About Us...

Stephanie L. LeBlanc:

First and foremost, I am the
parent of 4 wonderful children,
one of which has Autism/PDD.
I have been navigating the special education system since 1995. Due to my own son's disability, I also have personal expertise in Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders involving diagnosis, treatment, education, various therapies and management as well.

I received my advocacy training from the Federation for Children with Special Needs. To stay current within the field, I have attended numerous national and local disability/advocacy conferences including the COPAA (Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys) Conference, Wrightslaw Training, Mass Families Organizing for Change Leadership Series, the Federation for Children with Special Needs conference, SPAN (Special Needs Advocacy Network) workshops and many others regarding legal and advocacy issues surrounding special education law.

I am on multiple disability and advocacy list servs including: COPAA (Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys), COSEP (Coalition of Special Education Parents), several ASD list servs including Autism Society of America, Autism Speaks/NAAR, IRSA (International Rett Syndrome Association), groups pertaining to IEP development, Autism and Aspergers parent support. I continue to share and learn from other parents, professionals and volunteers through all of these wonderful resources to date.

Finally, I am not an attorney or educator, however I do have training and knowledge in these areas due to the extensive experience I have working with the wonderful organizations I have mentioned above and due to the research I’ve conducted in order to help my clients and my own child.

Guiding Principles:

• To enable parents to take their rightful place as equal members of their child’s educational Team.
  
  
• To maintain a cooperative, professional and courteous meeting atmosphere that encourages the entire team to stay focused on your child’s educational needs.
  
  
• To ensure that your child is being provided with an educational program that is not just appropriate, but that truly meets his or her unique individualized needs.
  
  
• To foster a positive and collaborative working relationship with schools and school districts to the maximum extent possible while holding school districts accountable to the Federal and State laws that has been put in place to protect your child.
  
  
• To continue to attend workshops, conferences, trainings and continuing education programs to stay current within the field.
  
  
• To use my knowledge of:
  
  
  • Rehabilitation Action of 1973
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA)
  • No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
  • MGLA chapter 71B
  • Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
    to better advocate for your child.
    
    
• To use my experience as a parent of a child on the Autism Spectrum to understand, guide and support parents of children with Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders, (PDD-NOS, Rett Syndrome, Asperger Syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder) while they navigate the complexities of Special Education laws.