Exceptional Advocacy Services

Stay safe Georgia friends 🩵

Stay safe and weather aware for the next few days! Here's a tool that may be helpful when explaining what's coming to children/family members.

Documentation is Key 🔑

〰️ It is extremely important to keep an open line of communication with your student’s school.

〰️ Leave a “paper trail”, including emails, of all important discussions and concerns.

〰️ Phone calls or in person meetings with teachers and school staff are often productive and efficient ways to ensure student success, but should still be documented.

〰️ If you don’t have documentation, it didn’t happen.

However, here are some things to keep in mind:

1) All important phone calls or meetings should be documented with a follow up email or be recorded (make sure to check the recording laws for your state!)

Did you bring up concerns when your students teacher called about their math grade? Record the call or follow up with an email. Did your son’s teacher bring up a concern to you in car line today? Follow up with an email. Annual IEP meeting? Make sure to record it!

2) Email exchanges should be positive and constructive with your students success in mind. No need to over think it! State concerns and requests politely while focusing on the wellbeing of your child.

3) State the facts and ask for confirmation. Emails should be factual, clear and concise. Ensuring that you leave conversations and meetings with understanding between the school and home that leaves no room for confusion later. When you follow up, ask the teacher or staff to confirm that what is being stated in the email is what was intended during the conversation or meeting.

4) If you don’t hear back, follow up! Either way, documenting concerns as they occur with follow up from the school or not provides a “paper trail” that proves you did raise concerns. Keeping thorough records of all communication allows for accountability and advocating for your student in the future.

〰️ If you need support with effective and productive communication between school and home, we are here to help you. Give us a call today at 888-392-3782 or email us at [email protected]

Weekend Recap! 🤩

We had a great session at the North Columbus Public Library this past Saturday discussing the IEP process and educational opportunities for students with disabilities.

A huge thank you to those that attended and asked wonderful questions, even on the rainiest of days!! If you missed it and you still want to chat, give us a call! We always offer free consultations.

For more information email us at [email protected] or give us a call at 888-392-3782, we would love to work with you on making sure that your kiddos education is exceptional!

📢 REMINDER!! 📢

This Saturday, September 14th, EAS will be holding a parent Q&A for all things IEP and educational opportunities for children with disabilities.

From 3-4 at the North Columbus Public Library! We hope to see you there!

Chattahoochee Valley Libraries

We will never forget September 11, 2001. Our hearts go out to those who lost and those who sacrificed.

September is World Su***de Prevention month, and today is World Su***de Prevention Day.

Exceptional Advocacy Services wants to help reduce the stigma around mental health and encourage open conversations that prevent su***de. If you know someone struggling with mental health we encourage you to and offer support.

How can you help prevent su***de?

🤍 Encourage Help Seeking:
-The 988 Su***de and Crisis Lifeline is available to call or text from anywhere in the US [call or text 988]
-The crisis text line provides free confidential support 24/7 [text HOME to 741741]

🤍 Support 988 Crisis Lifelines movement by learning the 5 steps that could save a life:
1. Ask
2. Be there
3. Help keep them safe
4. Help them connect
5. Follow up

Look out for one another, and love one another, today and everyday.

📢 Mark your calendars! 📢

Next Saturday, September 14th, EAS will be holding a parent Q&A for all things IEP and educational opportunities for children with disabilities.

From 3-4 at the North Columbus Public Library! We hope to see you there!

Chattahoochee Valley Libraries

Praying for students and staff of Apalachee High School. 🩵

Back to School can be an overwhelming and exciting time! Make sure you’re off to a strong start using this checklist!

You can find resources to get organized this year with our free IEP/504 Binder Kit on our website! Our website also offers a new student introduction letter that can be used to introduce your student to his/her teachers!

Make sure that while you organize your binder, you review your current IEP/504 and set reminders for those due dates and any upcoming meetings.

Now is a good time to set realistic goals for the upcoming year. By reviewing the IEP/504 and setting goals you will be able to address any issues swiftly and appropriately with your child’s team.

It never hurts to reach out to your students teachers and case manager (if they have one) to ensure that they have your best contact information and that there is an open line of communication between home and school!

You can find all of our free resources at exceptionaladvocacyservices.com and as always please feel free to reach out to us at 888-392-3782 for a free consultation. EAS is wishing you all the best this school year!

TODAY! We are at the Southside Support Symposium in Newnan, GA from 1:00-5:00 PM come and get some freebies and see all of the great resources!

Exceptional Advocacy Services is wishing all teachers and students the best of luck going into this new school year. ✏️

👏🏼Justice 👏🏼 was 👏🏼served.
We know this story all too well. Don’t wait! Don’t let the school dismiss your concerns!
Give us a call to see how we can help make sure your voice is heard, the first time.

16-year-old Trinity's school district in the Atlanta metro area ignored her learning disability and promoted her from grade to grade.

Now, because of a lawsuit from the SPLC that was settled in May, she will finally get the education services to which she is entitled under federal law. Read more: https://bit.ly/3ykVFBR

⭐️ Links for Tonight’s Live ⭐️

You can find the IEP/504 Binder Kit and Student Introduction Letter using this link: https://www.exceptionaladvocacyservices.com/services-9

Exceptional Advocacy Services | Columbus, GA | Parent IEP/504 Advocacy Exceptional Advocacy Services is an experienced special education advocacy firm, currently serving over 10 counties across Georgia and Alabama, including Fort Benning. We work with families to secure special education eligibility, optomizes IEP's, obtain appropriate accomodations and placement.

🤨 Are you wondering if an educational advocate is right for you?

❔Is the IEP or 504 process overwhelming? ​

❔Despite your best effort to understand everything about the process, do you often feel a step behind and like you are missing important information?​

❔Do you find the special education language, terminology, and acronyms unclear and confusing?

❔Do you feel frustrated when you read through school documents and wonder if it meets your child’s unique educational, academic, social, and emotional needs?​

❔Has the school said or done something that you don’t believe is the best for your child?

❔Although you would like to have a collaborative relationship with the school, do you often feel like an outsider at the IEP team meetings?

❔Are you outnumbered and uncomfortable when you would like to speak up?

❔Do you feel that your K - 12 student isn’t getting their educational needs met?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, Exceptional Advocacy Services can help! Give us a call today at 888-392-3782 or email us at [email protected] to schedule a free consultation!

#504

Start this school year off strong with us! This Thursday, August 1st at 7:00PM EST come organize and socialize with your favorite special education advocates! What should you expect:

〰️ FREE Printable Resource to include a newly added student introduction letter.
〰️ Tips & Tricks on organizing your IEP/504 binder for your quick and easy reference this school year.
〰️ Experienced advocates available to answer any questions you might have on the spot, LIVE.

For more information visit our website at www.exceptionaladvocacyservices.com or give us a call at 888-392-3782.

#504

Meet us in Cooper Creek Park today for some fun, freebies, information, and great community!

Today is World Fragile X Day. Fragile X Syndrome is a genetic condition and is the most common inherited single gene cause of autism. World Fragile X Day celebrates families impacted by Fragile X and supports advancements and research to ultimately find a cure.

Exceptional Advocacy Services sees you, and supports you!

Ever feel like no one is listening to you in a meeting? We can make sure your voice is heard! Let’s chat about how we can help!!

Exceptional Advocacy Servicces offers full service, expert special education, and section 504 advocacy for students with disabilities. Check out our website or give us a call at 888-392-3782 for a free consultation or email us at info@exceptionaladvocacyservices for more information.

#504

July is Disability Pride Month! In July we celebrate the inclusion and experiences of all those with disabilities.

The disability pride flag has five colored stripes that all represent a different meaning:

💚Green: Sensory Disabilities, including sensory processing disorders.
🩵Blue: Emotional and Psyciatric Disabilities, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, etc.
🤍White: Invisible and Undiagnosed Disabilites and those with no known diagnosis
💛Yellow: Neurodiversity, such as Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, etc.
❤️Red: Physical Disabilities, such as mobility impairments, limb difference, chronic pain and fatigue, etc.

The black background symbolizes victims of violence and abuse of those with disabilities. Diagonal stripes represent “cutting across” walls and barriers that seperate disabled people from society. Help us advocate this July for a world where everyone can live their lives with equal opportunities and freedoms!

#504

Come out next Friday the 26th to support Families Future Empowerment Coialition! Exceptional Advocacy Services will have a tent set up with free goodies, we would love to see you there!

Want to walk into the IEP/504 meeting like a superhero this coming school year?? 🦸🏼‍♀️

Exceptional Advocacy Services can employ you with the tools you need to feel confident, heard and supported! We can help you get the support and services your child needs to succeed.

Give us a call at 888-392-3782 or email us at [email protected] today to schedule a FREE consultation.

#504

Having the right amount of sensory input can help support attention, focus, alertness, interactiveness and organization throughout the day! So what does a sensory diet look like anyway? Here are a few examples that may help with meeting those sensory needs!

An occupational therapist usually assists in designing a sensory diet that focuses on individual needs, which can then be used at home or at school.

#504

☀️ There’s still time to take advantage of our summer sale!! ☀️

Exceptional Advocacy Services is offering a 20% discount on all waiver fees until July 15th, 2024!! If you need assistance filing, we’ve got you covered. Call us today at 888-392-3782 or email us at [email protected] for more information on these huge savings.

Don’t forget that although summer is here, Exceptional Advocacy Services never stops working for your child to receive the support and services they need. Give us a call to see how we can help!

#504

Happy 4th of July from Exceptional Advocacy Services 🇺🇸