Michelle’s Special Education Advocacy
Services and Coaching Packages
Advocate With Calm And Get The Results Needed.
If your child’s needs are being ignored, you are not overreacting. If your gut says something is wrong, you are probably right.
I help parents of children with IEPs and 504 plans—no matter the diagnosis or unique learning needs—cut through delays and excuses, using a calm but firm approach to ensure your child’s needs are met without getting lost in “wait and see” meetings.
While I specialize in sensory processing, ADHD, autism, and executive functioning challenges, I support all families seeking clear, confident advocacy so their child can thrive in school.
Discover What Sets Me Apart!
I am a Master IEP Coach® with over five years of professional and personal experience.
I don’t just show up at meetings. I help you decode your child’s needs, prepare your advocacy strategy together, and walk with you every step of the way so you can stop second-guessing and start seeing progress. I don't believe in speaking on behalf of the parents, but I will ensure your voice is heard with a partnership.
Part of the Master IEP Coach®️ Network.
As a Master IEP Coach®️, I have real-time access to a national network of professionals, including Psychologists, Speech-language pathologists, Occupational therapists, and other experts who are involved in the IEP process. As fellow Master IEP Coaches, we share the latest best practices in special education through daily internal communications and Professional development within our network weekly. While collaborating with you, I can leverage my network to gain additional professional insights, explanations of evaluations, and strategic guidance. This ensures you receive the most informed and up-to-date advocacy possible, all while maintaining your child’s confidentiality.
You can view my network listing on the Master IEP Coach®️ Directory for transparency and reassurance.
In-Person and Remote Services
Michelle proudly serves families and districts across the nation from Oscoda, MI.
Michelle is in-person for IEP Meetings and Coaching within a 100-mile radius of Iosco County, MI, while virtual services are accessible nationwide.
How My Advocacy Packages Work
(Please read this once — it applies to every package below)
My advocacy services are built around clarity, coaching, and collaboration. While each package includes a set number of hours, not everything uses those hours.
-
Every package includes a one-time comprehensive document review at no additional cost.
This review is the foundation of my work and allows me to fully understand your child’s educational history before any meetings or strategy planning begins.
This review may include:
Current and prior IEPs or 504 Plans
Evaluation reports (educational, psychological, OT, speech, etc.)
Review of services rendered, goals, accommodations, and modifications
Identification of gaps in data, services, or compliance
Review of IEP wording and alignment between needs, goals, and services
When a student is approaching reevaluation, I may review records going back up to three years to identify patterns, missed data, or areas that need updating.
This document review typically takes 3–4 hours and includes written notes.
It is included in every package and does not deduct from your hourly balance. -
Your package hours are used for active advocacy and coaching, including:
Meeting Preparation
This includes:Preparing parent input statements
Identifying what needs to be addressed at the IEP table
Reviewing classroom or teacher input
Reviewing IEP drafts before meetings
Email communication with the school
Strategy planning to keep meetings productive and focused
-
Meeting attendance is always optional and occurs only at the parent’s request.
Attendance may be in person or virtual (Google Meet, Zoom, etc.)
Each meeting attended uses 1 hour from your package
Travel time does not count toward hours
In-person and virtual attendance are billed the same
Each package includes a different number of meeting hours.
Higher-tier packages allow for attendance at more meetings.If additional meetings are requested after package hours are used, meetings may be added at $150 per meeting.
-
The following are included at no charge:
Pre-meeting and post-meeting debriefs
Strategy reflections after meetings
Quick clarifying questions related to ongoing advocacy work
Parent rights explained
These supports are built into my services to ensure you are not left guessing or overwhelmed.
-
When I attend meetings, I am a member of the IEP team, supporting collaborative discussion and clarity.
I am not legal counsel
I do not replace the parent
The parent retains final decision-making authority at all times
At a parent’s request, I may communicate with the school or submit documents on your behalf.
When this occurs:A FERPA release is provided to the district as required by law
The parent is always present for verbal communication
The parent is CC’d on all written communication
My role is to support, guide, and advocate — never to override the parent’s voice.
-
Every contract is good for One calendar year to date of the beginning of the contract date.
Advocacy Package Options
Each package offers a different level of support, not a different quality of service.
The difference is how much guidance and IEP/504 meeting support your family's needs over time.
Each package includes a foundational document review and a set number of hours that may be used for coaching, meeting preparation, and IEP/504 meeting attendance.
Meeting attendance is optional and parent-directed. Each meeting attended uses 1 hour from the package.
$475.oo
Best for parents who need clarity and a plan.
This package is designed for families who are feeling unsure, overwhelmed, or stuck — and need expert guidance to understand what matters most right now.
Choose Calm Start if:
You want a professional review of your child’s educational records
You are preparing for an upcoming IEP or 504 meeting
You need help understanding what to ask for and how to say it
You want clear next steps without committing to ongoing advocacy yet
Includes:
One comprehensive document review (foundation of services)
Meeting preparation and strategy planning
Coaching support to clarify priorities and next steps
Meeting attendance: optional — up to 1 meeting if hours are used for attendance
Direct Voxer/secure messaging for urgent questions
Typical use:
One IEP or 504 meeting or
Document review plus strategy coaching
This package is also appropriate for families who want a document-review-only service.
$750.00
Best for parents who want support before and after an important meeting.
This package provides additional time to prepare, attend, and reflect — so decisions made at the table do not get lost afterward.
Choose Calm Confidence if:
You are heading into a high-stakes IEP or eligibility meeting
You want support implementing what was agreed upon
You want reassurance that follow-up steps are handled correctly
You benefit from guidance across more than one conversation
Includes:
One comprehensive document review
Pre-meeting planning with a clear advocacy strategy
Post-meeting coaching and reflection
Ongoing strategy coaching calls or emails
Meeting attendance: up to 2 meetings
Direct Voxer/secure messaging for urgent questions
Typical use:
Preparation and attendance for two meetings
Or one meeting with extended follow-up and coaching
$950.oo
+$250 for each additional student
Best for families who need consistent advocacy across multiple meetings.
This package is designed for families navigating complex needs, multiple services, or ongoing school challenges.
Choose Ongoing Advocacy if:
Your child’s plan needs repeated revisions or monitoring
You anticipate multiple IEP or support meetings
You want an advocate who understands your case over time
You do not want to start from scratch at every meeting
Includes:
Two comprehensive document reviews
Strategy planning and coaching throughout the year
Email support between meetings
Ongoing coaching and check-ins
Meeting attendance: up to 3 meetings
Direct Voxer/secure messaging for urgent questions
Typical use:
Multiple IEP meetings across the year
Planning, attendance, and follow-up support
$1200.oo
+$250 for each additional student
Best for families who want a longer-term advocacy partnership.
This package allows space for reevaluations, follow-up meetings, and deeper planning without feeling rushed.
Choose Pathway to Progress if:
Your child is approaching reevaluation
You are addressing layered academic, behavioral, or support needs
You want priority access and flexibility
You want support across multiple phases of the school year
Includes:
Two comprehensive document review
Extended strategy planning and advocacy support
Email support between meetings
Ongoing coaching calls and email support
Priority scheduling
Meeting attendance: up to 4 meetings
Direct Voxer/secure messaging for urgent questions
Typical use:
Reevaluations or multi-phase planning
Several meetings plus continued coaching
$1700.oo
Unlimited Hours
+$400 for each additional student
Best for families who need high-touch, ongoing advocacy without limits.
This package is designed for urgent, complex, or evolving situations where support may be needed frequently.
Choose VIP Advocacy if:
Your child’s needs are significant or rapidly changing
You want consistent access to guidance
You prefer not to track hours or limits
You want an advocate fully integrated into your case
Includes:
Multiple comprehensive document reviews
Unlimited coaching, strategy sessions, and email support
Meeting attendance: unlimited IEP/504 meetings (virtual or in person)
Priority scheduling for all services
Direct Voxer/secure messaging
Consistent, high-level guidance whenever issues arise
From Confusion to Confidence — In Their Words
What’s Included in Every Package
(Applies to all advocacy packages)
-
I help you understand what is included in your child’s plan, what may be missing, and whether supports are aligned with your child’s current needs. This ensures conversations at the IEP table are grounded in data and clarity rather than confusion or pressure.
-
Evaluations drive eligibility, services, goals, and placement decisions — but many parents are handed reports without clear explanations of what the data actually means or how it should be used.
I review your child’s evaluations to determine:
Whether the assessments fully capture your child’s needs
What the data does — and does not — show
Whether results align with your child’s classroom experience
If key areas were overlooked, under-assessed, or interpreted too narrowly
When evaluation data is incomplete, outdated, or does not clearly explain your child’s challenges, I guide you through next steps. This may include support with:
Requesting additional assessments
Clarifying eligibility questions
Identifying when outside or independent evaluations may be appropriate
Preparing language and documentation to support evaluation-related requests
My role is to help you understand the evaluations you already have, recognize when more information is needed, and use data strategically — so decisions about your child’s services are grounded in clarity, not assumptions.
-
Behavior plans are meant to support a child — not control them, punish them, or simply manage behavior on paper. Unfortunately, many families are handed BIPs that are reactive, generic, or disconnected from the child’s actual needs.
I review Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) to determine whether the plan truly reflects why a behavior is occurring and whether the strategies being used are appropriate, proactive, and skill-building.
This support includes:
Reviewing the FBA to ensure behavior is accurately defined, data-driven, and interpreted correctly
Identifying whether the proposed interventions match the function of the behavior
Noting gaps between what is written in the plan and what is realistic or supportive in the classroom
Identifying when behavior is being treated as a compliance issue rather than a signal of unmet needs
When concerns are identified, I help parents understand what questions to ask, what language to use, and how to advocate for adjustments that better support regulation, communication, and skill development. This may include advocating for changes to strategies, supports, data collection methods, or alignment with the child’s IEP goals and services.
My role is not to design or implement behavior therapy, but to ensure that behavior plans used in school are appropriate, ethical, aligned with your child’s educational needs, and focused on long-term success — not short-term control.
-
When a child is struggling at school, discipline is often the first response — even when the behavior is directly connected to unmet needs, disability-related challenges, or gaps in supports. This can leave parents feeling blamed, pressured, or unsure of how to respond.
I help parents understand how school discipline, behavior incidents, suspensions, and staff responses connect to their child’s IEP or 504 protections. My role is to help you make sense of what is happening, determine whether the school’s response is appropriate, and prepare you to advocate calmly and effectively for your child.
This support includes:
Reviewing discipline patterns and incident history to identify concerns or trends
Helping parents understand when behavior may be related to disability and unmet needs
Clarifying how IEPs and 504 Plans should guide school responses to behavior
Strengthening parent input so concerns are documented clearly and accurately
Preparing talking points and questions that keep conversations focused on support, not blame
When disciplinary action escalates, I also support families through more formal processes. This includes preparation for and attendance at Manifestation Determination Review (MDR) meetings when applicable. I help parents understand the purpose of the MDR, what must be considered, what questions matter, and how to ensure the discussion stays grounded in the child’s disability, data, and educational supports.
My goal is not to create conflict with the school, but to ensure that discipline decisions are thoughtful, appropriate, and aligned with your child’s rights and needs. Parents should never feel alone or reactive when navigating discipline — and this support helps you stay grounded, informed, and focused on solutions.
-
Coaching is the heart of my services. Package hours are primarily used to:
Teach parents how to advocate effectively for their child
Explain parent rights in clear, usable language
Support respectful, productive communication with school teams
Rewrite or draft emails and parent input statements
Prepare for meetings without escalating conflict
My goal is to build your confidence so you are not dependent on advocacy support long-term.
-
I prepare you ahead of meetings by reviewing drafts, clarifying priorities, and identifying what needs to be addressed at the table. After meetings, we reflect together to confirm what was agreed upon, identify next steps, and adjust strategy as needed.
Pre- and post-meeting debriefs and strategy reflections are included at no additional charge.
-
Meeting attendance is always optional.
Attendance may be in person or virtual (Google Meet, Zoom, etc.)
Each meeting attended uses 1 hour from your package
Travel time does not count toward hours
Virtual and in-person attendance are billed the same
Each package includes a different number of meetings
Additional meetings beyond package hours are available at $150 per meeting
-
At a parent’s request, I may submit documents or communicate directly with the school district. When this occurs:
A FERPA release is provided to the district as required by law
The parent is always present for verbal communication
The parent is CC’d on all written communication
I support collaboration and clarity while ensuring the parent remains fully informed and involved.
-
Have a quick question before sending an email? Need help understanding a report or unfamiliar terminology? You have access to support so you can move forward with clarity rather than overwhelm.
Voxer is your information dump and thinking space — not a place where you need to have the perfect words.
Parents use Voxer to share what is happening in real time so important details are not lost, minimized, or forgotten. You can send messages as things come up, whether that is an email from the school, notes from a meeting, concerns from your child’s day, or questions you are not quite sure how to ask yet.
This support includes:
Asking quick questions before responding to school emails
Sharing reports, drafts, or meeting notes that need clarification
Talking through confusing language, recommendations, or next steps
Brain-dumping concerns so they can be organized into clear advocacy points
You do not need to filter, edit, or organize your thoughts before reaching out. Voxer allows you to get information out of your head and into a place where it can be reviewed, clarified, and turned into a plan.
My role is to help you make sense of what you are seeing, hearing, and experiencing — so you can communicate calmly, confidently, and with purpose.
You do not need to have everything figured out before booking.
If you are unsure which package fits your situation, we will decide together.
CONTACT MICHELLE TODAY!!