Wise Advocacy Group

09/03/2026

Every day, parents are learning how to speak up, children are finding people who truly see them, and educators are creating moments of connection, even on the hardest days. Communities are slowly becoming more understanding and inclusive because families refuse to stop advocating.

Progress does not always arrive as a sweeping change or big public wins. Often, it looks like one child finally feeling safe, one parent realizing they are not alone, or one team member choosing to listen.

Those moments are how change begins.

If someone showed up for your child in a meaningful way recently, give them a shoutout below. Let’s fill today with stories about the people who are getting it right.

09/02/2026

A verbal promise is not an IEP service.

Parents hear:

“We’ll make sure someone helps them.”
“The teacher already knows.”
"That's just best practice."
“We can handle that informally.”
“We’ll check in when they need it.”

These statements may be well-intended, but if your child requires specific support or intervention to access instruction, safely participate, or make meaningful educational progress, that support should be clearly documented in the IEP.

Ask the team to explicitly identify:

• What support will be provided
• Who is responsible for providing it
• When and where it will be provided
• How often it will occur
• How the school will measure whether it is working

Clear language protects everyone. It helps families understand what to expect, gives educators a plan to follow, and creates accountability when promised support is not provided.

If the team makes an important commitment during a meeting, ask: “Where will that be documented in the IEP?” and follow up to ensure the language is clear.

09/01/2026

Tennessee families fought for access to ABA in schools. This year, the law finally changed. But passing the law is only the beginning.
Public Chapter 1112 requires Tennessee public schools to allow qualifying privately funded ABA providers access to students with autism or developmental delays during the school day. The legislation passed with bipartisan support and was signed into law in May.
For many families, this was a HUGE step forward, but some are discovering that “ABA is allowed in school” and “my child can meaningfully access ABA therapy in school” aren’t always the same thing.

Many families are encountering district requirements that make provider access difficult, while others may have ABA providers in the building but only for limited hours, and some children simply need substantially more behavioral support throughout their school day than private ABA can provide.

The ABA law did not eliminate the school’s responsibility to provide FAPE. While private ABA supplements the IEP, it does not replace the behavioral interventions, supports, direct instruction, or related services a child may need from their school.

I’ve created a resource to help address these gaps. This guide walks caregivers thorough how to document concerns, request an IEP meeting, address Special Factors, request an FBA/BIP when appropriate, develop meaningful behavior goals, understand direct vs. consultative behavioral services, get specific supports written into the IEP, and request Prior Written Notice when something is refused. There is also copy-and-customize template you can use to get started.

This resource is not intended to replace ABA. Our children should not have to choose between medically necessary ABA and appropriate behavioral support through their IEP.

Our educators need support and providers need a workable path into schools. Caregivers need to understand both systems, and our children need access to the services and supports that allow them to meaningfully participate in their education.

Please share this with TN parents, special educators, BCBAs, RBTs, advocates, and anyone else working with children whose behavioral needs affect their access to school.

08/31/2026

A little WAG update because I’ve been working behind the scenes to get things up and running again.

I finally have a new process in place for families who need individual support.
If you need help with an IEP, evaluation, behavior concerns, services that aren’t happening, discipline, school access, or you’ve just reached the point where you’re thinking, “I have no idea what I’m supposed to do next,” you can now start here:

wiseadvocacygroup.com

The biggest change is that I’m asking everyone to complete a support request and send me the relevant documents before we schedule a phone call or virtual meeting. I get a LOT of messages that start with “Can I ask you a quick question?” And in special education, the answer is very rarely quick. 😂

I usually need to see the IEP. Or the evaluation. Or the PWN. Or the progress data. Or the email where the school said the thing that made you think, “Wait…can they actually do that?” Having all of that upfront means I can actually look at what’s happening before we talk instead of spending most of our conversation trying to piece together the last six months.

And yes, Wise Advocacy Group support is still free (That part isn’t changing).

I’m also getting back to creating the resources that I originally started WAG to provide. Over the next few weeks, I have articles and parent guides coming on behavior support, FBAs and BIPs, evaluations and reevaluations, progress monitoring, IEP goals, Prior Written Notice, services not being provided, preparing for IEP meetings, and plenty more.

Some will explain the law. Some will walk you through exactly what to ask for. And some will probably be inspired by things I see happen over and over again and desperately wish someone had explained to parents sooner.

The goal is the same as it has always been: to give parents and educators the information they need to walk into these meetings understanding what’s happening and knowing what questions to ask.

If there’s something you want me to cover, tell me in the comments. Those questions help me figure out what families actually need, and not just what I think would be helpful.

If you know a parent who is struggling with special education right now, please send them to the website.

One last thing: I don’t charge families for advocacy services, and I want to keep it that way. If WAG has helped your family, one of the resources has been useful, or you simply want to help make it possible for me to continue providing this support for free, donations are always appreciated, but never expected.

Venmo:

Every bit helps cover the costs of keeping WAG running and allows me to keep doing this work without putting the cost on the families who need help.

Wise Advocacy Group provides free special education advocacy and parent support to help families understand the IEP process, identify concerns, and determine possible next steps.

02/18/2026

One of the biggest mistakes parents make is assuming verbal agreements will be honored.

If it’s not written into the IEP or 504 plan, it’s not enforceable.

Always ask:
✔ Where will that be documented?
✔ When will I have the document?
✔ How will it be worded?

02/17/2026

Did you know?
Under IDEA, parents have the legal right to:
✔ Request evaluations
✔ Participate meaningfully in meetings
✔ Receive written notice of decisions
✔ Disagree with recommendations
✔ Access records
✔ Bring advocates or support persons

Special education is not something schools control — it’s something families partner in.

02/17/2026

Once a parent signs written consent for an initial evaluation, the clock starts ticking.

In Tennessee, this means:

🗓️ The school has 60 calendar days to complete evaluations and determine eligibility.
🗓️ If the child qualifies, the IEP must be written within 30 calendar days of that eligibility meeting.

That means services should not drag on for months without answers.

Delays = lost instructional time.
And lost time is hard to make up.

If timelines are missed, parents can request:
✔️ A written explanation for the delay
✔️ Documentation of when consent was received
✔️ Corrective action, including compensatory services when appropriate

Know the timeline. Track the dates. Protect your child’s right to timely support.

02/13/2026

🚫 Myth: Parents have to accept whatever the school proposes.

✅ Reality: You are an equal member of the IEP team.

You can:
✔ Ask questions
✔ Request evaluations
✔ Disagree with decisions
✔ Ask for revisions
✔ Propose services
✔ Bring an advocate

Special education is not something done to families — it’s something done with families.

02/12/2026

✨ Special Education Tip ✨

If something is discussed in an IEP meeting but not written into the IEP — it doesn’t exist legally.

Always ask:
✔ Where will that be documented?
✔ Is that a service, accommodation, or support?
✔ When will I receive the updated IEP?
✔ How will the denial be recorded? (This includes "we need more data")

Documentation protects everyone — especially your child.

02/12/2026

If you’ve ever felt like you’re “too much” for asking questions about your child’s IEP, you’re not.

If you’ve ever been told to “just trust the process:" you’re allowed to want clarity.

If you’ve ever left a meeting feeling confused, dismissed, or unheard: you’re not alone.

Advocacy isn’t conflict. Advocacy is participation.

And you deserve to understand every decision being made about your child.