About Stephanie:

First and foremost, I am the parent of 4 wonderful children, one of whom has Autism/PDD.

Due to my own son's disability,I have been navigating the special education system since 1995. I 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 and The SEAT(Special Education Advocate Training) Program. 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 conferences, 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), and several ASD list servs including Autism Society of America, Autism Speaks, 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.

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 have 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 the Federal and State laws pertaining to special education.
  
  
• 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.