by Valerie Aprahamien | Oct 30, 2023 | Tip of the Week
On all my posts and articles that I write as an advocate, my closing salutation is consistently, “Cheering you on always!” Why? Because I want to be your biggest cheerleader. To offer you emotional and educational support to keep going. I want to acknowledge,...
by Valerie Aprahamien | Sep 19, 2023 | Tip of the Week
If you’ve been following me for a while, you probably have heard me talk about the crucial role that evaluations play in the development of your child’s special education program. In this article, you will learn how assessments/evaluations are used in the...
by Valerie Aprahamien | Sep 5, 2023 | Tip of the Week
Did you know that every child on an IEP or 504 is protected against disability-based discrimination, retaliation, and bullying? There are two categories of law that protect your child against disability discrimination: discrimination laws and special education laws....
by Valerie Aprahamien | Aug 22, 2023 | Tip of the Week
Why is it necessary for parents to learn how to create a legal paper trail? Because the IEP is a legal process, it is founded upon documentation. The IEP is a legally binding contract, and the school district is obligated to implement exactly what is written in the...
by Valerie Aprahamien | Aug 8, 2023 | Tip of the Week
Progress on goals is an important guide for parents to determine if their child is learning and making educational progress from year to year. The problem is that most parents don’t know how to hold their team accountable to ensure their child is making real progress...
by Valerie Aprahamien | Jul 25, 2023 | Tip of the Week
Let’s talk about what I call “uncensored advocacy” which means, being a professional advocate doesn’t limit what I can say or can’t say about the school district, and I don’t believe that I must be politically correct to still be considered as a respected advocate....
by Valerie Aprahamien | Jul 6, 2023 | Tip of the Week
IDEA entitles your child to receive an appropriate education, but how do you know whether or not your child’s IEP is sufficient to meet their needs? Please understand, what we’ve witnessed happen all too many times is that parents, uninformed of their federal and...
by Valerie Aprahamien | Jun 20, 2023 | Services
Parents, it is quite possible that your child was unlawfully denied ESY. Read this article so you can become educated on the true requirements for your child to be found eligible for ESY. ESY (Extended School Year) services are individualized special education and/or...
by Valerie Aprahamien | Jun 6, 2023 | Tip of the Week
Parents always ask, should I request an IEP or a 504? IEPs and 504s are both designed to provide accommodations for a student with disabilities but there’s a big difference between the two. The IEP is driven by IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,...
by Valerie Aprahamien | May 23, 2023 | Tip of the Week
It is common for parents to feel their child’s special education program is not working. Their child may show a lack of progress, problematic behavior escalation, or just feel unheard during IEP meetings. This article focuses on the basics of IDEA, federal law, which...
