Expert IEP review and advocacy support from someone who's been on both sides of the table—as a special education teacher and as a parent navigating the system for her own child.
Merrie spent 8+ years as a special education teacher. She knows what schools won't tell you—and what they're legally required to provide.
You're not just a case number. We advocate for your child's unique needs while respecting your family's values and capacity.
We don't just read your IEP—we identify red flags, highlight immediate concerns, and prepare you to advocate confidently.
Send us your child's current IEP (or draft IEP if you don't have one yet). We conduct a thorough review looking for red flags, missing services, vague goals, and areas that need immediate attention.
We meet with you to discuss our findings, answer your questions, and create a clear advocacy plan. You'll understand exactly what to ask for and how to navigate upcoming meetings.
Need help preparing for meetings, drafting emails, or attending IEP meetings with you? We offer ongoing advocacy support as needed.
"Having Merrie Weekly help me with being an advocate, for my child's IEP was eye-opening and exponentially, amazing and helpful because she had knowledge of what it was like behind the teachers point of view to help me as a parent understand the needs and the deficits during his IEP and what he needed to help my child get the services he was supposed to have and needed. She was patient, kind, understanding and very knowledgeable. I highly recommend her and this foundation."
— Michelle Brown
An IEP review is a thorough analysis of your child's Individualized Education Program document. We examine goals, services, accommodations, and placement to identify gaps, red flags, and areas that need immediate attention. Our review ensures your child's IEP is legally compliant and truly meets their needs.
The IEP Review ($200) includes: thorough analysis of your child's IEP document identifying red flags and gaps, written summary of findings and recommendations, 60-90 minute strategy session to discuss findings and create your advocacy plan, and clear next steps for upcoming meetings. This is a complete package to equip you with knowledge and confidence.
Ongoing advocacy support ($100/hour, as needed) includes: preparation for upcoming IEP meetings, attending IEP meetings with you (virtually or in person), drafting emails or requests to the school, reviewing new documents or proposed changes, and follow-up support after meetings. You choose when and how much support you need—there's no long-term commitment.
We can help! If your child is in the evaluation process or you're preparing for an initial IEP meeting, we can review evaluation reports, help you understand what services to request, and prepare you to advocate effectively from the start.
Yes! Many parents choose ongoing advocacy support, which includes meeting preparation, attending IEP meetings with you (in person or virtually), and follow-up support. This is available at $100/hour after your initial review.
An IEP advocate (like Merrie) helps you navigate the IEP process, review documents, prepare for meetings, and communicate with schools. Advocates cannot provide legal advice or represent you in due process hearings—that requires a special education attorney. Most families start with advocacy support, and we'll let you know if your situation requires legal counsel.
Even with cooperative schools, an advocate ensures nothing is missed. Schools have legal and budgetary constraints that may limit what they offer—even when they want to help. An advocate helps you understand what's legally required versus what's optional, so you can make informed decisions.
Merrie has been on both sides of the IEP table—as a special education teacher for 8+ years and as a parent of a child with Level 3 autism. She knows what schools are required to provide, what they often don't disclose, and how to advocate without damaging your relationship with your child's team.
Most families invest around $500 total for comprehensive IEP advocacy support. This typically includes the initial $200 IEP Review (with written findings and strategy session) plus 3-4 hours of ongoing support at $100/hour for meeting prep and attendance. You choose the level of support that fits your family—there's no long-term commitment.
Get an IEP review if: your child just received their first IEP, you're preparing for an annual review, you're concerned services aren't working, your child is transitioning (preschool to elementary, elementary to middle school, etc.), or you feel overwhelmed by the IEP process.
Send us your child's current IEP document (or draft IEP). If available, also send recent evaluation reports, progress reports, and any correspondence with the school about concerns. The more context we have, the more thorough our review will be.
Get a thorough IEP review and strategic advocacy support from someone who understands both the system and your journey as a parent.
Most reviews completed within 3-5 business days