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Find IEP advocates nationwide

Compare profiles, see what each advocate charges, and message the one you pick. 5 of the 25 advocates listed here offer a free first call.

In person where they are based, by video across the country.

Advocates who publish a rate

Rates on this directory run $50 to $250 per hour. 17 of the 25 advocates publish one, and the rest ask you to make contact first.

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IEP meeting advocates

15 of the 25 advocates here list IEP meeting work, which covers the prep, the meeting itself, and the read of the draft plan afterwards.

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Section 504 advocates

12 of the 25 advocates here work Section 504 plans, accommodations, and the complaints that follow when a school will not put an accommodation in writing.

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Virtual advocates nationwide

23 of the 25 advocates work remotely. They join by video or phone when you and the school agree to that format.

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Browse advocates by state

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Parent and school staff reviewing a student file at a meeting table

For families everywhere

When the IEP process feels overwhelming

An IEP runs on paper. The evaluation, the present levels, the goals and the minutes of service sit in a file most parents have not read by the time the meeting starts, which is how a plan gets agreed to in a room where only one side has done the reading.

Schools talk in shorthand. Free Appropriate Public Education becomes FAPE, Least Restrictive Environment becomes LRE, and the sentence moves on. You can stop the meeting and ask what a term means. You can also ask for the answer in writing.

Common reasons parents contact an advocate

  • The school denied an evaluation, IEP services, or a 504 accommodation
  • Your child is falling behind and the current plan is not working
  • You need help preparing for an IEP meeting or an annual review
  • You are not sure what rights you have as a parent under IDEA
  • You feel dismissed or shut down in the meetings you have already had

How it works

Compare IEP advocates before you hire

Find Parent Advocates is a free directory. You browse profiles, compare experience and rates, and reach out to the advocate you choose. We do not assign anyone to you.

Search is free
You contact advocates directly. Nothing on this page routes your message through us, and we take no cut of what you pay.
Rates are published where the advocate publishes them
17 of the 25 profiles show an hourly rate. The rest ask you to make contact first, which usually means the number depends on the case.
You choose who to write to
We never assign an advocate to a family. Open two or three profiles, compare the work history, and write to the ones whose experience matches your case.
What advocates cannot do
They are not attorneys. They cannot file a lawsuit, represent you at a due process hearing, or give you legal advice. If a hearing is already filed, you need a special education attorney.

What advocates help with

  • Review school records and draft the parent concerns statement
  • Prepare you for IEP and Section 504 meetings
  • Attend the meeting with you, while you keep every decision
  • Read the draft plan against the notes after the meeting
  • Explain the dispute options when the school and the family disagree

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IEP and Section 504 advocate FAQ

Answers about hiring a special education advocate, including cost, timing, remote support, and Section 504 help.

How much does an advocate cost?

Rates on this directory run $50 to $250 per hour. 17 of the 25 advocates listed publish a figure and the rest ask you to make contact first. What moves the number is experience, the type of case, and whether anyone has to travel to the meeting.

What's the difference between an advocate and a lawyer?

Two different jobs. An advocate works the IEP process with you, reads the file, prepares the asks, and sits in the meeting. An attorney files for due process, argues at a hearing, and represents you in court. If a hearing is already filed, you need the attorney.

Can I bring an advocate to an IEP meeting?

Yes. IDEA lets a parent include other people who have knowledge or special expertise about the child, and an advocate is one of them. You do not need the school to approve the choice. Tell the team who is coming before the date so the meeting starts on the actual agenda.

How do I know if I need an advocate?

There is no fixed trigger. The useful test is whether you can tell from the paperwork what the school is actually offering, and whether the last thing you asked for came back in writing. If either answer is no, an hour of records review is the cheapest way to find out what you are looking at.

What if I can't find an advocate in my state?

23 of the 25 advocates here work remotely. They read records, prepare you, and join the meeting by video or phone when you and the school agree to that format. Confirm the format with the district in writing before the date.

How soon should I hire an advocate?

Two to three weeks before the meeting gives an advocate time to read the file and write the parent concerns. Shorter notice still buys you a records review or a prep call. An advocate who has never seen the file cannot tell you what is missing from it.

Special education help beyond this directory

These links go to state pages on this site and to the federal agencies that write the rules. An advocate can explain what each step means for your child, and none of these pages costs anything to read.

This school year, don't go alone

Compare IEP advocates before the first meeting.

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