Advocating for Your Child...

With Confidence and Clarity

Author

Yessenia Salomon
May 18, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

Advocating for your child shouldn’t feel like you’re going to war with the system even if it often feels that way.

Whether you’re sitting in an IEP meeting, stuck on a waitlist, or trying to get your child’s needs met, it can feel like invisible was are everywhere.

That ends here.

This space is designed to help you walk in with confidence, clarity, and facts… not just emotions (you’re allowed to have those too).

❝

You’re not ‘just a parent.’ You’re the expert on your child. You need to be ‘that parent’ when it comes to addressing your child’s educational needs.”

Yessenia Darna

🛠️ What You’ll Learn to Do:

  • Understanding Your Rights
    Clear, concise guidance on parent rights under IDEA, Section 504, and ADA regulations.

  • IEP and 504 Support
    Resources to help you prepare for meetings, understand documentation, and participate meaningfully in decision-making processes.

  • Communication Strategies
    Templates and suggestions for emailing school teams, requesting evaluations, and documenting important conversations.

  • Advocacy Tools
    Printable checklists, terminology guides, and evaluation trackers to support you throughout the school year.

  • Support Services Overview
    Information on working with therapists, specialists, and educational teams to coordinate consistent care.

🧾 IEP Meeting Prep Toolkit

🔍 Before the Meeting

  • Write down 3 goals for the meeting

  • Bring a copy of your child’s current evaluations

  • Request the agenda ahead of time

  • Practice your “Parent Introduction Statement.”

✅ IEP Prep Checklist

💬 This is your chance to speak up with purpose. You’re not being difficult — you’re being clear.

✉️ Communicating with Schools

Say What You Mean Without Losing Your Cool

  • Use I statements

  • Keep emails brief and respectful

  • Document everything

  • Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification

  • Follow-up in writing after meetings

Know Your Rights

These aren’t favors. They’re legal protections — and you deserve to understand them.

⚖️ Understand Your Rights as a Parent

We provide clear, compassionate, and community-driven guidance for families navigating autism—without shame, fear, or “fix-it” thinking.

We believe autism is not a problem to be fixed, but a perspective to be understood.

We believe in kindness with backbone, information without overwhelming, and humor to cope.

If you want to advocate with less stress and more strategy, you’re in the right place.

Join the Paid Subscription and Receive Resources

📥 [Download Your First 6 Weeks After Diagnosis]

A practical guide for what to do right after the diagnosis, based on both science and survival.

6-Week Checklist.pdf1.03 MB • PDF File

Find More Information Check Out Our Site

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Whether you’re newly diagnosed, midway through the maze, or years into this adventure—there’s a place for you here.

Grab a cup of coffee (or cold fries from the car floor—no judgment), subscribe to the newsletter, and let’s do this together.

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