Lórien Advocacy Services
Sonoma County, California · In-Person & Virtual
Centering students and their families through thoughtful, neuro-affirmative, research-informed advocacy grounded in real classroom practice.
Direct classroom experience Sonoma State University
Special education instructor Sliding Scale
Available for eligible families
Grounded in Experience, Guided by Care
I provide consultative advocacy services to support families in understanding and navigating special education systems. Grounded in a neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-based approach, my services are designed to help families make informed, confident decisions regarding their child's educational program. Every engagement is collaborative and tailored to the specific needs of each family and student.
I'm a Doctoral Candidate in Education with a research foundation built alongside years of hands-on teaching and inclusive design work. My research bridges theory and practice through large-scale studies on college and career readiness, Universal Design for Learning, and self-concept among individuals with disabilities — work that directly shapes the evidence-grounded advocacy I bring to every family I support.
Special Education Teacher
Experience across K–12 and adult transition settings, working directly with students and IEP teams.
Paraeducator
Direct, hands-on support experience inside classrooms and educational environments.
University Instructor
Training special education intern teachers at Sonoma State University.
Doctoral Candidate, Education
Large-scale research on college and career readiness, Universal Design for Learning, and self-concept among individuals with disabilities.
You Might Reach Out If…
Families come to advocacy work at different stages. Here are some of the moments where a second set of eyes tends to help most.
You've just received an IEP or assessment and aren't sure what it actually means for your child.
You disagree with an eligibility decision, proposed services, or placement and want to understand your options.
You want a knowledgeable second opinion before walking into an IEP or 504 meeting.
Your child is nearing a transition — into kindergarten, middle school, high school, or adult services — and you want a plan.
Communication with the school team has stalled, and you're not sure how to move things forward.
You simply want ongoing, informed support as you learn to navigate the system alongside your child.
A Way of Working, Not Just a Service List
Four principles shape every consultation, document review, and meeting I'm part of.
Strengths-Based
We start with what your child can do, not just where they struggle, and build plans around those strengths.
Neurodiversity-Affirming
Differences in how a student learns, communicates, or regulates are treated as differences, not deficits to eliminate.
Research-Informed
Recommendations are grounded in current special education law, evidence-based practice, and classroom reality.
Collaborative
The goal is a stronger partnership with your child's school team, not an adversarial process.
Your Path Forward
A typical engagement moves through four stages — though support can start or pause at whichever point makes sense for your family.
Reach Out
Share a bit about your child, your school district, and the questions or concerns that brought you here.
Initial Consultation
A focused 60-minute conversation to understand your situation, review what's already in place, and outline realistic options.
Review & Prepare
Document review, strategic planning, and meeting preparation tailored to whatever is next — an eligibility meeting, annual IEP, or a conversation with the district.
Meet & Move Forward
Attend meetings together or debrief afterward, with ongoing consultative support available as your child's needs evolve.
How I Can Help
Consultation & Parent Coaching
Individual consultation sessions support families in interpreting special education processes, including IEPs, eligibility, services, and procedural safeguards. Sessions may include meeting preparation, discussion of concerns, and guidance on communicating effectively with school teams.
Document Review & Strategic Planning
Comprehensive review of educational records — IEPs, assessments, and progress reports. Families receive structured feedback highlighting strengths, areas of concern, and alignment with legal and educational standards, along with strategic next steps.
IEP Review Package
An in-depth IEP review paired with a follow-up consultation. Focus areas include present levels, goals, services, accommodations, and overall program alignment, with actionable recommendations for upcoming meetings.
Meeting Preparation & Attendance
Support includes pre-meeting planning, development of priorities, and optional attendance at meetings. Real-time support ensures clarity, alignment, and collaborative problem-solving. Post-meeting debrief available.
Ongoing Consultative Support
Continued support including consultation, document review, communication drafting, and guidance on monitoring student progress over time.
Service & Rates
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| Initial Consultation60 minutes | $100 |
| Ongoing Consultation & Coaching | $125/hr |
| Document Review & Strategic Planning | $150/hr |
| IEP Review Package | $300 flat |
| Meeting Preparation & Attendance | $175/hr |
| Ongoing Case Support | $175–$200/hr |
IEP Preparation Package
Includes document review, strategic planning, and meeting preparation — everything you need going into your next IEP meeting.
🌿 A limited number of sliding-scale spots are available to support equitable access — mention this when you reach out.
In Their Words
Add a short quote here from a family describing how working together changed their experience with their child's IEP process.
— Parent, [Grade Level] Student
Add a quote about what it felt like to walk into a meeting prepared and supported, or how the strengths-based approach landed for their family.
— Parent, [Grade Level] Student
Add a quote reflecting the outcome — a clearer IEP, a better relationship with the school team, or simply feeling less alone in the process.
— Parent, [Grade Level] Student
Short Reads for Families
A growing library of short, plain-language write-ups on the questions that come up most in IEP and 504 meetings.
What to Expect at Your First IEP Meeting
A walkthrough of who's in the room, what gets decided, and how to walk into your first IEP meeting feeling prepared.
Read the article FAQIEP vs. 504 Plan: What's the Difference?
Two different laws, two different kinds of support — how to tell whether an IEP or a 504 plan actually fits your child's needs.
Read the article Reading Your IEPUnderstanding Present Levels (PLAAFP)
The section families skim past most often is often the one that matters most for tracking real progress.
Read the articleFrequently Asked
An educational advocate helps families understand their child's rights and options under special education law, reviews records and IEPs, and supports communication and preparation for school meetings — so families can make informed, confident decisions.
No. Services offered through Lórien Advocacy Services are consultative in nature and do not constitute legal representation. For matters that require legal counsel, I can help you think through when it may be time to consult an education attorney.
Yes. Meeting attendance is available as part of the Meeting Preparation & Attendance service, along with a post-meeting debrief to talk through next steps.
My direct classroom and advocacy experience spans K–12 as well as adult transition settings, so support is available across a wide range of ages and stages.
Yes. I work with families both in person around Sonoma County and virtually, so location isn't a barrier to getting support.
A limited number of sliding-scale spots are available for families who need them. Just mention this when you reach out and we'll talk through what's possible.
Additional Information
Time billed includes consultation, preparation, document review, and follow-up communication. Travel time, when applicable, may be billed.
Services are consultative in nature and do not constitute legal representation.
A limited number of sliding scale options are available to support equitable access.
Let's Talk
This work is intended to support families in navigating complex systems with clarity, care, and a focus on meaningful, student-centered outcomes.
Reach out by phone or email with a bit about your child and your questions — that's the best way to get started.