Ask Advocacy

Ask Advocacy Educational Consultation and Resource Management focusing on diverse educational needs.

Kathy Trainor founder of Ask Advocacy has over 25 years of experience in special education working collaboratively with state systems and outside support agencies.

Request is due in 10 days! If they don’t you can file a violation with PRS.
09/08/2026

Request is due in 10 days! If they don’t you can file a violation with PRS.

Friendly reminder Also AS NEEDED should never be listed. Either they need it or they don’t.
09/07/2026

Friendly reminder

Also AS NEEDED should never be listed. Either they need it or they don’t.

MASSHEALTH CHANGESVERY IMPORTANTThe Autism Insurance Resource Center is hosting a webinar on MassHealth updates/changes ...
09/02/2026

MASSHEALTH CHANGES
VERY IMPORTANT

The Autism Insurance Resource Center is hosting a webinar on MassHealth updates/changes on September 24th from 12:00-12:30.

Registration details will be posted to the IRC page and this site as the date approaches.

Please read, review, and release to all!

Prior written notice is not just meeting summary.It is a data sheet of details.PWN is often the abbreviation used for th...
09/01/2026

Prior written notice is not just meeting summary.

It is a data sheet of details.

PWN is often the abbreviation used for this IEP requirement.

When you're on the phone with Law Office of Attorney Collins Fay-Martin, and she says Dolly passed away.Be kind, focus o...
08/25/2026

When you're on the phone with Law Office of Attorney Collins Fay-Martin, and she says Dolly passed away.

Be kind, focus on the children, and learn!

RIP Dolly

“Find out who you are. And do it on purpose” - Dolly Parton

Berkley, Dighton, Rehoboth, Bristol-Plymouth, Attleboro and Taunton Families Does your child use Bloom Bus to go to sch...
08/22/2026

Berkley, Dighton, Rehoboth, Bristol-Plymouth, Attleboro and Taunton Families

Does your child use Bloom Bus to go to school?

Based on current federal and Massachusetts law, neither IEPs nor 504 plans have a mandated framework to address vulnerability to financial exploitation, theft, or identity theft.

Despite clear evidence that students with developmental and mental health disabilities face significantly elevated risk.

Evidence: Disability Justice

A breach like the raises the level a little more.

Breach info State of MA:

https://www.mass.gov/doc/2026-1378-blooms-bus-lines/download

A few things to ask your IEP Team and Community Leaders

**3 QUESTIONS FOR THE IEP TEAM:**

1. What protections are currently in place in this student's IEP or 504 to safeguard personal financial information and reduce identity theft risk?

2. Given the bus company data breach, what additional monitoring, notification, or security protocols should we add to this student's plan immediately?

3. Who is responsible for teaching this student financial literacy and identity theft prevention, and how will we document that instruction in the IEP?

---
QUESTIONS FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS:**

1. What district-wide policies require schools to notify families about data breaches affecting students for your contracted entities , and what remediation or credit monitoring is being provided?

2. Are we systematically training staff and students on identity theft vulnerability and financial safeguards, or is this left to individual families to figure out?

Back to school means you have valued data about progress and regression!Did little Marble Maze see an uptick in avoidanc...
08/22/2026

Back to school means you have valued data about progress and regression!

Did little Marble Maze see an uptick in avoidance of social interactions at camp?

Did Johnny Juggler struggle to express his needs and then have an external reaction that hurt himself?

Did Sally Sounds start starting conversations vs just answering questions?

You hold the keys to interventions, data and goals to support your child!

You can ask for an IEP meeting anytime! Why not at the start of school so the team can start of with a clear update on current baseline and update goals?

HUGE WIN and simple statement NO CRA's IEP's issues are not CRA cases. The state is raising the minimum age for CRA (Chi...
08/06/2026

HUGE WIN and simple statement NO CRA's
IEP's issues are not CRA cases.

The state is raising the minimum age for CRA (Child Requiring Assistance) court filings from 6 to 12.

This matters because:
✓ Kids as young as kindergarten were being pushed into the court system instead of getting school services. NOT ANYMORE!
✓ Schools were using court petitions to dodge their legal FAPE obligations under IDEA. NOPE NEVER AGAIN
✓ This fed directly into the school-to-prison pipeline. IDEA OVER DYS

Now, schools MUST try community services first, 45 days before even considering court.

CRA court is NOT where special education disputes belong. IDEA disputes belong in IEP meetings and due process hearings. Meaning they can't file for school avoidance or other IEP related maters. That is BSEA and make them follow that.

This keeps young kids OUT of the legal system and back where they belong—in school, getting appropriate services. Learning and getting FAPE!

H.265/S.141 — supporting families and children in need of assistance.

So what does this mean?

Expands the role of Family Resource Centers (FRCs) in providing case management services to high needs families and more clearly defines their role in convening multidisciplinary teams to help ensure children and families receive the services and supports they need outside the court process.

THIS ONE IS HUGE!!!!!
Requires schools to refer families to an FRC before filing a school-based CRA petition and creates other safeguards to ensure CRA applications are not initiated to address matters that fall within a school’s legal responsibility, such as the provision of education services under an IEP or 504 plan.

Requires clerks to refer families to an FRC if they have not visited or received services from an FRC within the previous 180 days before a clerk may accept a family-based CRA petition, unless the caregiver waives the referral in writing.

Raises the lower age of CRA jurisdiction from 6 to 12.

Requires the Office of the Child Advocate to develop informational materials for families explaining the CRA process and available alternatives.

If signed into law by Governor Healey, these reforms to the CRA process would go into effect one year from the effective date of the act.

🚨 ATTENTION MAY CENTER CAREGIVERS 🚨Before signing this document, please take the time to read it carefully.It is a major...
07/31/2026

🚨 ATTENTION MAY CENTER CAREGIVERS 🚨

Before signing this document, please take the time to read it carefully.
It is a major conflict with Massachusetts policies that take effect in August.
I encourage everyone to review the document for themselves and compare it with the state's requirements before signing. I would not sign it!

I'm also sharing photos that I personally took during a tour of the May Institute NORWOOD!
These photos rooms I observed during my visit. In some cases I could not open them freely. The director struggled too! 🚩 🚩 🚩

Please stay informed, know your rights, and ask questions if something doesn't seem right.
Do not sign this till you consult with an advocate or lawyer.



07/29/2026

IEP MEETINGS ARE HARD!

Try to keep a strait face!

Take notes and summarize your thoughts later in an email.

It is ok if you David some days…. too!

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Taunton, MA
02780

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