Good questions. Honest answers.

An advocate is an expert who works for you, not the school. We help you understand your child's rights, interpret evaluations and IEP or 504 documents, prepare for meetings, and sit beside you at the table so you walk in informed and confident. Think of us as a knowledgeable guide through a system that wasn't designed to be easy for parents.

Most families never need a lawyer. Advocacy is collaborative, not adversarial. We work to build a productive relationship with your child's school team while making sure your child's needs are clearly documented and addressed. If a situation ever does require legal action, we'll tell you honestly and help you find the right next step. Advocacy also costs far less than legal representation.

An IEP on paper isn't the same as an IEP working in practice. Many families come to us because progress has stalled, goals feel vague or recycled year to year, or services on the document aren't happening in the classroom. A document review is often the fastest way to find out whether the plan is actually serving your child.

An IEP (Individualized Education Program) provides specially designed instruction and services under IDEA, with measurable goals and progress reporting. A 504 plan provides accommodations, like extended time or preferential seating, so a student can access the general curriculum, but doesn't include specialized instruction. Which one fits depends on your child's needs. This is exactly the kind of question we help families sort out, and our glossary covers both in plain English.

Executive functions are the brain's self-management skills: planning, organization, time management, task initiation, and self-monitoring. Coaching is one-on-one work with your student to build practical systems (planners, checklists, routines) and, more importantly, the habit of using them independently. It's not tutoring: we don't reteach content, we build the skills that make all of school more manageable.

Both. Advocacy work is primarily with parents: reviewing documents, planning strategy, attending meetings. Coaching is primarily with students, with regular parent communication built in: every coaching session includes brief written progress notes, and parent consultation calls can be added anytime.

Meeting attendance included in our packages is virtual, which lets us serve families nationwide. In-person coaching and meeting attendance are available in the Chapel Hill, Carrboro & Durham area.

It depends on where you are in the process. A document review is delivered within 5-7 business days (48-hour rush available). Meeting prep and attendance follow your school's IEP or 504 timeline. Many families work with us around a single meeting; others keep us involved through the school year for progress monitoring.

Executive function growth is gradual and cumulative. After about 4 sessions, most students can name their challenges and use a basic system with support. After 8, the system starts sticking on its own, often with the first concrete wins, like fewer missing assignments. A full semester of coaching is where skills tend to generalize into new situations. We describe outcomes in terms of independence and consistency rather than grades, because many things beyond executive function affect grades.

The first step is a 30-minute consultation for $65, and that fee is applied toward services if you move forward. From there, advocacy packages range from $250 to $850, and coaching sessions start at $65, with the best value in multi-session packages. All pricing is published in full on our Services page. No surprises.