Educational Advocacy & Consulting

10/31/2025

All those acronyms and terms flying around IEP meetings can feel like a tangled web, but understanding the language can make all the difference.

Here are a few you’ll hear often:
📘 IEP: Individualized Education Program - a legal document outlining a child’s learning goals and the services they’ll receive.

📘 504 Plan: A plan that ensures students with disabilities have the same access to education as their peers through accommodations and supports.

📘 FAPE: Free Appropriate Public Education - the right of every student to receive an education tailored to their needs at no cost to families.

📘 LRE: Least Restrictive Environment - students should learn alongside their peers to the greatest extent possible.

📘 Progress Monitoring: The process schools use to track how well a student is responding to instruction and supports.

Still feeling stuck in the web? 🕸️
We’ll help you untangle the terms and understand what they mean for your child’s success.

🍎 Let’s talk: educationaladvocacy-consulting.com

10/30/2025

🕰️Time well spent at the Everyone Reading Illinois 2025 Dynamics of Dyslexia Conference!

We can’t wait to put this invaluable information to practice in our support of families, students, & educators 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒🧑‍🎓🧑🏽‍🏫

10/30/2025

⭐ Secret Menu Series: Item 20 ⭐

The 20th item on the menu in our Secret Menu Series: Timelines for Case Studies

When you request a case study evaluation in writing, it starts a legal timeline:
📋 The school must respond within 14 days.
📋 Once the evaluation is approved, they have 60 school days to complete it.

If a school suggests waiting until fall - don’t. You have the right to a summer evaluation, and getting started early can make a big difference when the new school year begins.

This is one of those “secret menu” rights that many families don’t realize they have, and it’s one worth knowing.

🍎 Questions or need help getting started? Contact us for a free 30-minute consultation.

10/29/2025

✨A heartfelt thanks to all of the parents, teens, educators, & clinicians who joined us for yesterday’s reception and simulation❣️

10/27/2025

Pablo Picasso once said he hadn’t even learned to read and write at school. Teachers described him as distracted and uninterested, but many researchers now believe he showed signs of dyslexia.

Dyslexia affects how the brain processes written language, making reading and writing more difficult. But it can also come with unique strengths in creativity, problem-solving, and visual-spatial thinking - the same strengths that helped Picasso change the art world.

It’s a reminder that learning differences don’t define limits. They reveal how each child’s brain learns and creates in its own remarkable way.

💡 Learn more about recognizing and supporting students with dyslexia on our website.

educationaladvocacy-consulting.com

10/24/2025

WNBA MVP and Olympic gold medalist A’ja Wilson has spoken openly about her experience with dyslexia. Diagnosed in elementary school, she remembers struggling to keep up with her classmates and feeling like she learned differently from everyone else.

Today, she uses her platform to remind others that progress looks different for every learner. Her story shows that when students are understood and supported, they can reach incredible heights.

A’ja Wilson’s story reminds us that progress doesn’t have one speed. For people with dyslexia, learning at your own pace isn’t falling behind. It’s how you move forward.

10/22/2025

⭐ Secret Menu Series: Item 19 ⭐

Today we’re talking about Assistive Technology, a powerful tool that helps students access learning in ways that work best for them.

Assistive technology can make a big difference for students who need extra support. If your child has an IEP, take a look at the assistive technology section during every meeting. Make sure their devices and tools are listed so the team understands what your child needs to succeed.

(PS. This is a great post to share or save with others who may benefit from this information 🍎 And don’t forget to follow along for more advocacy tips!)

10/20/2025

Advocacy isn’t about conflict, it’s about clarity and support.

Many families think an advocate steps in only when things go wrong, but the truth is, advocates can make the process smoother from the start. We work with parents and schools to ensure every child’s needs are seen, understood, and supported.

💡 Have you ever heard any of these myths before?

10/18/2025

👧🧒 Hey kids (and parents)! Let’s talk about dyslexia…during a unique presentation for children🫶

Clickable link in the comments!

10/18/2025

🙌 HPDS is opening their doors to fellow clinicians and LD specialists👇👇

Attention LD Specialists, Psychologists, and Clinicians!

If you’re in or around Chicago, Illinois, we invite you to visit Hyde Park Day School (HPDS), a school dedicated to empowering bright students with language-based learning differences to reach their full potential.

This fall, we’re hosting Professional Open Houses across our three Chicagoland campuses. Come see evidence-based instruction in action, tour our classrooms, and connect with fellow professionals who share your passion for helping students with learning disabilities thrive.

🗓️ Fall 2025 Dates:
• Chicago Campus – November 14, 8:30–10:00 AM
• Lemont Campus – November 21, 8:30–10:00 AM
• Northfield Campus – December 5, 8:30–10:00 AM

Reserve your spot today! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf7nQwYp0Ah7cyxnAvw-AQb99wlYx4NxxB0YeuUp9Oo7ZYfyg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=117322049255129747394

At HPDS, our integrated model of teaching and clinical support helps students build the confidence, independence, and lifelong skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.

10/17/2025

Secret Menu

⭐ Secret Menu Series: Item 18 ⭐

The 18th item on the menu in our Secret Menu Series: IEP vs. 504 (Part 2).

This week, Carol breaks down Section 504 eligibility. To qualify for a 504 plan, a child must have a health or medically related condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

This plan can be an important tool for students who need accommodations to fully access their education.

(PS. This is a great post to share or save with others who may benefit from this information. 🍎 And don’t forget to follow along for more tips!)

10/16/2025

🌎EAC is now offering multilingual literacy support! EAC Dyslexia Therapist, Vanessa Duarte, is certified and trained in both Wilson and Esperanza, along with several other evidence-based programs. She has the wide knowledge and expertise to to provide tailored support and create effective learning strategies, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed academically and build confidence in their abilities.

https://educationaladvocacy-consulting.com/dyslexia-center/about-eac-dc/

🌍 Wilson Language Training is proud to partner with Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan and Valley Speech Language and Learning Center to expand access to Structured Multiliteracy—a research-based approach that supports multilingual learners through culturally and linguistically responsive instruction.

📖 Structured Multiliteracy helps students develop deep reading skills and effective written communication while honoring language and culture.

As Dr. Cárdenas-Hagan explains:

“Structured Multiliteracy is a comprehensive, integrated approach to literacy instruction that builds multilanguage foundations...”

Together, we’re working to ensure Literacy for All—no matter the language spoken at home. ❤️

🔗 Learn more: https://wilsonlanguage.co/3J97y2W