What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 2pm Wednesday 9am - 2pm Friday 9am - 2pm

Latina Nickelson, Special Education Advocate & IEP Coach

Home
United States
Detroit, MI
Latina Nickelson, Special Education Advocate & IEP Coach

Helping families navigate special education with confidence. IEPs, 504s & transition planning through collaborative, strengths-based advocacy. Hey there!

Your child's spot isn't up for debate. From Chaos to Collaboration℠ Welcome to SOAR Educational Services! I'm Latina Nickelson, M.Ed., the heart behind SOAR Educational Services. As an Education Advocate and IEP Coach—and someone who's walked this path personally—I know what it's like when schools focus on what your child struggles with while overlooking everything that makes them remarkable. I cr

eated SOAR because I've sat where you're sitting. That knot in your stomach before IEP meetings? Those calls from school that make your heart sink? Feeling like you need a law degree just to understand what they're saying? I've been there. My mission is simple: to help you move From Chaos to Collaboration℠. I work alongside families—especially Black families whose brilliant neurodiverse children get mislabeled instead of understood. 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. I blend educational expertise with culturally responsive approaches because every child has a rightful presence in their school community. They belong there—not as a privilege to be earned, but as a right. What strengths does your child bring that their school might be missing? Let's make sure they see them too. You know your child best. Let's work together to make sure their education reflects that truth.

04/19/2026

I wear a lot of hats, and one of my favorites is board member of the Golden Keys Foundation.

We are calling all local businesses and organizations to join us at our Spring Tea Party on May 30th, 2026, from 12 to 2 pm at 530 N Palmetto Ave, Sanford, FL 32771.

This is a beautiful opportunity to showcase your products and services to a community dedicated to supporting educators.

Vendor fee: $75 for-profit | FREE for nonprofits | In-kind donations welcomed.

For my SOAR families: You know how much I believe in the educators who show up for our children. The Golden Keys Foundation does the work to support them, and I am proud to be part of that mission.

Help us spread the word. Share this with a local business that belongs in that room.

Contact: goldenkeysfoundation@gmail.com

04/08/2026

April is also
Occupational Therapy Month, and I want to address something many families struggle with.

If an OT evaluation has identified your child's needs and OT services are written into the IEP, the school cannot reduce those minutes without your agreement.
That is not a preference.
That is FAPE.

For IEP families: Check your current service minutes. If OT was recommended and is not consistently happening, ask why in writing.

For 504 families: OT recommendations can be documented as accommodations or supports in your child's 504 plan. Do not assume it only applies to IEP students.

If you are not sure what your child is entitled to, that is a great question for a discovery call.

04/06/2026

Something special is coming to Sanford, and I want you there.

On May 30th, the Golden Keys Foundation is hosting its Spring Tea Party, and we're calling all local businesses and organizations to come set up shop. This is your chance to put your products and services in front of a community that shows up for educators every single day.

Vendor spots are $75 for businesses and FREE for nonprofits. In-kind donations are also welcome.

The event runs from 12 to 2 pm at 530 N Palmetto Ave, right here in Sanford.

As a board member of this foundation, I can tell you firsthand: the people who come through our events are invested, engaged, and community-first. You want to be in that room.

Drop a comment if you're interested, or reach out directly to to get your application in.

04/05/2026

Happy Easter to all who celebrate!
Wishing you and your family a peaceful and joyful day.
You deserve rest today.
Take it.

04/04/2026

April is also National Month of Hope. And I want to be honest about what hope looks like in this work.

Hope is not wishing the system would do better. Hope is knowing your rights, asking the right questions, and building a team that actually shows up for your child.

Whether you have an IEP or a 504 plan, hope looks like a document that reflects who your child actually is, not a checklist someone completed before the meeting started.

That kind of hope takes strategy. And you deserve both.

04/04/2026

Teachers give everything to their classrooms. Mini-grants give something back.

The Golden Keys Foundation is now offering mini-grants of up to $500 to educators who are making a real difference in our community. That money can go toward classroom supplies, professional certifications, self-care, or even a hobby that generates extra income.

Teachers deserve to be invested in, not just celebrated with a coffee mug in October.

If you know an educator who is showing up every single day and could use a boost, nominate them. If you ARE that educator, apply for yourself. You earned it.

Apply or nominate at the link in bio.
📧 goldenkeysfoundation@gmail.com for questions.

04/02/2026

Tonight, many families begin the Passover Seder. To all who observe, wishing you a holiday filled with connection, memory, and hope. Chag Pesach Sameach.

04/01/2026

Happy April Fool's Day. Here's what is absolutely not a joke: our kids belong.

Not because they earned it. Not because they proved it. Because it was always true.

April is Autism Acceptance Month, and this year I want to be clear about something. The goal is not just awareness anymore. We have been aware. Now it is time to accept, accommodate, and act.

Whether your child has an IEP or a 504 plan, this month is for you.

Stay with me this April. I am going to be talking about what acceptance actually looks like inside school buildings, in IEP meetings, and in the everyday moments when our kids deserve to take up their full, rightful space.

You've got this, and you're not alone in this.

03/20/2026

🌟 MYTH vs. FACT: Empowering Parents in Special Education 🌟

One of the most common things I hear from parents is, "I did not know I could say that in a meeting." You can. And you should.

There is a persistent myth that the school team has the final say on everything in an IEP meeting. The reality is that you are an equal member of that team, and your input is required by law. Your knowledge of your child is not a nice addition to the conversation. It is essential to it.

03/20/2026

We want to let our Illinois families know that the Your Child, Your Voice Advocacy Training & Meet and Greet scheduled for Saturday, March 21st in Homewood has been cancelled.

We sincerely appreciate everyone who registered and helped spread the word. This community deserves this conversation and we are committed to making it happen. Stay connected with SOAR Educational Services for updates on the rescheduled date.

If you have questions or want to be notified first when we announce the new date, send us a message directly.

03/20/2026

Illinois families, this one is for you.

This Saturday, March 21st, I will be in Homewood for a FREE advocacy training and a meet-and-greet hosted by Developing Our Youth. If you are a parent navigating the special education process and you are not sure what your rights are, how to prepare for IEP and 504 meetings, or how to build a real working relationship with your child's school team, this is the room to be in.

We will also talk about how families can organize and advocate for change at the state level, and we will close with an open Q&A.

Bring your real questions and your real situations. That is exactly what we are here for.

📅 Saturday, March 21, 2026
⏰ 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
📍 930 175th St, 2nd Floor | Homewood, IL 60430

Space is limited. Register here:
👉🏾 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/your-childyour-voice-tickets-1984510865420

03/18/2026

🗨️ How do you feel before your child’s IEP meeting? 🤔

A) Ready to advocate
B) Nervous and unsure of what to say
C) Confident and prepared
D) Overwhelmed by the language

Wherever you fall on that list, you are not alone. Most families I work with started at B or D before they learned how to walk into those meetings with a plan.

That is exactly what we are covering this Saturday at Your Child, Your Voice, a free advocacy training hosted by Developing Our Youth. I will walk you through how to prepare, what to ask, and how to make sure your voice carries weight in the room.

Saturday, March 21 | 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
930 175th St, 2nd Floor, Homewood, IL 60430

Drop your answer in the comments and tag a parent who needs to know about this.

Reserve your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/your-childyour-voice-tickets-1984510865420?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Address

Detroit, MI

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 2pm
Wednesday	9am - 2pm
Friday	9am - 2pm

Website

http://www.SOAREduServices.com/, https://soareduservices.com/free-download-behavior-to-barrier-decoder/, https://www.can

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Latina Nickelson, Special Education Advocate & IEP Coach posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Latina Nickelson, Special Education Advocate & IEP Coach:

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Detroit?