Member Mary Elisabeth
MemberProfile Details
Level 2
Since July 30, 2024
| Organization | --- |
|---|---|
| Role | --- |
| Phone | (401) 339-0220 |
| info@hannahadvocacy.org | |
| Calendar Link | Book time with me |
I helping parents of children with disabilities go from feeling overwhelmed, unheard and struggling to navigate the special education process, to becoming confident participants & proactive planners for their child’s unique needs.
I joined the field of advocacy because I absolutely love learning! So what else could I do but join the field of education where learning is continuous. My journey to advocacy has been one filled with surprises.
As a child, I loved school, but often struggled through, sometimes taking up to 4 hours to do homework, and struggling to grasp abstract concepts.
Then in college, I transitioned from being a career struggling writer, to being nominated to being a writing tutor… thus introducing me to the world of being an educator. It only took one Childhood Behavior Disorders class, to help me find my niche in the world of special education.
My journey after college started as a paraprofessional at an outplacement school for children with Autism. Feeling unprepared as a Psychology and Music major to educate this population, I quickly expanded my horizons by working on my Masters in Special Education and then taking an Advanced Training Program in Behavior Analysis to ensure I truly had the skills to work with and understand individuals in a neurodiverse population.
As I gained my degrees, I moved from teacher to special education administrator, to curriculum specialist and consultant. Each role more intriguing than the next, allowing me to expand my repertoire.
And with all that knowledge, I learned that just teaching wasn’t enough. While I learned from my students daily, I wanted to ensure that all students, no matter the disability had an opportunity to enjoy learning and to be taught the way they learned. So I joined the world of educational advocacy, where I now am blessed with the opportunity to train and education parents in 1-on-1 or group workshops, help resolve difficult cases and rebuild teams.
And as I continue to build my repertoire, I cannot wait to envision the future!
| Title | Description | URL |
|---|---|---|
Website |
Here is where you can find information on my services, as well as additional ways to contact me. | https://www.hannahadvocacy.org |
| This is my business Facebook page. I am at this point learning to improve my social media presence. But it has information about what I do and how to get in touch. | https://www.facebook.com/HannahEdAdvocate/ | |
| This is my business Instagram page. I am at this point learning to improve my social media presence. | https://www.instagram.com/hannah_ed_advocacy_consult/ | |
| This is my LinkedIn account. It focuses more on the business, but I do not post frequently here. To look at social media posts, visit Facebook and/ or Instagram | https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahedadvocate/ |
"You are truly brilliant, gifted and knowledgeable in so many ways. I cannot express how amazing it is to work with you, to learn and to feel safe with you. My family thanks you!"
"Mary Elisabeth is a true asset to any parent/guardian fighting for the services your child not only needs, but deserves. Aside from being a wealth of knowledge, she’s extremely thorough and detailed with her assessments. If you feel unheard or unsure she is exactly what you need to give you a voice. Her knowledge and background forces everyone in the room to bring their A game which in our case led to us finally getting our son the help we had been asking for. She takes all of the uncertainties away and gives you as a parent the comfort of knowing you are not alone in the fight for your child’s education and well being."
"Having sat on both sides of the IEP table, I can attest that the attitude of an advocate can make or break an IEP meeting. Mary Elisabeth flawlessly balances fierce advocacy with a collaborative approach that is professional and well received by the team members who work directly with your child"
"It was so easy to take over this case. The files were organized and the summary gave a clear history of the child's circumstances"
"Her friendly demeanor during trainings made our parents feel comfortable and at ease to be able to ask questions and get informed. Her knowledge of Special Education Law, IEP expertise and passion as an advocate, has given many parents the courage and wisdom needed to work with their schools to get much-needed services for their children that are available. I highly recommend Mary Elisabeth for any training and educational advocacy."
