IDEA Advocates

09/08/2026

You are not a guest at the IEP table. You are part of the team.
And so is the student.
Families bring knowledge and expertise that no one else at the table has. And students bring something equally important: their own lived experience.
Student voice doesn’t have to look just one way. It might be spoken, written, communicated through AAC, shared ahead of the meeting, or expressed in another way that works for that student.
The goal isn’t simply to create an IEP for a student.
It’s to create it WITH the student and family.
Because when we truly work as a team, we can keep the focus where it belongs:
THE STUDENT.
FamilyEngagement StudentCentered EducationalAdvocacy Inclusion

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day! 🇺🇸
Today is a good day to slow down a little, enjoy some time with the people you love, and recognize all of the hardworking people who make a difference in our communities every day.
I am taking a little break today too. 😊
I’ll be back tomorrow with our Tip of the Week and another practical way to help keep students at the center of the IEP process.
Enjoy your Labor Day! ❤️🤍💙

09/06/2026

Somehow Brady found an article that Shoutout Colorado did on me last October. I have absolutely NO idea how he found it. 😂

He was sitting on the couch using text-to-speech when I heard his phone say something about “advocacy.”

I looked over and said, “Brady… is that about me?”
Brady said “YES!” 😂

And there he was, reading an article about his mom.

I’m sharing this because I sat through meeting after meeting where I was told Brady couldn’t read. Brady uses spoken language, and his speech isn’t always as clear or easily understood as mine. He benefits from a receptive listener who takes the time to listen and gives him space to show what he knows. Because he couldn’t always clearly tell people what he knew, I think people sometimes assumed he didn’t know it.

I kept saying, “You are setting the bar too low.”

Moments like this remind me that communication and competence are not the same thing. How clearly someone can tell us what they know does not determine how much they know.

To educators: presume competence. Look for strengths. Give students different ways to show you what they know, and keep that bar high.

And to families: you know your child. Keep believing, keep advocating, and keep moving that bar higher. 💙

And Brady… I still want to know how you found the article. 😂

09/06/2026

Please join me and 2 of my amazing colleagues.

Happy to join some of my amazing colleagues on a Q&A panel.

09/06/2026

What a difference an educator can make.

This educator knew her student loves video games, so she created a personalized sheet that reflected his interests, strengths, and needs.

And the update I received from the family?

“This is the best start to a school year my child has ever had.”

Educators, you matter. When you take the time to truly see a student, recognize their strengths, and understand what motivates them, it can change their entire experience at school.

Sometimes the little things really are the big things.

09/04/2026

Another little gem I spotted on a bathroom door while at a meeting the other day:
🌈 Dream a little dream.

It made me smile because so much of advocacy starts with a dream. A dream for our kids to be included, supported, challenged, and given opportunities to become who they are meant to be.

Sometimes we need to focus on the paperwork and the details, but we should never lose sight of the bigger dream.

Keep dreaming big for your kids. ✨

09/03/2026

Messages like this mean more than I can say. 💙
Supporting families through the IEP and 504 process isn't just about meetings and paperwork. It's about making sure families feel heard, supported, and confident as they navigate the journey.
I am so grateful to the families who trust me to walk alongside them. This is why I do what I do.