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What’s Your Biggest Struggle When Advocating for School Supports?

Writer: Sophia WhitehouseSophia Whitehouse

Let’s talk about the ultimate parenting boss battle: advocating for school supports. Whether you’re drafting an epic email to the principal or decoding an IEP that reads like ancient hieroglyphics, the struggle is real.


But hey, you’re not alone. Every parent or guardian fighting for their child’s success has been there—questioning their sanity in the middle of yet another meeting where “collaboration” feels like a four-letter word.


What’s Your Struggle?

Is it:

  • The Jargon Overload? Why does every meeting sound like you’re on an episode of Law & Order: Special Education Unit?

  • The Endless Paperwork? Because nothing says “we’re here to help” like a mountain of forms and policies no one can explain.

  • The “Prove It” Game? Oh, your child needs supports? Well, better gather a year’s worth of evidence and a notarized affidavit from your pediatrician, teacher, and the family dog.

  • The Emotional Toll? Advocating for your child’s needs is exhausting, especially when it feels like you’re the only one fighting for them.


Let’s Talk Solutions

We want to hear from you! What strategies have worked? What do you wish someone had told you when you started this journey? Share your stories, tips, or just vent in the comments—we’re here for all of it (and maybe we’ll all laugh-cry together).


If you need professional advice, call or text 614-470-4466, email admin@achievepsychology.org, or visit www.achievepsychology.org.


Works Cited

  1. Wrightslaw. (2023). Parent Advocacy Tips for IEP Meetings.

  2. IDEA. (2004). Public Law 108-446.

  3. National Center for Learning Disabilities. (2023). Effective Advocacy Strategies for School Supports.

  4. Understood.org. (2022). Navigating IEPs and 504 Plans.

  5. Council for Exceptional Children. (2021). Parent Collaboration in Special Education.


A warm kitchen scene captured in a medium-wide shot, featuring a parent seated at a rustic wooden table, surrounded by stacks of paperwork, manila folders, and a laptop displaying an email draft on the screen. The parent has a furrowed brow and a slightly frustrated yet determined expression, with a pen in one hand and a coffee mug in the other, emphasizing their focus. A calendar and sticky notes with reminders are pinned to a nearby wall, adding to the feeling of organized chaos.

In the corner of the room, under soft, ambient lighting, a young child sits cross-legged on a colorful rug in a sensory-friendly nook. The child is cheerfully coloring in a book with thick crayons, surrounded by tactile cushions, a weighted lap pad, and a small bin of fidget toys. The overall space radiates warmth and functionality, with muted tones and natural materials creating a cozy yet dynamic family environment. Shot with a Canon EOS-1D X Mark III, 35mm f/1.8 lens, with a slightly warm and subdued color palette to evoke both the challenges and joys of daily life.

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