National Special Education Advocates
Non-Legal
Special Education Advocacy Services
In addition to the legal services we offer, EducationLawyers.com offers non-legal special education advocacy services throughout the United States. Our advocates have all undergone intensive special education advocacy training at the direction of Dr. Mary Montgomery and Joseph Montgomery, Esq.
What is special education advocacy?
Special education advocacy is the act of advocating for the rights and needs of students with disabilities and their families in the special education process. This can include:
Educating parents and students about their rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the special education process.
Working with parents and students to develop and negotiate appropriate Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and accommodations.
Attending IEP meetings and representing the interests of the student and their family.
Advocating for additional evaluations or assessments if needed.
Working with school staff to ensure that the IEP is implemented as written and that the student is receiving the supports and services they need.
It is important for parents and students to have a special education advocate who can help them navigate the special education process and ensure that their rights are protected.
Why choose a non-legal approach to special education advocacy?
There are several potential benefits to taking an initial non-legal approach to special education advocacy:
Improved communication: An initial non-legal approach can help to improve communication between parents, students, and school staff. This can lead to a more collaborative and positive working relationship, which can be beneficial in addressing the student's needs.
Faster resolution: An initial non-legal approach can often lead to a quicker resolution of issues, as it allows for more informal and flexible discussions between parties. This can be especially helpful for parents and students who are seeking a timely resolution to their concerns.
Lower costs: Legal action can be costly, both in terms of financial resources and time. An initial non-legal approach can help to avoid the costs and delays associated with legal proceedings, which can be especially beneficial for families who may not have the resources to pursue a legal case.
Better outcomes: An initial non-legal approach can often lead to more satisfactory outcomes for all parties involved. This is because it allows for more open and honest communication, which can help to identify and address the underlying issues that are causing conflict.
Overall, an initial non-legal approach to special education advocacy can be a valuable tool for parents and students who are seeking to advocate for their rights and needs in the special education process.
Is every case appropriate for non-legal special education advocacy?
It is important to note that not every case lends itself to a non-legal approach to advocacy. In some cases, legal action may be necessary to protect the rights of the student and their family. However, when appropriate, avoiding the time and costs and emotional toll of litigation can be positive for all parties involved.
An initial non-legal approach to special education advocacy can be an effective way to address concerns and resolve issues in a more collaborative and less adversarial manner. This can be especially beneficial for parents and students who are seeking a timely resolution to their concerns and who may not have the resources to pursue a legal case.
It is important to remember that each case is unique, and it is essential to carefully consider the specific needs and circumstances of the student and their family when determining the best course of action. Working with a knowledgeable and experienced special education advocate can be helpful in making this decision.
What if non-legal special education advocacy does not get the results I am looking for?
Even with an initial non-legal approach, you are still reserving your right to legal action later if necessary or if the non-legal approach is not effective. This is because the special education process is governed by federal law, and parents and students have certain rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). If these rights are not being upheld, legal action may be necessary to protect the interests of the student and their family.
It is also important to be mindful of statute of limitations issues if there is a legal claim against the school that you would like to pursue. A statute of limitations is a time limit for bringing a legal action. The statute of limitations for special education cases is generally two years from the date that the parent or student knew or should have known about the issue that forms the basis of the legal claim.
It is important to be aware of the statute of limitations because if you wait too long to bring a legal action, you may be barred from doing so. This is why it is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible if you are considering taking legal action against a school or other educational institution.
Working with a knowledgeable and experienced special education advocate can be helpful when determining the best course of action in advocating for their rights in the special education process.
Dr. Mary Montgomery
With more than 35 years of experience guiding, directing, and enhancing the quality of special education services for students across the country, Dr. Mary Montgomery has dedicated her entire career to serving children with disabilities and acting as a special education advocate.
Dr. Montgomery has experience in all aspects of special education, including working as a special education teacher, as well as an administrator responsible for the provision of special education services. She was the impetus behind many innovative programs for students within various school districts. Dr. Montgomery was awarded with the Montgomery Country ARC, “Educator of the Year Award,” for her efforts to improve the lives of children with disabilities.
Dr. Montgomery has an extensive working knowledge of school operations, school law, IDEA, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Special Education Codes, and all aspects of the evaluation/reevaluation/ IEP process. Dr. Montgomery is truly an advocate for students and works tirelessly to ensure that their rights are protected.
Dr. Montgomery earned a Doctorate in Special Education from Arcadia University, a Master of Education from Temple University, and a Bachelor of Science from West Chester University. The mother of three boys, and wife of an educator, Dr. Montgomery always taught her family that respect and kindness toward others is paramount in life.
Special Education Advocacy Services Offered:
Review of Education Records, including IEP’s, Evaluations Reports, 504 Plans, and other relevant information.
There are several potential benefits to having a special education advocate review and synthesize your child's records:
Understanding your child's needs: A special education advocate can help you to understand your child's unique needs and how they may be impacting their education. This can be especially helpful if your child has a complex or hard-to-diagnose condition.
Identifying strengths and weaknesses: A special education advocate can help you to identify your child's strengths and weaknesses and how they may be impacting their education. This can be helpful in developing appropriate goals and accommodations for your child.
Determining the effectiveness of current interventions: A special education advocate can help you to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions and supports currently in place for your child. This can help you to identify any gaps in service or areas where your child may need additional support.
Providing guidance on next steps: A special education advocate can provide guidance on next steps, including recommendations for additional evaluations or assessments if needed, and help you to develop a plan for addressing your child's needs.
Overall, having a special education advocate review and synthesize your child's records can be a valuable tool in helping you to understand your child's unique needs and determine the best course of action for supporting their education.
Consultative reports with input and suggestions on modifications of supports and services or implementation of new supports and services
Having a special education advocate review and synthesize your child's records can be an extremely valuable tool in advocating for their education. By thoroughly reviewing your child's records and bringing everything together to tell a coherent story about the child and their needs, an advocate can help you to better understand your child's unique strengths and weaknesses and how they may be impacting their education.
This can be especially helpful if your child has a complex or hard-to-diagnose condition, as it can provide insight into their specific needs and how they may be best supported. In addition, an advocate can help you to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions and supports currently in place for your child and identify any gaps in service or areas where your child may need additional support.
By providing guidance on next steps and recommendations for additional evaluations or assessments if needed, an advocate can help you to develop a plan for addressing your child's needs and ensuring that they are receiving the supports and services they need to succeed in school. Overall, having a special education advocate review and synthesize your child's records can be an invaluable resource in advocating for your child's education and helping them to reach their full potential.
Attendance at IEP meetings and other school meetings
There are several potential benefits to having a special education advocate attend an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting with you:
Understanding the process: A special education advocate can help you to understand the IEP process and what to expect at an IEP meeting. This can be especially helpful if you are new to the process or if you are feeling overwhelmed.
Identifying your rights and needs: A special education advocate can help you to identify your rights and the specific needs of your child, and can assist you in negotiating appropriate goals and accommodations.
Representing your interests: A special education advocate can represent your interests at the IEP meeting and ensure that your concerns and needs are heard and taken into consideration.
Providing support: Having a special education advocate attend the IEP meeting with you can provide emotional support and help you to feel more confident and prepared for the meeting.
Overall, having a special education advocate attend an IEP meeting with you can be a valuable tool in ensuring that your child's rights and needs are protected and that they are receiving the supports and services they need to succeed in school.
Parent Preparation Sessions to prepare parents for their meetings with school staff
Using a special education advocate to prepare for a meeting with the school can be extremely beneficial for parents. Special education meetings, such as Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, can often be overwhelming and intimidating, especially for parents who are new to the process or who may feel like they are at a disadvantage. This is because there can be an imbalance of power in these meetings, with the school often having more knowledge and resources than the parent.
A special education advocate can help to level the playing field by providing parents with the knowledge and support they need to effectively advocate for their child's rights and needs. An advocate can help parents to understand the process and their rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and can assist them in identifying and communicating their child's specific needs and goals. An advocate can also provide emotional support and help parents to feel more confident and prepared for the meeting.
Overall, using a special education advocate to prepare for a meeting with the school can be an invaluable resource for parents, helping them to feel more empowered and better equipped to advocate for their child's needs and rights.
Interagency coordination
Using a special education advocate to assist in complicated cases where there are several agencies involved and interagency coordination is necessary can be extremely beneficial. In these cases, it can be challenging for parents to navigate the special education process and ensure that their child's needs are being met by all the relevant agencies.
A special education advocate can help to coordinate the efforts of the various agencies and ensure that all members of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team are working together effectively. An advocate can help to facilitate communication between the different agencies and ensure that everyone is on the same page in terms of the student's needs and goals. They can also assist in identifying any gaps in service or areas where the student may need additional support.
Overall, using a special education advocate to assist in complicated cases where there are several agencies involved can be an invaluable resource for parents, helping them to feel more empowered and better equipped to advocate for their child's needs and rights.
Expert and EVALUATION coordination, referrals and logistics
Using an experienced special education advocate to identify and coordinate with outside experts and evaluators can be extremely beneficial in advocating for your child's education. An advocate with knowledge of the community and relevant resources can help you to access the support and services your child needs, and can also help you to navigate the evaluation process.
An experienced advocate has an eye for what evaluations may be necessary under the circumstances and can help you to identify any areas of concern that may not be immediately obvious. For instance, if your child is struggling with math, an advocate may suggest a reading evaluation if they determine that the child is struggling with word problems.
An advocate also has knowledge of evaluation timelines and can help you to ensure that the necessary evaluations are completed in a timely manner. This is especially important because the special education process can be complex and time-sensitive, and it is important to ensure that your child is receiving the supports and services they need as soon as possible.
Overall, using an experienced special education advocate to identify and coordinate with outside experts and evaluators can be an invaluable resource in advocating for your child's education and helping them to reach their full potential.
Advocacy for Private School Placements
There are several reasons why it can be helpful to have an advocate when fighting for a private school placement to be funded by your public school:
Understanding the process: The process of seeking funding for a private school placement can be complex and overwhelming, especially if you are unfamiliar with the process. An advocate can help you to understand your rights and the steps involved in seeking funding for a private school placement.
Identifying your needs: An advocate can help you to identify your child's specific needs and how a private school placement may be the best option for meeting those needs. They can also help you to present a compelling case to the school district as to why a private school placement is necessary.
Representing your interests: An advocate can represent your interests and ensure that your concerns and needs are heard and taken into consideration by the school district.
Providing support: An advocate can provide emotional support and help you to feel more confident and prepared as you navigate the process of seeking funding for a private school placement.
Overall, having an advocate when fighting for a private school placement to be funded by your public school can be an invaluable resource in advocating for your child's education and helping them to access the supports and services they need to succeed.
Parent and Advocate training sessions
Are you a parent or advocate interested in learning all of the ins and outs and tips and tricks of successful special education advocacy? Look no further! We offer our own training and certification program where you, too, can become a world-class special education advocate. Our program is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to effectively advocate for the rights and needs of students with disabilities and their families.
Our training program covers a wide range of topics, including the special education process, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), strategies for effective communication and collaboration, and much more. Our experienced trainers will provide you with the tools and resources you need to succeed, and you'll have the opportunity to learn from and network with other advocates from around the country.
Whether you are a parent looking to advocate for your own child or an advocate looking to expand your knowledge and skills, our training program is the perfect fit. Don't wait – start your journey to becoming a world-class special education advocate today!
RATES:
Our advocacy rates are $250/hour and generally require a $2500 retainer for case initiation.
We offer a $500 flat fee initial introductory strategy session, where we will conduct a review of recent records and discuss and strategize over a 1-hour phone call or zoom session.
Next Steps:
Are you the parent or guardian of a child with special needs? Are you looking to maximize the services and support provided by your child's school? It is important to remember that you have rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and that you are entitled to certain educational supports and services for your child.
But how do you know what to ask for and what you are entitled to? The special education process can be complex and overwhelming, and it can be difficult to navigate on your own. That's where special education advocacy comes in.
Special education advocacy is the act of advocating for the rights and needs of students with disabilities and their families in the special education process. An advocate can help you understand your rights, develop appropriate goals and accommodations for your child, and work with school staff to ensure that your child is receiving the supports and services they need.
Never is it more true that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Parents who advocate for their children and bring in experts often get the best results. If you are looking to maximize the services provided by your school, consider consulting with a special education advocate today and let us see how we can help you reach all of your educational goals. Don't wait – take control of your child's education and start advocating for their needs today.