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Questions parents ask.
If yours is not here, ask it on the free fifteen-minute call. There is no such thing as a question that is too basic in this process.
Getting started
Do I actually need an advocate?
What does a special education advocate actually do?
An advocate helps you understand your child’s evaluation and IEP, works out what to ask the school for, helps you put your concerns in writing, and attends ARD meetings with you.
Federal law is explicit that you may bring a person with knowledge or special expertise about your child onto the IEP team, and you are the one who decides who that is.
How do I know whether my situation needs one?
Every family is unique in their reasons for seeking an advocate. The most common signs are: you have been told your child does not qualify, but the explanation does not sit right; the IEP exists but what is written is not what is happening; your child is not making meaningful progress, or you are questioning the services, supports, placement, or level of academic challenge being provided. Sometimes, trust with the school has simply been damaged.
The free call exists precisely so you do not have to decide this on your own.
When in the school year should I get help?
The sooner the better, however any time is a great time to seek support. Parents have the right to request an ARD meeting at any time throughout the school year. If a meeting is already scheduled, records should reach me at least five business days beforehand so there is time to read them properly.
Will bringing an advocate make the school defensive?
It can, if the advocate arrives looking for a fight. That is not how I work. Most districts are stretched rather than hostile, and treating an ARD as a battle rarely helps a child. Being prepared, specific and impossible to brush past almost always does.
Cost
What this costs, and what it is worth.
How much does a special education advocate charge?
The entire fee schedule is published rather than hidden behind an inquiry. Record review is $300, ARD meeting attendance is $350, and comprehensive support that combines both is $650. Ongoing work is $100 an hour, billed in fifteen-minute increments and invoiced monthly. Annual packages are $1,500 and $3,000.
Students attending a Title I school receive a 10% discount. The first fifteen-minute call is free.
Are there free options if I cannot afford an advocate?
Yes, and you should know about them. Partners Resource Network is the federally funded parent training and information center for Texas, and their help is free to every family in the state. Locally, The Arc of Fort Bend County offers meeting support to members for a small fee.
If one of those is genuinely the better fit for your situation, I will tell you that on the free call. You are not wasting my time by asking.
How and when do I pay?
Flat-fee services are paid before work begins and are non-refundable. Hourly work is invoiced on the 1st of the month and due by the last day of that month, billed in fifteen-minute increments.
The process
What actually happens.
Which school districts do you work with?
I am based in Richmond and work across Fort Bend County and the greater Houston area, including Lamar CISD, Fort Bend ISD, Katy ISD and Needville ISD. I also have active clients in Conroe ISD, Brazosport ISD and Magnolia ISD.
Record review, consultation and meeting preparation can all be done virtually, so I can support families throughout Texas too.
Do you attend meetings in person or virtually?
Either. Meeting attendance may be virtual or in person, and ARD meetings are scheduled at a mutually agreeable date and time. For families outside the Houston area, virtual attendance works well and is often easier to arrange.
What do you need from me?
Accurate and complete information, and the paperwork: IEP and ARD notices, evaluation reports whether public or private, letters and relevant email threads. Records should arrive at least five business days before a meeting.
If you do not have copies of these records, I can guide you through requesting them directly from the school.
I will also ask you to stay actively involved in the decisions. This works because you are in the room, not because I am.
How quickly do you respond?
Typically within 24 to 48 business hours, by whichever of email, text or phone we agree suits you. If an ARD is imminent, say so and I will prioritize it.
Is what I tell you confidential?
Yes. Everything shared is kept confidential except where the law requires otherwise or you give permission. If you want me to speak directly to school staff, the school will need consent.
Scope and limits
What I can and cannot do.
Do I need an attorney instead?
Sometimes, but most special education problems are resolved long before they become legal disputes, and an advocate is usually the right first step.
I am not an attorney and I do not give legal advice. If your situation needs a lawyer, I will say so plainly and help you find one.
Can you guarantee my child will get the services we are asking for?
No, and nobody honestly can. Those decisions are made by the ARD committee, not by me.
What I can do is help you bring the right information to the meeting, communicate your concerns clearly, ask informed questions, and work with the school toward appropriate supports for your child.
You were a school psychologist. Can you evaluate my child?
No. In this practice I am acting as an educational advocate and consultant, not as a psychologist or school psychologist. I do not provide evaluations, psychological services, diagnoses or treatment.
What those twelve years give you is someone who can read the district’s evaluation properly and tell you what it does and does not establish.
Will you speak for me at the meeting?
My first job is to prepare you so thoroughly that you can say what needs saying, and to make sure the committee hears it. A parent who speaks with confidence carries real weight in an ARD. When it is needed, I will speak up to seek clarification and to guide the conversation toward greater transparency, productivity and a clear focus on your child’s needs.
Still have a question?
Ask it on the free call.
Fifteen minutes, no obligation, and a straight answer.