M. Patton’s Advocacy Corner  Special Education Support for Parents

As this year comes to a close, many families of children with disabilities are taking a deep breath — some in relief, some in exhaustion, and many with a mix of emotions that are hard to put into words. It has been a tough year. For children navigating systems not built with them in mind. For parents advocating day after day, often quietly and without recognition. For families carrying the weight of decisions, meetings, and moments of uncertainty — all while continuing to lov

Understanding the meaning behind Honig v. Doe (1988) “Congress was clear that it sought to end the unilateral exclusion of children with disabilities from public school.” — Honig v. Doe, 484 U.S. 305 (1988) What “Unilateral” Means — and Why It Matters The word unilateral means “one-sided.” In education, it refers to a school making a decision without involving the parent or without following the procedural safeguards required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

There is a particular kind of heartbreak that only parents of children with disabilities truly understand. It is not loud. It is not dramatic. It is quiet, gut-wrenching, and deeply unsettling. It is the moment a parent realizes — sometimes slowly, sometimes all at once — that decisions affecting their child may be driven less by what is right and more by what feels safe for the system. The Weight of That Knowing Parents are asked to send their children into schools every day

The recent decision to move the U.S. Department of Education under the Department of Labor has raised understandable concern—especially for families of children with disabilities who depend on strong federal oversight to ensure their child’s right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). For many parents, this announcement brings a familiar and heavy question: “Will my child still be protected?” As a special education advocate, I want to walk you through what this chang

Today, families often hear phrases like “We can’t provide that,” or “That’s not how we do things here,” or “You’re asking for too much.” But what many people don’t realize is this: The special education system we know today only exists because parents before us fought for it. And federal oversight became necessary not because schools were doing too much—but because thousands of children were being denied even the most basic access to public education. Understanding where we c

A Clarity in Advocacy™ Reflection Families of children with disabilities live under a level of scrutiny most people never see. From the moment concerns arise… from the first diagnosis… from the first IEP meeting… from the first moment a child struggles in public… judgment begins. And it often comes from every direction — schools, other parents, strangers in grocery stores, even extended family. But perhaps the most painful reality is this: Sometimes the people who should shie