I know what it feels like to be in your shoes.
First and foremost, I am a mother of two amazing boys. I am also the mother of a child with special needs. I advocated for my younger son for over 11 years from early intervention Child Find to IEP development to placement decisions and more. I know the strain of stepping into an IEP meeting and having to take the lead with two very different but important roles: Parent and Advocate. Indeed, they are very different.
I am dedicated to Educational Advocacy and Life Coaching because I want to be the resource I needed when I was in the IEP trenches.
I not only have lived experience as a parent, but I also have extensive training in educational advocacy, grief and life coaching. Furthermore, I bring 27 years of professional experience that includes navigating heavily regulated environments, leading/mentoring teams, negotiating challenging concepts and driving toward success.
Instead of following a script or "this is how we've always done it," I take a child-first approach to achieving the right outcomes for your children, leveraging all of the resources that are available. Educational needs and managing life are not linear - let me help you chart your path.
You can find more about my approach and philosophy in this blog post.
How I Help
Supportive partnership for your family's unique path.
Navigating the Path Forward Together
Raising a child with special needs and managing school requirements can feel like traversing a landscape without a map. My work is dedicated to providing you with that map—combining expert education advocacy with holistic coaching to support both your child’s learning and your family’s overall well-being. By using a collaborative and resourceful approach, we focus on what matters most: achieving your child's educational needs and your family's confidence and joy.
- Educational Advocacy and Representation: I partner with you throughout the IEP/504 process including:
- Developing a near and long-term strategy to achieve your child's educational goals and life objectives
- IEP/504 Plan documentation and development
- Representing your interests and negotiating during IEP/504 Plan school meetings
- Support navigating significant events such as reevaluations, behavior intervention, seclusion/restraint, Independent Education Evaluations, placement decisions, mediation, etc.
- Life Coaching: Holistic support to build your clarity, balance daily challenges, and embrace new possibilities. I offer coaching when
- A diagnosis feels overwhelming
- Finding joy or balance in life feels elusive
- Parents need to feel empowered to advocate for their children
- Collaborative Partnership: A strategic, team-oriented approach focused on long-term success for your unique family path
How We Work Together
No path is identical. And life with a child that has special needs is constantly evolving. My philosophy is to meet you exactly where you are today and navigate with you.
Parents may need situational support, just someone they can reach out to as needed (for help understanding what the heck a term means or sanity check). Or they may need full advocacy when the stakes are high. I can help.
Whether your child's educational situation is under control or up in the air, life can be challenging when a child has unique needs. We often neglect our own self-care when fighting for our children. That's where life coaching can help. It may sound cliche, but this aligns very well to the airline guidance "you need to put your oxygen mask on first before you can help others."
The best place to start is with an initial discovery call. It's at no cost to you. We will discuss your child's situation and goals, my approach, services that I offer, the process and costs. At the end of this consultation, you'll have information needed to move forward with confidence.
My services include
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As needed educational advocacy,
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Full IEP/504 Plan support,
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Representation at school meetings and communications,
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Strategy sessions and documentation review,
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Parent empowerment (giving you the knowledge and skills to advocate for your child),
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Life coaching to realize that life can be joyful and rewarding in spite of challenges.
My pricing approach
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Billed as needed advocacy (in 15-minute increments) with a retainer - this option lowers financial commitment and caps costs so there aren't runaway expenses,
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Fixed price plans for strategy sessions and full IEP/504 Plan support - clearly understand the costs up front,
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Hourly billing rate for coaching, no minimum number of visits - you are in control of how many coaching sessions will help you achieve your personal goals.
If you decide that working with me will support your goals (usually after the discovery call), I will provide you with the following:
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An advocacy and/or coaching agreement to guide our engagement,
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A link for securely capturing and sharing documents related to your child's educational needs,
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A vision for what is possible related to your child's education and your well-being,
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A clear understanding of the costs and how you will be invoiced,
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A calendar link for you to schedule additional sessions.
Still not sure, please reach out to us here.
Our Services
- 450 US dollars
- 175 US dollars
Frequently asked questions
Contact Us
Ways to reach us:
• Use the Contact Us form in this section
• Reach out for general inquiries to amanda@wewillfindaway.com
• Contact our lead advocate and coach, Amanda Foster at:
- Email: amanda@wewillfindaway.com
- Phone: 540-207-9129