HOW I CAN HELP

My grassroots career in education advocacy began after my second child was diagnosed with Autism in 2001. Support groups were not a very good match for me at that time because I'd walk away trying to find answers to help everyone, yet I needed to figure out for my own family. Becoming an educated consumer is what worked best for me. I love going to conferences and learning from experts in the field of developmental disabilities and other health impairments, applied behavior analysis (ABA), education law and advocacy. 

Some of my accomplishments are:

• 2004 New York State Partners in Policymaking Graduate.

• 2006-2007 Completed the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) Special Education Advocacy Training (SEAT) Project (a pilot program to develop a training curriculum for education advocates that consisted of 140 hours of instruction and 115 hours of practicum at Long Island Advocacy Center )

• 2009-2021 Long Island Advocacy Center (LIAC) *Intake coordinator *Education advocate *Parent trainer *Parent coordinator 

 *Co-facilitated LIAC's Family Leadership Training in Lay Advocacy  (under the Federal Parent Training & Information Center PTIC grant).

 Scope of services provided: 1:1 technical support to families regarding rights and procedures under 

IDEA (special education law), Section 504/ ADA (equal access and Americans with Disabilities Act), NCLB (No Child Left Behind), 

NYS Education laws and regulations regarding due process rights in special education, 

transitioning from school to adult services and secondary education, school suspensions,

 district residency disputes, and assisting families at school meetings. 

• Consumer Representative Director to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) for over 10 years cumulative.

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JLC SERVICES 

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EDUCATION ADVOCACY

 I do not "represent" families. We build a partnership. I will guide you on communication, meeting preparation and attendance when requested by my clients. My goal is to work myself out of a job by providing you 

the tools, knowledge and resources to remove barriers.

OPWDD SELF-DIRECTION

I am available for coaching and support for self directed staff and families. 

Funding for these services are under the IDGS budget line and will require approval and clearance  with the FI. 

• Self-Directed Staffing Support: Assistance with scheduling self-hired staff and with assisting the person to complete staffing related paperwork.  
•  Coaching for parent(s), spouse and advocates involved in the person’s self-directed services:  Assist participants and those close to them to achieve goals established in the individual’s service plan