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Unlock New Opportunities

“Every child deserves a champion—someone who believes in their potential, speaks for their needs, and never gives up until their voice is heard. Educational advocacy is not just about services or paperwork; it’s about unlocking the possibility within every learner and building a future where all children can thrive.”

Lancaster Education Advocacy Group

WELCOME

We’re dedicated to helping families navigate Early Intervention Services, 504 Service Plans, and Special Education Services with clarity, compassion, and expertise. Our mission is to ensure that every student—regardless of age, background, or need—has access to the tools and support necessary to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
 

At Lancaster Education Advocacy Group, we believe that informed advocacy changes lives. Whether your child is beginning Early Intervention, receiving classroom accommodations under a 504 Service Plan, or has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

Your Trusted Educational Advocate

With over 26 years of experience as a Pennsylvania Certified School Psychologist, I bring a comprehensive understanding of child development, learning differences, and educational systems across all grade levels. My work has focused on supporting students’ academic, behavioral, and emotional needs through evidence-based assessment, collaboration with educators and families, and the development of individualized educational programs that promote success for every learner.
 

Before becoming a school psychologist, I spent four years teaching in pre-school and middle school settings, experiences that provided a strong foundation in early childhood development and specialized instruction. As a Pre-School Teacher, I nurtured social, emotional, and academic readiness through play-based and developmentally appropriate learning. In my role as a Middle School Learning Support Teacher for grades 6 and 8, I provided targeted academic interventions, supported executive functioning and organizational skills, and guided students in building self-advocacy and independence.
 

I also hold dual certification as a Pennsylvania Certified Elementary and Special Education Teacher, with classroom experience in both general and special education at the elementary level. My teaching career emphasized inclusive practices, differentiated instruction, and close collaboration with families and multidisciplinary teams to ensure student growth and success. My passion for inclusive education began early, volunteering as a high school student to work with students with Autism—an experience that shaped my lifelong commitment to advocacy and equitable education for all learners.
 

Throughout my career, my mission has remained consistent: to empower students, families, and educators with the knowledge, compassion, and tools necessary to create meaningful, individualized learning experiences that allow every child to thrive.

 

Our Services

At Lancaster Education Advocacy Group, we are dedicated to supporting children, families, and schools through comprehensive educational advocacy, consultation, and evaluation services. Our goal is to ensure that every student—whether in general education, supported through a 504 Service Plan, or receiving special education—has access to appropriate instruction, meaningful supports, and equitable educational opportunities.
 

Educational Advocacy and Consultation

We provide direct support to families as they navigate the educational system, offering guidance, representation, and expertise to help ensure that students’ needs are fully recognized and addressed.

Our advocacy services include:
 

  • Attendance and support during school meetings (e.g., IEP, 504, or MTSS meetings).

  • Review and interpretation of educational records, evaluations, and progress data.

  • Assistance developing or revising IEPs and 504 Plans to align with students’ needs.

  • Guidance in the early intervention and school-age eligibility processes.

  • Support for families seeking appropriate accommodations, modifications, and evidence-based interventions.

  • Collaboration with educators and school teams to promote effective communication and problem-solving.
     

Our consultants advocate respectfully and collaboratively, empowering families with the knowledge and confidence to make informed educational decisions.

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Evaluation Services for School Districts

We partner with school districts to provide high-quality, objective, and comprehensive psychoeducational and multidisciplinary evaluations that meet state and federal requirements.

Our school-based evaluation services include:
 

  • Cognitive, academic, behavioral, and social-emotional assessments.

  • Reevaluations and independent reviews of existing data.

  • Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA) and Behavior Intervention Planning.

  • Evaluation of giftedness and twice-exceptional (2e) profiles.

  • Consultation with teachers and administrators to interpret data and develop data-driven recommendations.

  • Specializing in IDEA disability classifications of Specific Learning Disability, Emotional, Disturbance, Other Health Impairment, and Autism. 
     

All evaluations are conducted in alignment with IDEA, Chapter 14 (Special Education), and Chapter 16 (Gifted Education) regulations and are designed to provide meaningful, actionable insights to guide instruction and support.
 

Independent Educational Evaluations (IEE) for Families

Families who have concerns about their child’s educational progress or disagree with a school district’s evaluation may request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE). Our evaluators conduct IEEs that are:
 

  • Comprehensive and unbiased, integrating cognitive, academic, social-emotional, and behavioral data.

  • Individualized, identifying both strengths and areas of need to guide instructional planning.

  • Compliant with federal and state regulations governing special education (IDEA).

  • Collaboratively reviewed, with findings shared in a parent-friendly format and, if desired, presented at IEP or 504 meetings.
     

The IEE process is designed to ensure that families receive a clear, accurate understanding of their child’s learning profile and that the resulting recommendations lead to meaningful educational progress.


Professional Development and Training

We also provide professional learning opportunities for educators, school teams, and community organizations.
Topics include:
 

  • Understanding learning differences and neurodiversity.

  • Best practices in inclusive education and behavior support.

  • Effective collaboration between schools and families.

  • Progress monitoring, intervention planning, and data-based decision-making.
     

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Autism Assessment

Our Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessment process is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of a child’s social communication skills, behavioral functioning, and developmental history. The goal is to identify the presence of characteristics consistent with autism and to guide families and educators in planning appropriate supports and interventions.


Comprehensive Evaluation Approach

Each autism evaluation integrates multiple sources of data to ensure a thorough and accurate understanding of the individual’s profile. This includes:
 

  • Developmental History Interview:
    We begin by conducting an in-depth developmental history interview with parents or caregivers. This discussion explores early developmental milestones, communication skills, play behaviors, sensory sensitivities, social interactions, and adaptive functioning. The developmental history helps establish how current behaviors compare to early patterns and provides vital context for understanding the child’s growth and learning trajectory.

  • Direct Assessment (ADOS-2):
    The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) is a standardized, play-based and interactive assessment considered the gold standard for observing behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorder. The ADOS-2 allows the evaluator to assess communication, social reciprocity, eye contact, use of gestures, imaginative play, and flexibility in behavior across structured and unstructured tasks. The module selected is based on the child’s age and language level, ensuring a developmentally appropriate evaluation.

  • Parent and Teacher Rating Scales:
    Input from both home and school settings is essential to understanding the child’s social, emotional, and behavioral functioning across environments. Standardized questionnaires (such as the Social Responsiveness Scale, BASC, or Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales) are used to gather this information.

  • Cognitive and Adaptive Functioning:
    When appropriate, additional assessments of intellectual and adaptive functioning are administered to understand the child’s learning profile, problem-solving abilities, and independence skills.
     

Interpretation and Reporting

All data—behavioral observations, ADOS-2 results, developmental history, and rating scales—are integrated into a comprehensive report that includes:
 

  • A clear diagnostic summary aligned with DSM-5 criteria.

  • A description of the child’s unique strengths and areas of challenge.

  • Individualized educational and therapeutic recommendations to guide school programming and family support.
     

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717-538-5978

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