropriate, and support you in challenging it if it wasn't. Parents have the right to request an Independent Educational Evaluation and to pursue dispute resolution if they disagree with the school's findings.

This is a very common situation. A 504 Plan and an IEP are not interchangeable, and some students who have a 504 would benefit more from the specialized instruction and stronger protections that come with an IEP. I can help you evaluate whether your child's needs are truly being met and, if not, guide you through requesting a special education evaluation.

You have significant rights when it comes to changes in your child's IEP. Any change must be justified by your child's data and individual needs, not convenience or budget. I can help you understand what's being proposed, whether it's appropriate, and how to push back if it isn't.

It can be. For students with disabilities, there are specific legal protections around discipline. Schools are required to consider whether a student's behavior is a manifestation of their disability before taking certain disciplinary actions. Frequent discipline can also be a sign that a child's needs aren't being adequately addressed in their IEP. This is absolutely something an advocate can help with.

Transitions, whether from elementary to middle school, middle to high school, or into a new district, are some of the most vulnerable moments in a child's special education journey. Services and supports don't always carry over the way they should. I can help make sure your child's needs are fully addressed during these transitions and that nothing falls through the cracks.

Yes. I work with families of children from age 3 through age 21, which is the full range covered under federal special education law. Whether your child just became eligible for early intervention services or is approaching graduation, I can help.

Yes, though the rules are different depending on the school type. Students in private schools have different rights than those in public schools, and charter schools vary by state. I can help you understand what your child is entitled to based on their specific school setting.

An attorney is the right choice when your situation has moved, or is likely to move, into formal legal proceedings, such as a due process hearing or a lawsuit against a school district. Attorneys can also be valuable when a school district is being unresponsive to non-legal advocacy or when significant compensatory services are being sought. If I believe your situation calls for an attorney, I will tell you. I know many of the special education attorneys in the area personally and can suggest one based on the specifics of your situation and needs.

An IEP, or Individualized Education Program, is a legally binding document developed for children who qualify for special education services. It outlines your child's current level of performance, specific goals, and the services and supports the school is required to provide. It is reviewed and updated at least once a year.

A 504 Plan is an accommodation plan for students who have a disability that affects their ability to learn in a general education setting, but who may not qualify for special education services. It outlines adjustments the school must make, such as extended time on tests, preferred seating, or built in breaks, o give your child equal access to education.

Both provide support for students with disabilities, but they are different in important ways. An IEP is part of special education and provides specialized instruction along with related services like speech or occupational therapy. A 504 Plan stays within general education and provides accommodations to remove barriers, but does not include specialized instruction. IEPs have stronger legal protections and more accountability built in.

To qualify for an IEP, your child must have a disability that falls under one of the categories recognized under federal law, and that disability must have a negative impact on their educational performance. The school conducts an evaluation to determine eligibility.

A 504 Plan has a broader definition of disability than an IEP. If your child has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, including learning, reading, concentrating, or communicating, they may qualify. The school evaluates the child to make this determination.

Yes. As a parent, you have the right to request that the school evaluate your child for special education services at any time and you should do so in writing. The school must respond to your request and either agree to evaluate or provide a written explanation of why they are declining.

You have the right to request an Independent Educational Evaluation, or IEE, at the school's expense if you disagree with their assessment. This means an outside evaluator, not employed by the school, assesses your child and provides a second opinion that the school must consider.

Under federal law, parents have significant rights in the special education process. These include the right to be part of your child's IEP team, the right to give or withhold consent for evaluations and services, the right to review all of your child's educational records, and the right to dispute decisions you disagree with through mediation or due process.

If the school is not implementing your child's IEP as written, that is a violation of federal law. You can request a meeting with the school, file a complaint with the Department of Education, or utilize your procedural safeguards. This is one of the most common situations where having an advocate in your corner makes a real difference.

IDEA stands for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It is the federal law that governs special education in the United States and guarantees every eligible child the right to a free and appropriate public education, or FAPE, in the least restrictive environment possible.