Like A Mother Advocacy Services

The end of the school year is close, but there are so many IEP meetings to still be need to happen. If you need help navigating the IEP process, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Like A Mother Advocacy Services I founded Like A Mother Advocacy Services to help parents navigate the Special Education process. Advocating for your child can be an overwhelming and emotional experience. You don't have to do it alone!

Moms and dads... You got this! I have had the privilege of working with some incredible parents recently that are absolutely shining as advocates for their children.

My goal is help parents feel supported at all stages of the special education process. As we head into that time of the year when annual reviews are being scheduled, please reach out with any questions regarding your child's IEP. You don't have to navigate this alone.

Remember what the "I" in IEP stands for:

I am the chief advocate for my child and a valuable member of the IEP team.
I will ensure that the plan is "Individualized."
I will bring support when I feel it is necessary.
I will defend and fight for my child.
I will keep a professional tone.
I will never surrender their right to FAPE.
I will remind the school that this is all about a child, not a process.

www.likeamother.net

The second part of the school year has begun! This is a great time to reevaluate how everything is going for your child in the classroom. If you feel that your child is struggling and don't know where to start, I can help! You are not alone and I can walk you through the special education process.

As a special education advocate, I can help you prepare for any education meetings as well as accompany you to them, if you would like. I provide advice and assistance to ensure that the school is doing its part in your child's IEP process.

Walking onto IEP meeting is overwhelming. I can help you organize your talking points so your time is productive and all of your concerns are addressed. Are your IEP documents, reports and emails with school piling up? I can help you organize all the paperwork. Getting organized will make you feel empowered to be the best advocate for your child!

I'm available for free 30 minute consultations so do not hesitate to reach out for more information.

Happy Halloween!

Did you know there is a tool built into the IEP process that is a game changer when it comes to requesting services for your child? Have you heard of Prior Written Notice? This well kept secret may be the key in getting your child the services they need!

Have you requested services and been told, “why don’t we wait and see what happens” or “I don’t think your son/daughter needs that.” I think it’s safe to say we can all raise our hand. Being coerced out of your concerns at an IEP meeting is frustrating, but you don’t have to accept no as the answer. This is why having a Special Education Advocate matters!

I can help to navigate the IEP process and translate your concerns into language your school district will respond too.

If you think you may need some help, please reach out for a free consultation!

Summer offers us all a much needed break from the hectic school year, but it can also be a great time to support your child's learning. Real-life experiences are invaluable! Whether it be making new friends or exploring interests, summer provides this opportunity. Need to practice math skills? Try cooking together to help with fractions.

Summer also provides a nice pause to look over your child's IEP to make sure their needs are being met for the next school year. I can help answer any questions you may have!

My goal as a Special Education Advocate is to not only set your child up for success, but to also help parents become better advocates for their children. Summer is the perfect time to organize your child's documents including IEP's, Progress Reports, evaluations, communication with your school district, etc. This is one way you can be a better advocate!

Those of you who know me can agree that I rarely go anywhere without a well organized binder, especially when it comes to IEP meetings regarding for my daughters. There are plenty of ways to organize your information electronically, however, I do feel it's important to have all documentation accessible in one place when attending meetings. A binder such as this does the job!

I just updated this binder yesterday. If you have lots of paperwork piling up, now is a great time to tackle this project before the Fall. If you don't know where to start, I can help! I'm also happy to share my favorite tip to finish the project off.

Contact me for more information!

Summer is here, but what does that mean for your child and their IEP?

This has been a frequently asked question lately. Yes, school may be out and teachers are off for the summer but that also does not mean concerns can not be addressed about your child. It is possible that your child's needs may sigficiantly change during the summer months. You are entitled to an IEP to address these matters. Summer is a good time to review your child's IEP as well as resolve any major concerns before the next school year begins.

Under IDEA, it is required that an appropriate IEP be in place by the beginning of the school year. If your last IEP was not complete or does not include the necessary supports your child needs to receive a FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education), it may be necessary to hold an IEP meeting over the summer to finalize your child's plan. The goal is to always set your child up for success...Let me help you navigate the process!

https://likeamother.net

Like A Mother Advocacy Services is online! Please take a moment to check out my new website!

Like a Mother – Advocacy Services I founded Like A Mother Advocacy Services to help parents navigate the Special Education process. Advocating for your child can be an overwhelming and emotional experience. You don’t have to do it alone!

Circling back to a previous conversation I started, I would like to offer another example of things you don’t want to hear in an IEP meeting:

“We have never seen him/her do that here at school.”

This has been said to me more times than I can count and as a result, I have left many IEP meetings feeling dismissed or coerced out of concerns for my child. As parents, we know our children best and although I can be happy that my child is “holding it together” during their school day, it is not appropriate for an IEP team to dismiss behaviors that reflect the whole child.

A parent has every right to discuss what they believe to be trigger behaviors (antecedent) to be and then formally request strategies to help address it.

YOU are a valuable member of the IEP team and I can help your concerns be heard. As an advocate, I can educate you on the necessary services and steps that can help your child during their school day. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have!

There are many things you never want to hear at an IEP meeting for your child. Over the next week, I'll be sharing my thoughts on this but to begin we'll start here:

"He/She is doing fine!" "Their grades are good!" As a parent, you know your child the best and frankly, there is a reason you are sitting in an IEP meeting. It is easy to feel coerced out of your concerns once you are sitting at the IEP table. Emotions often run high and there is a lot of information being provided to you.

My goal is to help parents better define their concerns and develop concrete examples of those matters in order to more effectively communicate at an IEP meeting. Going in organized and clear headed will allow you to stand your ground and be a better advocate for your child.