About Me:
I am the neurodivergent dyslexic mother of neurodivergent children and a lifelong advocate for those in need. I have a passion for supporting individuals with disabilities and their families. It is critical that all people are empowered to reach their full potential.

I have been a disability advocate in Northern Virginia for over 12 years.  My work has been both professional and volunteer and has involved community building and education, support group facilitation, systemic advocacy, and family and student advocacy.  

Professional advocacy on behalf of students and families: I work with students and families by educating them on the special education process and their rights and by helping them organize their records, refine their IEP goals and accommodations, access school and community resources, and assisting them in IEP and 504 meetings.

In order to best serve my clients and my community, I sought advocacy training from the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) and am a proud graduate of their Special Education Advocacy Training 2.0 course (SEAT 2.0).  In my practice I follow COPAA’s Advocate Voluntary Code of Ethics.

I continue to seek additional ongoing training from a variety of sources to ensure that I have current knowledge and understanding of the latest changes and best practices regarding special education and disability.  

Community Building: My disability advocacy began in 2013 when I founded an online support group for caregivers of people with disabilities. What began as a small group of 12 individuals grew to over 250 members across the United States and Europe.

Systemic Advocacy: In 2015, I and another Fairfax County parent, decided to join forces to start an organization that could advocate for systemic change and improvements for students with disabilities and their families. This labor of love became Fairfax County Special Education PTA, an all-volunteer organization which launched in April 2017 and advocates on behalf of the over 30 thousand students in Fairfax County Public schools who have a disability and are served by either 504 Plans or IEPs. Additionally, Fairfax County SEPTA advocates for the needs of the families of these students and the professionals who work with them. 

Teaching: I have created, co-created, and taught numerous courses and workshops related to special education advocacy for a variety of organizations including:  VA Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC), Virginia PTA, NoVA District PTA, The FCPS Special Education Conference, The FCPS Family Summit, and Fairfax County SEPTA. Course topics have included: Navigating Special Education - 504s and IEPs, Building a Community of Support, Organizing your IEP records, Working Collaboratively with an IEP Team, Social/Emotional needs of Dyslexic Students, Tips for 2e Parents, Successfully Leading a Support Group, Supporting Special Education Students in Inclusive Classrooms, and Traveling Tips for Families of Students with Disabilities.