CKP Advocating & Consulting

⚠️ Has your child faced suspension, expulsion, or disciplinary action at school?

Before the school moves forward — you need to know about your child's right to a Manifestation Determination Review (MDR).

What is an MDR?
It's a legally required meeting — under IDEA — that must occur before certain disciplinary actions are taken against a student with a disability. The team must determine whether the behavior in question was caused by, or directly related to, your child's disability.

Why does it matter?

If the behavior IS a manifestation of your child's disability, the school cannot simply suspend or remove them as they would a general education student. The outcome of this meeting directly impacts your child's placement, services, and educational future.

What you need to know:
✅ You have the right to participate in this meeting
✅ You have the right to bring an advocate
✅ The school must follow strict IDEA timelines
✅ A wrong outcome can be challenged

CKP Advocating & Consulting specializes in MDR proceedings. We walk in prepared — with the law, the process, and your child's best interest guiding every step.

📞 757-277-8901
🌐 ckpadvocates.com

💪 Perseverance isn't just a value at CKP. It's a promise.

The path to equitable education is rarely a straight line. There are delays. Denials. Systems that were not built with your child in mind.
We know. And we don't back down.

At CKP Advocating & Consulting, we stay in your corner for the long haul — through every IEP dispute, every appeal, every moment when the system pushes back. We push harder.

Meaningful change takes time.
Your child doesn't have time to waste.
So neither do we.

If you've been fighting this battle alone, let us stand with you.

📞 757-277-8901
🌐 ckpadvocates.com

💛 Empathy isn't a buzzword for us. It's the foundation.

We know what it feels like to send your child to school every single day — hopeful, anxious, wondering if their needs are truly being seen and met.

That urgency you carry? We carry it too.

That's why CKP Advocating & Consulting was built differently. We don't just show up with knowledge of special education law — we show up with lived experience, genuine care, and an unwavering commitment to your child.

Every child is unique.
Every family deserves to be heard.
Every case is personal to us.
This is more than advocacy. This is a calling.

If your family is struggling to get the support your child deserves at school, let's talk.

📞 757-277-8901
🌐 ckpadvocates.com

🌟 Real families. Real results.

"My only regret is that we would have called her sooner."
— Ashley O., CPS Parent

When you've been fighting the school system for years and feel defeated, CKP steps in. Michele's expertise led one family through a successful mediation—and now their son is thriving.

Don't wait until you're exhausted. Reach out today.
📞 757-277-8901 | 🌐 ckpadvocates.com

🏆 Not all advocates are created equal. . .

Michele Gardner holds COPAA SEAT 1.0 (20 hours) AND SEAT 2.0 certification—a rigorous, year-long training program recognized as the gold standard in special education advocacy.

She is also a Certified COPAA Practicum Supervisor—meaning she trains the next generation of advocates.

Your child deserves the best. 💛

Connect with Michele today!
📞 757-277-8901 | 🌐 ckpadvocates.com

Know Your Rights

📚 IDEA 101: Every child with a disability has the right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).
That means your child's education must be specifically designed to meet their unique needs—not a one-size-fits-all approach.
If you feel your child's IEP isn't doing that, you may have grounds to act.

CKP Advocating & Consulting can help you evaluate your options. 📋
📞 757-277-8901 | 🌐 ckpadvocates.com

📢 Big news for Virginia families — especially those navigating special education.

Virginia's Freedom of Information Advisory Council recently issued Opinion AO-02-26, confirming that lesson plans are not automatically private records. When you request them, schools must provide them — redacting only personally identifiable student information.

Why does this matter for IEP families? Because you now have a stronger legal footing to request curriculum materials and verify that what's being taught actually aligns with your child's Individualized Education Program.

Here's what schools CANNOT do:
❌ Blanket deny your request by calling lesson plans "scholastic records"
❌ Use copyright as an automatic shield without evaluating fair use
❌ Withhold materials without a specific, justified exemption

Here's what you CAN do:
✅ Submit a written FOIA request citing Opinion AO-02-26
✅ Request a written explanation if denied
✅ Reach out to an advocate if you hit a wall

At CKP Advocating & Consulting, we help families understand their rights and use them. 💚

📞 Book your FREE 30-minute consultation today: www.ckpadvocates.com

🏛️ When collaboration breaks down, you still have options.

From facilitation and mediation to state and due process complaints — CKP Advocating & Consulting has the training and experience to help families pursue dispute resolution when necessary.

You don't have to accept outcomes that don't serve your child. We'll help you understand every option available.

📞 757-277-8901 | 🌐 ckpadvocates.com

It's been awhile....

👋 Meet Michele — the advocate who started fighting for her own children and never stopped.

Michele Gardner began her advocacy journey in 2016 and has since become a nationally trained, COPAA SEAT 1.0 & 2.0 Certified advocate — one of the most rigorous certification tracks in special education advocacy.

She holds advanced training in discipline, due process, and eligibility — and she serves families across Hampton Roads, Virginia, and North Carolina.

When you work with Michele, you're not just getting an advocate. You're getting someone who gets it.
📞 757-277-8901 | 🌐 ckpadvocates.com

🌼 May is Mental Health Awareness Month 🌼

A reminder that emotional well-being plays a critical role in a child’s ability to learn and grow.

For many students, mental health needs directly impact their educational experience.

CKP advocates for supports, accommodations, and understanding so students can feel safe, regulated, and ready to learn.