CKP Advocating & Consulting

💚 "We worked so hard without the results we needed before Michele stepped in. She is kind, compassionate, understanding, and so knowledgeable. I couldn't ask for a better advocate to help us navigate the complex IEP process."
— S.S., Suffolk Public Schools Parent

Working hard shouldn't mean working alone. We're here.
And just a phone call away.

📞 Free 30-min consultation: 757-277-8901
🌐 ckpadvocates.com

⏰ School starts soon.

Let's make sure your child is protected from day one.

Whether you're:
📌 Heading into a new school year with unresolved IEP concerns
📌 Dealing with a school change due to Norfolk's consolidation plan
📌 Worried services won't be in place from the first day
📌 Just not sure where to stand after a difficult spring

— CKP is ready to help.

Your FREE 30-minute consultation is available now. One conversation can change the trajectory of your child's school year.

📞 757-277-8901 | 🌐 ckpadvocates.com

📖 The Science of Reading Is in the News. But Is It in Your Child's IEP?

Virginia's State Superintendent has highlighted the success of structured literacy and phonics-based instruction across the Commonwealth — including in Hampton Roads.

For children with dyslexia or reading-related disabilities, this is significant. But awareness at the state level doesn't guarantee implementation in your child's classroom.

Ask these questions:
🔹 What specific reading program or methodology is your child receiving?
🔹 Is it named in the IEP — or is the language vague?
🔹 Is it being implemented with fidelity?
🔹 Is your child making measurable progress?

Remember: No state or federal law prohibits a school from naming a specific reading program in an IEP. If they're using it — they should be able to write it down.

📞 757-277-8901 | 🌐 ckpadvocates.com

🗣️ Core Principle: Communication

We believe collaboration and communication are essential — and we work to build a bridge between parents and the school.

Here's the truth: you are a required member of your child's IEP team.

Not a guest.
Not an afterthought.
An equal voice at the table.

We make sure your concerns are heard, your questions are asked, and your requests are addressed — and documented — in accordance with the law.

📞 757-277-8901 | 🌐 ckpadvocates.com

🌟 “She never took NO for an answer for anything... Because of her hard work and dedication to our family, he passed a math test. You wanna feel that amazing feeling as a parent? You need help — let her help you have joy again.” — E.C., Virginia Beach Public Schools Parent

This is the kind of progress that keeps us going.

📞 757-277-8901 | 🌐 ckpadvocates.com

⚖️ When You Disagree With the School, You Have Options.

Disputes happen — and when they do, families have several paths to resolve them:

🔹 Facilitation — A neutral facilitator helps keep IEP meetings productive and on track
🔹 Mediation — A trained, neutral mediator helps both sides negotiate a resolution
🔹 Due Process Complaint — A formal legal complaint that may lead to a hearing
🔹 State Complaint — A formal complaint filed with the Virginia Department of Education

CKP helps families understand which option fits their situation — and supports you through the process from start to finish.

📞 757-277-8901 | 🌐 ckpadvocates.com

📋 Did you know? Schools can — and should — name the specific program or curriculum in your child's IEP.

There is no state or federal law that prohibits a school from naming a specific reading intervention, curriculum, or program in an IEP. Whether it's Wilson Reading, Lindamood-Bell, SPIRE, or another evidence-based approach — if the school plans to implement it with fidelity, they should have no problem putting the name in writing.

Why does this matter?

Vague IEP language protects the school.
Specific IEP language protects your child.

When a program is named in an IEP, it creates accountability. The school is now on record committing to that specific intervention — and you have something concrete to point to if it isn't delivered.

If your child's IEP says things like "research-based reading intervention" without naming what that actually means, it may be worth a closer look.

📞 757-277-8901
🌐 ckpadvocates.com

🏅 Behind the Advocacy: Michele's Credentials

When your child's education is on the line, credentials matter.

Michele Gardner has completed COPAA's Special Education Advocacy Training (SEAT) 1.0 and the rigorous, year-long SEAT 2.0 program. She's also a Certified COPAA Practicum Supervisor (established 2024) — and continues advanced training every year to stay current on legal developments at the local, state, and national level.

But credentials alone don't make a great advocate. Genuine care does too. That combination is what families have come to expect from CKP.

📞 757-277-8901 | 🌐 ckpadvocates.com

💛 Tag a parent who needs to see this.

If you know someone navigating the special education system — feeling stuck, unheard, or unsure of their rights — tag them below. Sometimes the right information (or the right advocate) at the right time changes everything for a family.

☀️ Summer Camp Season: Know Your Child's Rights.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) doesn't stop applying once school lets out. It protects children with disabilities from discrimination at summer camps too — and requires camps to provide reasonable modifications and accommodations so your child can fully participate.

If a camp has denied accommodations or hasn't been forthcoming about how they'll support your child, you have options.

Questions about your child's rights this summer? Reach out.

📞 757-277-8901 | 🌐 ckpadvocates.com