Latina Nickelson, Special Education Advocate & IEP Coach

Latina Nickelson, Special Education Advocate & IEP Coach Helping parents navigate special education with confidence! Special Education Advocate & IEP Coach with a heart championing for your child's success. Hey there!

Specializing in ASD, ADHD, Anxiety, and other intellectual disabilities. Welcome to SOAR Educational Advocacy! I'm Latina Nickelson, M.Ed., the heart behind SOAR Educational Advocacy. As an Education Advocate, IEP Coach, and most importantly—a parent who's walked this path—I know firsthand what it's like when schools see your child's challenges but miss their brilliance. I created SOAR because I'v

e sat where you're sitting. That knot in your stomach before IEP meetings? Those calls from school that make your heart sink? Do you feel that you need a law degree to understand what they're saying about your child? I've been there. My mission is simple: to help you transform that frustration into action, especially for Black families whose amazing neurodiverse children get labeled as "problems" instead of being recognized for who they truly are. Whether your child has autism, ADHD, anxiety, learning differences, or you're still searching for answers—you've found a judgment-free zone here. No parent shaming, just practical strategies and genuine support. As a Master IEP Coach® with years of advocacy experience, I blend educational expertise with culturally responsive approaches to help you navigate from chaos to collaboration. What strength does your child have that their school might be missing? Let's make sure they see it, too. You know your child best. Let's work together to make sure their education reflects that truth. What's one small step we can take this week?

Y'all, can we have some real talk about this "neuroaffirming" word that's all over our feeds lately?Don't get me wrong -...
08/04/2025

Y'all, can we have some real talk about this "neuroaffirming" word that's all over our feeds lately?

Don't get me wrong - I LOVE that we're finally talking about this. I love seeing parents share posts about celebrating neurodivergence and honoring different brain types. The awareness is beautiful.

But here's what I'm also seeing: The same neurodivergent traits that get celebrated and accommodated for some children get criminalized and punished for others.

Same neurodivergent brains. Different family backgrounds. Completely different responses from schools.

Y'all, "neuroaffirming" can't just be a trendy hashtag that only works for some of our children. It has to include examining why the same brain differences get treated so differently.

Our children need truly inclusive approaches that see ALL of who they are - their beautiful neurodivergent minds AND their family's values and culture.

School starts soon. Time to make sure "neuroaffirming" means ALL of our children get to belong exactly as they are.

Ready to advocate for truly inclusive support? If you want to ensure your child is seen and supported for all of who they are, DM me "CONSULT" and let's talk.

3 weeks until school starts" showed up on my feed yesterday.Know that pit-in-your-stomach feeling that comes with it? Pa...
07/28/2025

3 weeks until school starts" showed up on my feed yesterday.

Know that pit-in-your-stomach feeling that comes with it? Part excitement, part dread, part "what if this year is just like last year?"

Here's what I've learned after years of walking this path with families: You don't have to have everything figured out before the first day.

The truth they don't tell you about back-to-school prep:
Your child's "readiness" for school isn't the question. It's whether school is ready for your child, meaning, do they have the supports, understanding, and legal compliance in place?

You can't prevent every challenge. But you can be ready to advocate when they come up. There's a difference between hoping this year will be better and having the tools to make it better.

What actually matters before school starts:
👉 Reviewing your current IEP for gaps (not perfection)
👉 Practicing your advocacy language
👉 Having your support system in place

Everything else? You'll figure it out together with people who understand this journey.
Your child belongs in that building. They deserve appropriate support. And they have you as their advocate.

That's not hoping. That's your child's education.

What's your biggest back-to-school concern right now? Drop it in the comments - chances are, you're not the only one feeling this way.

Y'all, we need to talk about something important. 💙With 7.5 MILLION children currently receiving special education servi...
07/21/2025

Y'all, we need to talk about something important.

💙With 7.5 MILLION children currently receiving special education services in the US, demand for advocacy has exploded. That's 1 in every 7 students needing support that schools often can't provide.

This isn't about talking bad about anybody - there are amazing advocates out there doing incredible work. But with this shortage of quality support, some well-meaning people are jumping in without the depth families deserve.

Here's what nobody's telling you:
The advocacy field is exploding - and that's bringing some folks who mean well but aren't ready for the weight of your child's future. I'm seeing "advocates" pop up daily with Gmail addresses and weekend training certificates, claiming they've "helped hundreds of families" but have never actually run a business or understood the long-term impact of their advice.

Red flags to watch for:
🚨 Still using Gmail for business (says they haven't invested in the business side)
🚨 Can't tell you WHO trained them, WHEN, or for HOW LONG
🚨 Talk about IDEA law but can't explain how it connects to your child's daily life
🚨 Never ask about YOUR family's values, culture, or long-term dreams

Here's what they don't tell you:
Advocacy isn't regulated. Anyone can call themselves an advocate tomorrow. But your child isn't a practice round. The advocate you choose should understand your WHOLE journey - not just quote laws, but know what success looks like in YOUR home, with YOUR values, facing YOUR specific challenges.

Your child deserves someone who sees their cultural strengths, not obstacles to overcome. Someone who knows "making progress" isn't enough when your child is capable of so much more.
Comment "TRUTH" if this resonates, and I'll send you my "5 Questions to Ask Any Advocate Before You Hire Them" guide.

Because your child's right to an education isn't negotiable. ✊What questions do you wish you'd known to ask? Let's help each other navigate this. 👇

Y'all want to know what REALLY grinds my gears? LOLA mama sent me her son's ESY "progress report" yesterday. One paragra...
07/14/2025

Y'all want to know what REALLY grinds my gears? LOL

A mama sent me her son's ESY "progress report" yesterday. One paragraph. ONE. PARAGRAPH. For 6 weeks of summer services.
It said: "Student participated in activities and showed improvement."

PARTICIPATED? SHOWED IMPROVEMENT?
That's not data, that's a fortune cookie!

Here's what the school hopes you don't know: They are LEGALLY REQUIRED to collect actual data during ESY. Not feelings. Not vibes. DATA.

How many times did he successfully complete the task?
What percentage of accuracy?
With what level of support?
Compared to what baseline?

Because here's the truth bomb they don't want you to catch: Without ESY data, they can claim your child doesn't need services. "Look, he maintained skills over summer!" they'll say in September.

But if you have REAL data showing he needed daily support to maintain those skills? That's your golden ticket to appropriate services.

Your move: Email your child's ESY teacher TODAY. Say this:
"I need all data collected during ESY, including daily data sheets, work samples, and progress monitoring forms. Please provide within 5 school days."

Watch how fast they scramble to "find" that data they "forgot" to send home.

Who else got a worthless ESY summary? Drop a 🙋‍♀️ below. Let's expose this pattern.

The NPU Mobilized in June - Here's What's Next TonightFollowing the National Parent Union's mobilization in June, we're ...
07/10/2025

The NPU Mobilized in June - Here's What's Next Tonight

Following the National Parent Union's mobilization in June, we're gathering again to address what's coming next.

Join families, educators, and community leaders tonight for a virtual town hall to learn about the impacts of the reconciliation bill and how to participate in the movement to retain billions in public education funding.

Why this matters for everyone in education:
If general education funding faces cuts, what happens to special education dollars that are already inadequately funded?

As someone who works directly with families navigating special education systems, I see parents paying thousands out of pocket for services that schools should be providing. When general education budgets are slashed, special education services are often the first and hardest impacted.

Our students' rightful access to appropriate education doesn't disappear because of political budget decisions. But we need to understand the landscape and how we advocate effectively together.

NOT ONE STEP BACK
Virtual Education Town Hall
Tonight, July 10 @ 6PM ET
RSVP: bit.ly/NotOneStepBack

This affects every family, educator, and professional working to ensure students get the education they deserve.

Let's show up informed and ready to protect what our students need.



What questions are you bringing to tonight's discussion?

This is NOT the time to just sit back because the big UGLY - I mean beautiful - bill passed. It's time to speak to your ...
07/09/2025

This is NOT the time to just sit back because the big UGLY - I mean beautiful - bill passed. It's time to speak to your local government!

Real talk: While we're fighting for our individual kids in IEP meetings and 504 plans, they're coming for ALL our kids by withholding $6.8 BILLION in education funding.

This isn't just about special education. This affects:
* Teacher training and support
* Programs for English learners
* School safety initiatives
* After-school care
* Technology and enrichment programs

The same Department of Education that we depend on to enforce our kids' rights is now withholding the very funds that support those programs.

Do you know what this is? It's an attack on public education disguised as bureaucracy.

Our kids - ALL our kids - deserve every dollar Congress approved for their education. Not some of it. Not eventually. NOW.

This mama isn't staying quiet. Are you with me?

Call your Governor. Share this post. Don't stay silent!

Y'all, I had a conversation last week that's still sitting with me.A mama called me in tears after her son's IEP meeting...
07/07/2025

Y'all, I had a conversation last week that's still sitting with me.

A mama called me in tears after her son's IEP meeting. Know what they told her? "He just needs more structure."

I asked her what that meant specifically. Silence. Then: "Well, they moved his desk closer to the teacher."

"Deep breath"

Friends, that's not structure. That's surveillance.
Here's what I've learned in my years of advocacy work: When schools say, "Your child needs more structure," they often mean one of these things:

→ Your child's behavior is inconvenient for us
→ We don't understand how their brain works
→ We're avoiding our legal obligation to provide real supports

Real structure? That looks like visual schedules that help your child navigate their day. Clear expectations paired with the tools to meet them. Predictable routines with flexibility built in for when life happens.

Real structure honors how your child learns best. It doesn't ask them to become someone else to belong in that classroom.

Your child belongs there - period. They don't need to hide who they are to earn their spot.

Drop a 💙 if you've heard this "structure" line before. Let's talk about what they really mean - and what you can say back.

Because you deserve clarity, not code words.

That school psychologist who told me my grandbaby would 'never learn' still gets me fired up. Same energy I'm feeling ri...
07/06/2025

That school psychologist who told me my grandbaby would 'never learn' still gets me fired up. Same energy I'm feeling right now. Time to channel this anger into action - document everything, know our rights, and protect each other's babies. What made you realize you had to switch up your fight?"

06/19/2025

Today we celebrate Juneteenth - a reminder that freedom delayed is not freedom denied.

When someone tells you "your child won't learn," they're using the same playbook that once declared entire communities weren't capable of freedom, education, or self-determination. The assumption that some children are inherently "less than" echoes the same thinking that Juneteenth helps us remember we've overcome before.

Every day, I see families fighting for their children with hidden disabilities to be seen, heard, and valued in schools. Too often, we're told to accept limitations, lower expectations, and be grateful for scraps. But what if we approached advocacy the way our ancestors approached freedom - with unwavering belief in human potential?

Your child's right to belong, to learn, to thrive isn't something schools grant as a favor. It's theirs by birthright. Just like freedom wasn't something to be earned - it was something to be claimed.
When I coordinate services for families, I'm reminded that liberation happens in community. We don't advocate alone. We don't accept "that's just how things are." We don't let others define our children's potential.

What if this Juneteenth, we recommitted to rejecting every "won't learn" and claiming our children's rightful place in every educational space they enter?

How are you celebrating your child's inherent right to excellence today? Share in the comments - let's build community around the truth that our children have always been capable of more than others imagine.

🔗 Ready to move from accepting limitations to claiming rightful space? Let's talk about your child's advocacy journey.

The harsh words of a school professional who claimed my "Big Little" wouldn't learn felt like a punch to the gut. 💔 As h...
06/17/2025

The harsh words of a school professional who claimed my "Big Little" wouldn't learn felt like a punch to the gut. 💔 As his grandmother and guardian, this not only shocked me but ignited a fire within me to advocate for those facing similar challenges.

Through perseverance, we transformed our Chaos into Collaboration, proving that every child can thrive with the right support. 🌟

Now, I help other families navigate the complexities of special education, guiding them on how to advocate for their children's unique needs. Together, we can change the narrative

"To the dads who show up to every IEP meeting, who research therapies at midnight, who become fierce advocates when thei...
06/15/2025

"To the dads who show up to every IEP meeting, who research therapies at midnight, who become fierce advocates when their child needs them most... 👨‍👧‍👦

Your voice matters. Your perspective is needed at that table. Your love for your child is a superpower in disguise.

Some of you are doing this on your own. Some of you are working in pairs. Some of you are step-dads who chose this journey. All of you are changing your child's world.

Fathers in our community: What's one thing you wish schools understood better about supporting dads in the advocacy process?

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Detroit, MI

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