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Twelve years inside the special education system.
Before she became an advocate, Natalie Blakely spent twelve years as a school psychologist in a large Texas public school district. She wrote the evaluations. She sat on the committee. Now she sits on your side of it.
My story
I know what the people across the table are looking at.
For twelve years I worked as a school psychologist in a large Texas public school district. I evaluated students, wrote the reports that decided eligibility, and sat in hundreds of ARD meetings on the district’s side of the table.
That experience gave me an inside understanding of how special education actually works: how evaluations are designed and scored, how eligibility decisions get made, how goals are written, how services and minutes are set, and how placement is decided. I also saw, again and again, how differently the same meeting looks from campus to campus depending on who is in it.
I know what to look for in an IEP. I understand what evaluation data means for a child, and what it does not mean. I know the questions to ask when something does not feel right, and I know which ones will actually change the outcome. Most of all, the number of acronyms and amount of information parents are expected to understand in such a short time can feel overwhelming.
Today I use that experience on behalf of families. I help parents understand what their child needs, prepare properly for ARD meetings, and secure appropriate support, keeping the focus where it belongs: on the child.
“She was always student, but more importantly, human centered. Additionally, she knew the law and worked in the student’s best interest to ensure it was being followed.”
Stephen Schrock, colleague of five years, Google review
I am a member of COPAA, the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, and of the Texas Association of School Psychologists. I am a graduate of Sam Houston State University. I am also a mother, which is a qualification of a different kind but not an unimportant one.
How I think about this work
Three things I believe about special education.
The evaluation is the leverage
Eligibility, goals, services and placement all flow from the evaluation. If the evaluation is thin, everything downstream will be thin too. Most families are handed that report and told what it means, rather than shown how to read it.
Most districts are not the enemy
The people across the table are usually stretched, under-resourced, and sometimes still learning special education procedures themselves. Treating an ARD as a fight rarely helps a child. Being prepared, specific and impossible to brush past almost always does.
Effective communication is key
I help parents communicate their concerns clearly and ask the right questions. When needed, I may speak up to seek clarification and guide the conversation toward greater transparency, productivity and a clear focus on the child’s needs.
What people who worked with her say
Peer reviewed, in the most literal sense.
“For ten years now, Natalie is my go-to resource for a balanced, objective consultation that yields actionable recommendations.”
Paula H
Ten-year professional relationship · Google review
“I regularly witnessed Natalie’s expertise that spanned across assessment, the ARD process and IEPs. I can think of no greater individual of whom you can trust with your child’s academic future.”
Brandon Van Winkle
Former intern · Google review
“She understands how schools operate and uses that knowledge to effectively support families and advocate for children.”
Kassandra Arguello
Parent of a child with autism and ADHD · Google review
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