The Story Exchange

Can't Afford an IEP Advocate?
We'll Cover the Cost.

You know your child needs an advocate. You've been to meetings where you're outnumbered 8-to-1. You've gotten IEPs that look good on paper but don't produce results.

The problem? Advocacy costs $100s of dollars per hour, and most families can't afford it.

We're changing that.

Here's the deal: You get a professional IEP advocate completely free. In exchange, you let us document your journey. We share your story (with your control and approval) to help the millions of parents who feel alone in this fight.

Your Privacy Protected $0 Out of Pocket Full IEP Advocate Help

Why We're Doing This

Families shouldn’t have to choose between silence and bankruptcy to get their child the support they deserve. We’re building a movement that exposes how the system works, while helping parents win for their own kids in real time.

01

Parental Rights

By giving parents a platform to share what really happens in special education, we’re creating pressure for change.

02

Affordability

Too many families are priced out of help. We believe advocacy can, and should, exist without gatekeeping or financial barriers.

03

Accountability

Every documented experience reveals how districts respond, how families fight back, and what actually changes.

Your Story, Documented

Real cases. Real outcomes. Your story helps others win.

What You Get (Literally Everything)

The exact same advocacy services paying clients receive. Zero difference in quality or commitment.

Complete File Review

Your advocate reads every evaluation, IEP, progress report, behavior plan, and communication thread. They identify what's missing, what's legally insufficient, and what needs to be requested immediately.

In-Person or Remote Meeting Attendance

Your advocate shows up to IEP meetings, evaluations, manifestation determinations, and eligibility meetings. They speak up, ask the hard questions, and ensure your voice is heard and documented.

IEP Goal & Service Development

They draft specific, measurable goals that actually address your child's needs. They push for adequate service hours (not the district's "starting offer"). They ensure accommodations are meaningful and enforceable.

Evaluation & Assessment Requests

Need an independent evaluation? Functional behavior assessment? Neuropsychological testing? Your advocate writes the formal request, cites the legal basis, and follows up until it's scheduled.

All Written Correspondence

Every email to the school district goes through your advocate. They draft requests for Prior Written Notice, rebuttal letters, consent refusals, and anything else that needs a paper trail. Everything is legally precise.

Dispute Resolution Support

If the school isn't complying, your advocate files state complaints, prepares mediation documents, or supports due process filings. They know the procedural safeguards and aren't afraid to use them.

Unlimited Communication

Text, email, or call your advocate when you need them. No hourly limits. No "we'll bill you for this call." You have direct access to someone who understands both the law and your child's reality.

Strategic Advocacy Planning

Before every meeting, you and your advocate prep together. You discuss what to push for, what to accept, what to document, and when to escalate. You never walk into a room unprepared again.

What We Ask in Return

This is where the exchange happens. We're not asking you to become a content creator, we handle the production. But we do need your time, your honesty, and your willingness to help other families by sharing what you're going through.

Video Interview (15-30 minutes)

We'll record 1-2 video interviews with you via Zoom. These become YouTube content and social media clips. Topics: What you're fighting for, how advocacy is helping, what you've learned. You don't need to be on camera if you prefer voice-only or to remain anonymous.

1-2 sessions during your case

Written Blog Feature (1,500-2,500 words)

We write it, you review and approve it. This is a detailed account of your journey: the challenges, the turning points, the wins (even small ones). Think long-form storytelling with legal takeaways embedded throughout. Published on our blog with full SEO optimization.

1 major blog post

Case Study Page on Our Site

A dedicated page showcasing your advocacy journey: before/after comparison, timeline of events, key documents (redacted for privacy), outcomes achieved. This becomes a searchable resource other parents can find and learn from.

1 permanent page

Testimonial & Social Proof

A written testimonial about your experience with your advocate and the program (50-150 words). Used on our website, advocate profiles, and marketing materials. You can provide a photo or remain anonymous.

1 short testimonial

Follow-Up Check-Ins

Short phone or email check-ins (10-15 minutes) throughout your case. We ask what's happening, how things are progressing, what surprises came up. These become social media updates and "case in progress" content.

3-5 brief updates

Photos & Documents (Optional)

If you're comfortable, we may ask for photos (family photos, school settings), anonymized IEP pages, meeting notes, or email screenshots. All personally identifiable information removed. Never required, only if you're willing.

As available

Honesty is Our Policy

Your privacy and control are non-negotiable. You approve every word before it goes live. You decide what details are shared and whether you're identified. Want to be anonymous? Use a pseudonym? Change identifying details? We'll make it work. Parents need your story, but we need your trust even more.

Common Questions

It's free. Zero dollars. The "catch" (if you want to call it that) is you're exchanging your time and story for advocacy services. You'll spend a few hours over several months doing interviews, reviewing content, and providing updates. That's the trade. No surprise bills, no upsells.

Many families share anonymously. We change names, locations, and identifying details. The school district is never named unless there's a legal reason to do so (like a settled due process case that's already public record). Your advocate can also advise on what's safe to share based on your specific situation and local dynamics.

Real ones. We want the messy middle of special education: denied evaluations, regression over summer, behavior plans that aren't working, transition planning nightmares, reading interventions that never materialize. We want to document what actually happens, including when things are hard. Families with complex needs, systemic barriers, or ongoing disputes are especially valuable.

Your advocate stays with you for the duration of your case. If it's one IEP meeting, that's the scope. If it turns into a multi-year dispute with state complaints and due process, they're there for that, too.

Yes, but we ask that you commit in good faith. That said, if circumstances change (safety concerns, privacy issues, family crisis), we'll work with you. We're not going to force anyone to share a story they're uncomfortable with or that doesn't align with our mission.

You will receive advocacy services by advocates directly employed by Find Parent Advocates. Our team is specially trained in IDEA and Section 504. Many are former educators, compliance specialists, and local or state agency workers. Parents always have the option of working with a paid advocate if they prefer. You can browse our list of independent practitioners here.

Any documents we publish (IEP pages, evaluation reports, emails) are heavily redacted. Names, dates of birth, school names, district names, specific locations, all removed. The point is to show the content and structure, not identify your child. Your advocate will also have you sign FERPA releases that clearly state what can and can't be shared. Everything goes through legal review before publication.

Your Child Needs an Advocate.
You Need Help You Can Afford.

If you're reading this, you already know the system isn't working for your child. You've been to meetings where you nodded along but left confused. You've gotten progress reports that say nothing. You've asked for services and been told "we don't do that here."

This is your chance to change that, and help other families do the same. Apply for the Story Exchange program. Get a professional advocate. Document what happens. Show thousands of parents what's possible when someone who knows the law shows up on their side.

Questions? Email us at info@teambased.io