Non-Attorney Advocates

A non-attorney, special education advocate can provide valuable support to families as the negotiate the IEP process. Working with an advocate can help build a collaborative working relationship with your child’s school district. The goal is to avoid conflict while ensuring your child has the best program and the best outcome. Advocates can help you in the following ways:

• Review IEPs, evaluations or 504 plans to be sure they are designed specifically for your child so that your child makes meaningful progress. 
• Negotiate with the school district on your behalf.
• Prepare documentation including requests for services, meeting summaries, parental concerns, and parent input statements.
• Educate parents about their rights in the special education process 
• Coach parents so they become effective advocates on their own.
• Collaborate on strategies to effectively work with your school district.
• Provide information on specialists and outside evaluations. 

Special education advocacy is a non-regulated profession. Here are some questions to ask an advocate with whom you are considering working.

• What is your advocacy experience?
• What specific training do you have in special education and advocacy?
• What experience do you have with children with similar profiles to mine?
• What are your fees?
• How do you collaborate with me as a parent?
• What type of documentation do you provide?