Special Education Advocates

We're struggling to get our son's needs met at Berkeley High.

He has an IEP, but we need to an advocate to guide us. I've had two extremely helpful consults with the folks at CASE (https://www.caseadvocacy.org/). The first was a free initial consult almost a year ago (8th grade) and based on their guidance I was able to advocate from a place of confidence and I felt the outcome was solid enough that I didn't pursue hiring them. This fall, I realized that we need more support. They gave me some more very solid guidance by email and showed me how to request my son's cumulative file.

One thing that stood out to me was that they mentioned the concept of a "safe and sober" school, where kids are actually checked for contraband. That would be an absolute game changer for us (and for a lot of Berkeley High parents, tbh) but I've never heard of such a thing and all I see on BPN is parents begging for advice about where to send a teen who has returned from residential treatment and can't realistically go back to Berkeley High and stay clean. So I'm a little wary that they're going to tell me that unicorns are real, which isn't necessarily helpful.

I'm getting ready to pay them for a thorough review of that file. But I'm a little surprised that there are no explicit reviews of CASE on BPN, and curious whether other parents have worked with them and had negative or positive experiences?

Cautionary tales?

Hi! A friend of mine is looking into hiring a special education advocate for her son. Does anyone have a current estimate of the cost and billing rates? My friend has considerable money so it's not a cost issue but she's weighing a few other options (such as an attorney). Thank you!

Hello,

I'm looking for an advocate to attend an IEP meeting in person with us, preferably someone with experience and a good track record with OUSD schools. Many of the existing recommendations on BPN are from 2019 or older. Thank you!

Searching for recommendations for an IEP consultant for high school level IEP that can help determine what services and supports are available for student. Student has had IEP since 3rd grade. Student was very successful in middle school with IEP. Consultant able to clarify what high school teachers and administrators can legally require of student. Familiarity with Contra Costa County high school districts will be very helpful. Thank You!

I am seeking advice and/or recommendation for an advocate or lawyer to help me communicate with my daughter's school regarding her IEP.  

Her AUSD school (Cornell) has been without a resource teacher this academic year and as a result the district has not provided her with 1200 minutes of resource class education (and counting).  I would like to hire a tutor for her so that she can get the educational support that the district has failed to give her and I need help getting the district to pay for this.  The district is "working on a plan" to make up missed minutes, but the only vague information they have provided me so far is that they might be able to make up the missed minutes during winter break.  

I have contacted DREDF and await their reply.  I would greatly appreciate any experiences, leads, or information that parents who have been in this situation or gone through this process would be comfortable sharing with me.   Thanks very much in advance.  

Happy New Year. I'm seeking a likable but firm advocate for my daughter's upcoming IEP for OUSD. I appreciate any leads and advice in the area.

Thanks!

My son has an IEP and is making the transition to high school.  He attends public school in the east bay. We just had a very difficult triennial IEP and I would like to find an educational consultant who can help us find agreement with the district but who will also, frankly, help us get what we want, which is what our son needs. 

I would appreciate any recommendations or pointers. 

My nephew, who lives near Pleasanton with his family, was recently diagnosed with a learning disability.  His family is now trying to navigate the educational bureaucracy and to ensure that his learning needs are being fully met.  The school district has dragged its feet and has not been very cooperative in making sure that his needs are met - it took years just for the school to agree to get him tested.  Since educational requirements and education policy are so complex and it's very difficult knowing how to navigate the system, his family is looking to retain the services of an education advocate.  My understanding is that this is the beginning of a very long road.  Does anyone have any advice for the family?  Perhaps even more importantly, do you have recommendations for an education advocate who serves the Pleasanton area?  Are there resources that the family should be connected to?  Any and all advice would be very, very welcome.

I am looking for an excellent advocate who can help me with an IEP meeting. My daughter has had an IEP since 2006. I have not been satisfied with the outcomes. Does anyone have any recommendations. 

We are in the process of seeking an IEP from the WCCUSD and would like to find a professional advocate with experience working with this school district. We are also on a tight budget and have found at least one that is prohibitively expensive. Any recommendations of a good advocate, preferably on the west side of the tunnel, would be appreciated. Thank you!