Special education and Section 504 advocates for City of Chicago School District 299 families in Chicago.
3 based in Illinois · 3 virtual advocates who work with Illinois schools
Advocates work for you, not for the school. That is the whole difference.
Families in Chicago and Aurora run into the same problem. The school says the current plan is working, and the progress report shows the same goal repeated from last year with the same numbers under it.
The meeting itself is the smallest part of the job. Nearly all the hours go into records and email before the Chicago team ever sits down.
Note what changed at home. Teachers see one room for one hour and parents see the rest of the day.
No advocate in this directory lists Chicago as their home base. These advocates work from other parts of Illinois, and each card names the city.
Based in Arlington Heights, IL
Special Education Advocate
I am a former special education teacher, with experience in public and therapeutic day schools.
Based in Inverness, IL
Special Education Advocate
I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders at Michigan State University and a Master’s of Education from DePaul University, with a dual certification in elementary and…
Based in Bloomington, IL
Founder & Advocate
Jade is a former special education teacher who has taught everything from pre-k all the way to transition classrooms with students up to age 21.
These advocates are not based in Illinois. They join IEP meetings by video or phone, which IDEA allows when you and the school agree.
Virtual · based in Atlanta, GA · works with Illinois schools
School Psychologist & Parent Advocate
I’m a certified School Psychologist, Parent Advocate, and Coach dedicated to helping families navigate special education with confidence.
Virtual · based in Coraopolis, PA · works with Illinois schools
Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Special Education Advocate
Hi there! I'm Brittany, owner and founder of Balanced Behaviors, LLC. I'm a Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Specialist in Pennsylvania with a Master’s in Special Education from Slippery Rock…
Virtual · based in San Antonio, TX · works with Illinois schools
FamilyADDventures.com
Nicole Santiago is a learning specialist and an advocate (IEP coach). She is a member of COPAA.org and ensures special education students receive the most appropriate educational services possible.
See all 17 virtual advocates who work with Illinois families
City of Chicago School District 299 runs the IEP meetings for most Chicago students, and its special education staff will be on the other side of the table when you walk in.
Parents in Aurora face the same paperwork. Rules do not change from one town to the next inside a state.
Confirm your child's district by address before you send a letter or name a district-specific process.
The clock that matters starts when you sign consent. In Illinois it runs 60 school days.
Write down what you want the school to add, in one page, before you walk into the Chicago meeting, because a team that reads your list in advance cannot pretend it never came up.
Illinois gives a school district 60 school days to finish an initial special education evaluation. A written request for an evaluation has to be answered inside 14 school days. Missed deadlines are handled by the Illinois State Board of Education, Special Education Department, which takes written state complaints from parents.
Training varies, and so does what it proves. A parent who asks how many Chicago IEP meetings an advocate sat in last year learns more than a certificate would show.
Ask what training the advocate actually finished and who ran it. A one-day webinar and a two-year program both end in a certificate.
Advocates do not decide complaints. The Illinois State Board of Education does, and only after someone files one in writing.
You sign, not the advocate. Consent and the plan itself both need a parent signature.
No advocate is listed in every city. A remote advocate who knows Illinois rules is usually a better hire for Chicago than a local one who does not.
Experience with City of Chicago School District 299 matters more than the number of years printed on a profile page.
Answers about hiring a special education advocate in Chicago, Illinois, including cost, timing, virtual support, and Section 504 help.
How much should I budget for one IEP meeting?
Most advocates on this directory charge $75 to $150 per hour. A standard cycle with two hours of prep and two hours in the meeting runs about $400. Travel and extra meetings cost more.
What district will be at my IEP meeting in Chicago?
City of Chicago School District 299 runs the IEP meetings for most Chicago students. District lines and city lines are not the same, so confirm yours by address before you send a letter.
How many advocates on this page are based in Illinois?
Every card on this page names the city the advocate works from. Advocates listed under the virtual heading live somewhere else and work with families here by video or phone.
What is the fastest way to see the school file?
A district can charge for copies. Asking to inspect the record in person costs nothing under federal rules, and it is usually faster than waiting for a copy set.
Is a 504 plan weaker than an IEP?
An IEP provides specialized instruction and related services under IDEA. A 504 plan provides accommodations under a civil rights law and does not require specialized instruction. Eligibility rules differ, so a child can qualify for one and not the other.
Official Illinois links for parents in Chicago.
Last reviewed 2026-08-11.
The same Illinois rules apply in Aurora, Naperville, Joliet, Rockford and the other cities listed here, or see every Illinois advocate.
Send the same two questions to every advocate you contact in Chicago and Aurora. Ask for the rate and for the first date they can meet.
Have the most recent City of Chicago School District 299 progress report open on the first call. It shows whether the goals moved at all.
