IEP Coaching & Advocacy
Transforming challenges into wings: guiding parents through the IEP journey.
Professional Advocacy Services
From birth through college, we have you covered!
Those first few months until your child is all grown up and is living on her own. We are
advocating for you and your child. We believe that a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
is what your sons and daughters deserve, and we are here to help your children gain FAPE that
leads them into success…further education, future employment and independent living. The
very heart of education is to help prepare your students for responsible adulthood.
Sometimes you know at birth that your child needs intervention because of a delay. Sometimes it is a diagnosis before or at birth; other times, something is not as it ought to be, and you need answers. We are here to make the path less cumbersome. Providing guidance and direction that will lead to solutions for a better future.
There are a variety of issues that get in the way of learning. We can help you understand what to request, for example, the right kind of evaluations that will help determine what programs would be most effective for your student. Is Section 504 more appropriate, or an IEP? Is your child gifted too?
Often gifted children are ‘twice exceptional.’ We can help you find the underlying cause of the issues. We work with students across the spectrum, from those that are highly intelligent and meet school-based criteria for gifted and need an Educational Plan, to those that are getting good grades but have trouble sitting still long enough to engage in learning. We can help you find your child the right kind of instruction and the most
appropriate placement.
Transitions is what it is all about. Moving from one grade to the next and one season of life to the next. Your students need preparation to gradually shoulder more responsibility. In the end, we are standing proud beside you as your child has matured and gained the skills to transition into adulthood.
Since 2009 Debbie has been Director at IEP Coaching & Advocacy in Orlando. Professional Advocate for students with disabilities, providing expert guidance for navigating the public and/or private school system. Preceding experience as the Education Community Consultant for DSACF and currently serving as an Educational Advocate with the Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida. Previously held position as Clinical Director at the University of Florida Department of Pediatrics College of Medicine; Founder and Executive Director of a non-profit Children's Multi-Disciplinary Center; Rapid Response Team co-founding member for FDLE; Consultant and Special Needs Advocate; Inclusion Specialist; National and State Speaker for Professionals and Families; Author of publications covering various subject areas in the field of Special Needs Education; Response to Intervention Consultant; Debbie is well equipped in a Family Systems Approach to working with families who are responsible for meeting the holistic needs of their child(ren) with special and oftentimes complex and challenging needs. Debbie is passionate in helping develop individualized plans for students to become more and more successful according to their own unique potential.
Services
Professional Advocates work for children with special needs and their parents in an intricate and often intimidating educational bureaucracy. We help bridge the relationship between the school and the parents by communicating clearly the concerns, visions, and perspectives of parents that is essential to making them effective partners in their children's education. And we might add, we do it with passion and respect that equates to success for everyone!
IEP Coaching and Advocacy
IEP Coaching and Advocacy can help you get what your child needs to be successful in school. Our approach is family-centered and collaborative, encouraging win-win relationships between parents and schools in order to create the most appropriate educational plan and environment for your child.
We help you to establish and maintain a positive focus on what is most important: your child
Does your child meet eligibility for a
Section 504 Plan?
Are you interested in the
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities
Virtual School?
Charter School
Magnet School?
We can help! We offer appointments for Conference (via Skype or phone for parents who live outside our direct service delivery range
We provide training seminars , IEP Clinics, workshops and presentations to any organization that supports students with any different ability. Topics are varied depending on the group request and need. Previous workshops have included:
Parent's Rights,
Procedural Safeguards,
IEP Protocol
Transistions
McKay Scholarship
Matrix of funding
IDEA 2004 in Summary
Training Seminars, Clinics and Workshops
There are many templates available for writing an appropriate request letter to obtain necessary evaluations for your child depending upon the existing conditions.
Has your child ever been evaluated by the school system?
Is it time for a reevaluation?
Interested in Independent Educational Evaluation
Do you suspect your child has a learning issue?