Special Education Advocacy & Support

“Heather is no-nonsense when it comes to helping kids. She got right to the heart of our concerns and helped us advocate properly for our son. There was no question or concern I had that she could not address well beyond my expectations! Our family is so grateful!”

—CP, Former Consulting Client

Special Education Advocacy & Support

Some families and schools find their way to me not through a coaching engagement, but through a specific need or referral — a child who isn't being seen, a team is not supporting all children inclusively, or an ARD meeting coming up that feels overwhelming.

My consulting work is local and designed for Austin-area families and teams. It draws on my background of speech-language pathology and years of experience as a STEM instructional coach, special education teacher, and advocate inside Austin schools. I bring that expertise to parents, teachers, and teaching teams navigating the places where child development, school systems, and family life intersect.

This is as-needed, responsive work. If something here resonates, reach out and we'll figure out together whether I'm the right fit.

Contact Heather →

  • I work with:

    • Parents at home who want to better understand their child's behavior, communication, or development — and feel more confident in how they respond.

    • Parents at school who need support preparing for a meeting with their child's education team, advocating for their child's needs, or building a plan they can actually use.

    • Teaching teams who want to design learning environments where every student can participate meaningfully — and who are ready to think differently about inclusion, behavior, and communication.

  • Flexible, expert advice when you need it. Book hourly support across a range of topics—from IEP planning to disability resource support or school problem-solving. This focused consultation will help clarify your goals, map out next steps, and identify opportunities.

  • How it works

    An initial conversation is always free — it's how we figure out whether this is the right fit and what you actually need.

    Most clients find that a month is the right container — the needs that bring people to this work rarely resolve in a single conversation. They require back-and-forth, documents to review, communications to prepare, and someone in their corner as things unfold.

    A one-month engagement includes two one-hour consulting sessions, phone check-ins as needed, and text and email support throughout. Depending on your situation, this may also include reviewing records or case documents, drafting or revising communications, and developing proposals or plans for your use — including IEPs or materials for school meetings.

  • Coaching and consulting are different things.

    Coaching assumes you already hold the answers — my job is to help you find them. Consulting is more direct. You bring me a problem, I bring my expertise, and we work toward a solution together. I'm not asking questions to unlock your own insight. I'm drawing on what I know — about systems, about learning, about how schools and organizations actually function — and putting it to work for you.

    My practice started as a tutoring and consulting practice in 2014. Leadership coaching is my primary focus now, though I still take on consulting work with families, educators, and organizational leaders — by referral and word of mouth only. For families and educators navigating special education, I also do this work through ATX116, the educational advocacy organization I co-founded.