Many people claim to be advocates in education but you must look at their philosophy, education, and background. Advocacy is not regulated and we have seen many people say they can advocate for you and wind up making the situation worse. Some advocates goals are only to sue, sue, sue! This is not our goal at Inspire Education. Our goal is relationships and helping children find their path. We have 12 years of classroom experience. We have completed two years of advocacy training by the Council of Parents, Attorneys and Advocates and our founder has her Master’s Degree from the University of South Dakota in training and education. How many advocates can bring that resume to the table? Not many! This is a huge advantage for you and your child.
We negotiate, we give your child a voice, we want to build a relationship with your family. If your advocate says they can just show up to your IEP meeting and help, that is a HUGE RED FLAG! An effective advocate will take the time to learn about your child, your family, and the school. They will review records, communicate with staff, and create a straightforward plan before a meeting is even mentioned. Inspire Education is the ONLY independent advocate in the state of South Dakota. We are the only advocate who has been trained by COPAA. We do charge for our services and our expertise in the field is a reflection of that charge. You will get what you pay for when you hire us! You will get a professional who knows the system inside and out. You will get an advocate trained in negotiation, the law, and what is appropriate for your child. We will individualize, personalize and not just treat you like another case file. We want our students to succeed!
