Do I need a Special Education Advocate?

If your child currently has an IEP or a 504 plan or is struggling at school and has (or you suspect he or she has) a disability, you would be well served in having a Special Education Advocate.

If your child's school has ever told you the following, you probably need a special education advocate:

• Your child is not eligible for special education because she is doing fine academically.

• When you arrive to the IEP meeting the IEP goals are all written up and are told that all you need to do is sign the IEP document that you approve.

• Suggested that you medicate your child to support his or her behavior at school.

• Your child met his annual goal so he or she no longer needs additional services.

• They do not have “that service” at your school.

• Your child would be happier in a self-contained classroom.

• Your child’s needs would be better met in a special ed classroom.

• Your child can do it but needs to try harder.

• They have too many kids in the classroom and cannot accommodate them all.

• They are keeping the same IEP goal because your child has not made progress and they have to keep working on it.

• As a charter school they do not have the resources to serve a student with special education needs.

• Their school is a Choice School so if you do not like it your can go to your homeschool.

• Told you they do not have the resources but are doing the best they can.

• Told you they are not allowed to assess your child for an IEP unless we first try RTI (response to intervention).

• Told you they will not accept your parent concerns for the IEP because they disagree with them.

• Told you their cafeteria is not able to provide food for your child because of your child’s allergies.

• Told you that your child cannot go on a field trip unless a parent comes too.

• Told you they cannot diagnose a child with dyslexia, dyscalculia, or dysgraphia.

• Told you your child is too young to be evaluated for a specific learning disability.

• Told you “Why don't we just wait and see how they do, they mature and the difficulties may go away.”

• Told you that you do not want to label your child with a learning disability, that your child will catch up sooner or later.

• Told you that your child “will grow out of it”.

• Told you they can not provide copies of the assessment reports ahead of time.

• Told you they can not give you copies of your child's educational record.

• Told you that if you change their diet, give more structure or are stricter at home that your child would learn to behave and would not have problems in the classroom.

What does a Special Education Advocate do?

Help you navigate the complex special education process, which may include:

• Advocate for your child’s best interests in the assessment and eligibility process

• Reviewing your child’s educational records

• Understanding your child’s educational evaluations

• In-school observation of your child

• Independent Educational Evaluation referrals

• Advocate for your child’s best interests at IEP meetings and 504 meetings

• Following up with the School District in the implementation of the IEP or 504 plan

What disabilities qualify my child for Special Education?

When a child’s disability impacts the child’s educational performance they qualify for special education services. The educational impact includes academics, behavioral and or social emotional development. The qualifying disabilities are as follows:

• Autism

• Deafness

• Emotional disturbance

• Hearing impairment

• Intellectual disability

• Orthopedic impairment

• Other health impairment (including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD)

• Specific learning disability (includes dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and other learning differences)

• Speech or language impairment

• Traumatic brain injury

• Visual impairment (including blindness)

Why should I choose IEP San Diego?

There are many special education advocates that you can choose. What makes IEP San Diego unique is Karla Maldonado, IEP San Diego’s founder and only Special Education Advocate.

Karla has first-hand experience in dealing with the Special Education process as she is the parent of children who require Special Education services. Because of their struggles and having been trained in Special Education Advocacy she decided to help other parents and caregivers through the complex world of understanding and obtaining appropriate special education services for their children, doing so first through another firm specializing in Special Education Advocacy and now through IEP San Diego.

She has specialized training in many areas related to her clients’ Special Education needs, including Social Emotional Learning, Social Thinking, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dyslexia, Early Intervention, Behavioral Therapy, Mental Health Services and ADHD.

Karla is passionate about supporting San Diego families during their child's educational journey.

Read more about Karla

How much will this cost me?

Our fees are based on the time spent working on your matter. A retainer is charged up front when we accept a new client. The retainer is applied toward the time spent in the matter. Invoices are issued to our clients on a monthly basis showing when and what was done in their matter.