Personalized Support for Families Navigating the School System

Advocacy Support Availability for Fall 2024


I’m currently at full capacity for new advocacy support clients this fall. However, if you’re interested in working together, you can still submit an intake form, and I’ll reach out if space becomes available.

Advocacy support intake form

What is Advocacy Support?

Advocacy support is personalized guidance and representation to help parents of neurodivergent children navigate the education system. As an experienced advocate, I work alongside you to ensure your child receives the educational supports they need to access learning.

This includes:

  • Helping you understand your child’s learning profile and needs
  • Collaborating with the school team to develop or update an IEP (Individualized Education Plan)
  • Preparing you for school meetings and ensuring your voice is heard
  • Reviewing and interpreting educational assessments and reports
  • Creating a clear plan to support your child’s learning and well-being

How Can Advocacy Support Help You?

If you’ve ever felt frustrated or overwhelmed trying to get the right supports for your child at school, advocacy support can help you cut through the confusion and move forward with confidence. I assist with:

Understanding your child’s rights: Knowing what your child is entitled to in terms of support and accommodations.

Strategic planning: Building a clear advocacy plan so you can approach meetings and decisions proactively.

School meeting preparation: Supporting you in communicating effectively with school staff and making sure you’re fully prepared for important meetings like IEP reviews.

Document reviews and recommendations: Providing expert input on IEPs, assessments, and progress reports to ensure they align with your child’s needs.

Ongoing support: Being there for you as challenges arise, with solutions tailored to your child’s specific context.

Ways to Receive Support


Direct Advocacy Support

Have a professional advocate present during school meetings (virtually) to ensure your child’s needs are clearly communicated and understood.

Self-Advocacy Coaching

Get tailored advice and strategies to navigate the education system and advocate for your child’s needs.

Document Review & Recommendations

Understand the language of educational documents and maximize their effectiveness with my advice.

Single Consultation

A 60-minute call to answer your questions, help you make a decision or provide insight. Visit the Educational Guidance Sessions page to learn more.

Getting Started: The Advocacy Intake

The First Step to Getting Your Child the Support They Need at School

Getting the right support at school starts with understanding your child’s needs and knowing what to ask for. The Advocacy Support Intake is designed to do just that. For a flat fee of $350, this intake process gives you:

• A 1:1 Call: We’ll talk about your child’s strengths and struggles, what’s happening at school right now, and where support is missing. You’ll share what you want to achieve, and we’ll work together to set clear goals. You’ll walk away feeling like someone understands your concerns and that you’re not in this alone.

• Document Review: If you have reports from the school, assessments, or an IEP, I’ll review them to see what’s in place and what’s missing. If you don’t have these yet, that’s okay—I’ll help you figure out what needs to happen next to get the right supports started.

• Personalized Recommendations & Next Steps: After the call and document review, I’ll give you a clear plan with specific steps to take, so you can move forward with confidence. Whether it’s working with me further or advocating on your own, you’ll know exactly what to do next.

How It Works:

  1. You fill out the online intake form to give me some background on your child and what’s going on at school.
  2. We meet for 60 minutes to talk through your concerns, your child’s needs, and what you’re struggling with when it comes to school support.
  3. I review your documents, like assessments or report cards, to see what’s already been done and what still needs attention.
  4. You get my personalized recommendations, clearly explaining the next steps you can take to get better support in place for your child.

For Parents Who Are Asking:

  • “What can I ask for at school?”
    I’ll help you figure out what supports make sense based on your child’s needs, and what’s reasonable to ask for given your school’s resources.
  • “Why doesn’t my child have an Educational Assistant (EA)?”
    We’ll talk about what the school’s responsibilities are, what’s required for your child, and why they may or may not have an EA based on their situation.
  • “I’ve been trying for years with no results—what now?”
    If you feel like you’ve been advocating but nothing’s changing, we’ll take a fresh look at the situation, find out what’s blocking progress, and create a new plan to get things moving.

What Happens After the Intake?

If you need more help after the intake, any additional support will be billed at $140/hour. We’ll keep working together to make sure your child gets the right support and accommodations at school.

Get Started

Advocacy Intake Form

Common Questions

How long does advocacy support typically last?

This depends on your specific situation. Some families need support for a few meetings, while others require longer-term advocacy throughout the school year.

What kinds of documents do I need to provide?

I ask for any relevant school records such as IEPs, assessments (e.g., psycho-educational reports), report cards, and communication with the school team. These help me understand your child’s current supports and areas that may need adjustment.

What if the school isn’t following the IEP?

Part of my role is to help you understand how to address this. I can assist in communicating with the school team to ensure the IEP is implemented properly and provide advice on the next steps if issues persist.

Can you help if we’re new to the school?

Yes! Transitioning to a new school can be a critical time to set up supports. I can help ensure your child’s needs are understood by the new team, review any existing documents, and make sure the school is aware of key information before the first day.

What if I’m not satisfied with the school’s proposed supports?

Advocacy is about collaboration while also ensuring your child gets what they need. I’ll help you navigate discussions with the school to seek solutions that work for your child and provide alternatives if necessary.

Using AFU for Kids Ages 6+

If you are a parent in BC looking to use AFU funding to pay for my services, please submit an RTP for approval well in advance, as the process can take up to 6 weeks. Visit my AFU information page for details.

Why Choose Me?

I believe every neurodivergent child deserves an inclusive and supportive education. My services are designed to provide you with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to advocate effectively for your child.

  • Neuro-Affirming Approach: My methods are rooted in respect for every child and their neurodivergence. I focus on affirming and supporting your child’s needs.
  • Experienced Advocate: With extensive experience navigating the education system and advocating for neurodivergent children, I am here to support you.
  • Comprehensive Support: From coaching to direct advocacy and document review, I provide comprehensive support tailored to you as a parent advocate.

Get Started

Take the first step towards ensuring your child gets the support they need at school. Complete the intake form to begin.

Rates:

The new client intake fee is $350. Additional services are billed at $140/hr.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What types of support do you offer?
A: I offer personalized coaching, direct advocacy during school meetings, and document review and recommendations to help you understand and maximize the use of educational documents.

Q: How do I get started with your services?
A: To get started, complete the intake form and book a time for the intake meeting. You will receive an email with the service agreement, learning needs questionnaire, and document upload instructions. Your timeslot will be confirmed once these steps are completed. The intake process typically takes 3-7 days.

Q: What are your rates?
A: The new client intake fee for advocacy support is $350. Additional services are billed at $140/hr. GST is applied to these rates for direct payment clients.

Q: What can I expect from personalized coaching sessions?
A: In personalized coaching sessions, you will receive tailored advice and strategies to navigate the education system, communicate effectively with school staff, and develop an actionable advocacy roadmap for your child.

Q: How does direct advocacy work?
A: Direct advocacy involves me representing you during school meetings to ensure your child’s needs are clearly communicated and understood. This service helps address resistance or misunderstandings from school staff and provides strategic advice on the best advocacy approaches.

Q: What is included in the document review service?
A: The document review service includes a thorough review of your child’s IEP, school plans, or assessment reports. I provide explanations in plain language and offer recommendations to help you use these documents effectively in advocating for your child’s support needs.

Q: How can I make sure my child’s IEP is effective?
A: During the document review process, I will help you understand the key components of an effective IEP and provide recommendations to ensure it accurately reflects your child’s needs and includes appropriate supports and accommodations.

Q: Are you knowledgeable about Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)?
A: Yes, I am knowledgeable about PDA and the advocacy approaches that work to get children with this profile the support they need. I can help you develop strategies tailored to your child’s needs.

Q: How do you support neurodivergent parents in the advocacy process?
A: I provide neuro-affirming support and resources, recognizing the unique strengths and challenges of neurodivergent parents. My services are designed to be inclusive and empowering, ensuring you feel confident in advocating for your child.

Q: Can I use AFU funding to pay for your services?
A: Yes, if you are a parent in BC, you can use AFU funding to pay for my services. Please submit a JFE for approval well in advance, as the process can take up to 6 weeks. New clients who have not submitted a JFE in advance will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Q: What payment methods do you accept?
A: I accept various payment methods including credit cards, e-transfers, and payments through AFU funding where applicable.

Q: How far in advance should I book your services?
A: It’s best to book in advance or before you hit a crisis, as the intake process typically takes 3-7 days to complete. This ensures that you have timely access to the support you need.

Q: What is your availability for urgent support?
A: While I strive to accommodate urgent needs, it’s recommended to complete the intake process and book services in advance to ensure timely support. Urgent cases will be considered on a case-by-case basis.