Special education advocacy
We help you understand the evaluations, build the strategy, and advocate for the right support so you're never alone at the table (or on Zoom). Jessica Polonsky is a non-attorney special education advocate working with families of neurodivergent, gifted, and twice-exceptional children in Los Angeles, across California, and virtually anywhere.
Book a free intro callMost parents meet the special education system for the first time in the middle of a crisis — an evaluation that came back confusing, a plan that isn't being followed, a meeting next week with seven school staff on one side of the table and you on the other.
An advocate is the person on your side of that table. We read the records before you do, translate the assessment language, help you decide what to ask for, and say it out loud in the meeting when it's hard to. Afterward, we help you check whether what was promised is actually happening.
Advocacy is not legal representation. It's preparation, translation, and steady support through a process most families only navigate a handful of times.
Families come to us at very different points. Here's what support looks like at each one.
You suspect your child needs support at school, but the paperwork, timelines, and acronyms are new. We help you:
A plan on paper isn't the same as a plan that fits. We provide:
When the school says no, or nothing happens at all, you have options. We support you in:
This is the question we hear most often. Both are formal school supports, but they come from different laws and do different things.
| IEP | 504 plan | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A legal plan under IDEA with specialized instruction, services, and measurable goals. | A civil-rights plan under Section 504 providing accommodations and access. |
| Who it's for | A student whose qualifying disability affects their educational progress and who needs specially designed instruction. | A student with a disability that substantially limits a major life activity, who needs access and accommodations rather than specialized instruction. |
| What it typically includes | Goals, services, minutes, accommodations, placement, and progress reporting. | Accommodations such as extra time, seating, breaks, or assistive technology. |
| How it's built | An IEP team meeting following an assessment and eligibility determination. | A 504 team review, generally shorter and less formal than the IEP process. |
If you're not sure which one your child needs, that's a good reason to talk. Reviewing the assessments together usually answers it quickly.
Schedule a free 20 minute consultation. We'll discuss where you are, where you're stuck, and how we can help with what comes next.
Book a free intro callAlso offered: Regional Center navigation, twice-exceptional support, and parent coaching.
