Special Education Advocacy
for CSE Meetings and Section 504 Plans
Services Offered:
IEP Review
Consultation with School Administrators and Educators
Understanding New York State Part 200 Regulations
Representation in CSE and IEP meetings
Conflict Resolution
Recommendations for Appropriate Accommodations and Services
Guidance to Community Supports
Educating Parents On How to Advocate for Their Children
Due Process Support
Evaluation and Program Analysis
What is Non-Attorney Advocacy: Many students and families find themselves needing advocacy services at some point during their academic careers. In today’s budget sensitive times, where many students need additional services beyond what is being offered by a district, a non-attorney advocate can effectively represent you and/or your child at Westchester County school district and IEP meetings, with the goal of getting the services, accommodations, and placement that your child needs and is entitled to by law. Special education law is mostly governed by IDEA ’04 and is notoriously vague, which allows districts to keep parents “out of the loop” and to avoid providing appropriate and adequate services to students and families. While many students who need advocacy services have a disability and are thus served under special education, other students may simply have a temporary medical issue that may allow for accommodations under a Section 504 Plan. Additionally, in the case of a student with a documented disability, there may be issues that fall under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which allows for additional leverage when dealing with a district or educational institution.
Concern: A Westchester student or family may need an advocate when a medical issue or disability warrants additional services or accommodations or a private or alternative school placement. If students already have a Westchester IEP or 504 plan in place but the school district is noncompliant with the document or unable or unwilling to appropriately or safely serve your child, Alex can provide non-attorney advocacy services to effectively work with school and district administrators to ensure compliance with a student’s education plan or to create an IEP that calls for adequate and appropriate services and levels of support.
How The Savvy Tutor can help: Alex has successfully advocated for school-aged Westchester County students and their families, in addition to older students with disabilities, to achieve the desired services, accommodations, and placements. Alex has attended dozens of IEP, 504, and other school meetings and fully understands the procedures involved, including the rights of parents and students. Bringing the appropriate tone and tenor to a meeting or communication with district administrators is key; threats are never productive or well-received, and complacency or passivity will simply not get the job done. Education advocacy is a unique field that requires one to draw from educational research and best practices, legal rights, precedents and case law, and positive communication techniques. Alex’s current success rate is 100%, as she has been able to accomplish every goal for which clients have hired her. If you feel that your school or your child’s school has been unable to meet your needs, and may even be behaving in a negligent or illegal fashion, contact The Savvy Tutor for a consultation to discuss how we can achieve your goals and get your school to work for you!