I have long been an advocate for people with disabilities; beginning in High School and culminating with my time as a Special Education Teacher, but my real motivation and passion ultimately came when my first child was diagnosed in second grade with ADHD and a significant Non-Verbal LD. I was a young mother with very little support from the school system my child was in, and very little knowledge or understanding of my son’s needs/rights. I made it my mission to learn everything I could about ADHD and LD, and became overnight, an advocate for my child because I had to.

I found out much later that my son had a high functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder. Parenting a child with multiple learning exceptionalities, while simultaneously working inside the school system has helped me to connect on a different level with parents who find themselves in similar circumstances. I was no longer just another professional, I was someone who knew and understood what they were living. In addition to my experience as a parent, I have earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education, with an emphasis on Developmental Psychology and Education, and I have attained Specialist qualifications in Special Education. I was a teacher in the GTA for over 20 years, in both classroom and special education roles. Additionally, I volunteered with the Learning Disabilities Association of York Region, facilitating parents’ groups and ultimately completing my accreditation as a Resource Facilitator. Upon my retirement I decided to combine these abilities and experience in an effort to help other parents who are struggling to understand the labyrinth that is the system of serving our most vulnerable students in school.

I have met many parents who lack awareness or understanding of how the school system works, and what their children’s rights are. I became committed to working with them and explaining everything from the assessment process, through to the IPRC, placement options and beyond, to their child’s IEP and how the school was supporting them so they could make the best of their learning environment.

MISSION STATEMENT

My goal is to empower parents. Arming parents with information about their child’s learning needs and all the options available, is to give them a voice in a place that can sometimes be intimidating and confusing. In the end, the only thing louder than a parent’s voice, is the voice of their child. An informed parent can work with their child to become a self-advocate, as the child’s voice is ultimately the most powerful, in a system that revolves around them.

Remember that your kids come first!