A Special Education Advocate is experienced in combining a knowledge of legal rights with an understanding of how the education system works in order to obtain support for the unique needs of each child based on that child's particular disability. Special Education Advocates are trained professionals. They understand the structure of the Americans with

Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and they can help parents navigate the frequently daunting IEP and 504 processes established under those Acts. They are trained in the art of collaboration, and work to create a team model which includes both the parents and educators, as well as other personnel involved with their child.

Children with special needs are legally entitled to a free and appropriate public education where those needs are suitably accommodated. Many parents, however, are stretched to the limit simply dealing with the day-to-day demands of raising a child with special needs and, for them, the prospect of learning how to translate their child's needs into the language necessary to obtain proper supports from the complex special education system may be overwhelming. They may feel that they cannot afford a lawyer knowledgeable about special needs, or they may think that dealing with certain educational issues is not necessarily a lawyer's job. That’s where a special education advocate can help.