About Us
Welcome to Disability Advocacy and Support Specialists, Inc!
We are a team of educational advocates dedicated to ensuring that children with disabilities receive the support and resources they need to thrive in school. Our services include advocacy, consulting, school observations, educational records review, and parent training.
We want to help you create an IEP so your child gets the education they deserve!
Years of Combined Advocacy Experience
Families Served Across Florida and Beyond
Committed To Personalized, Compassionate Support
Success Rate In Improving IEP Outcomes
Your Child Deserves a Knowledgeable Advocate
DASS advocates have decades of protecting and promoting the educational rights of students with disabilities. As a result, we have unparalleled experience and expertise in obtaining meaningful outcomes for students with special needs.
- Seasoned advocates ready to assist families in need
- Personal experience navigating the education system for our own children
- Collaborative approach to dealing with school systems
- Addressing behavioral, social and emotional needs
- Advocacy fees based on family income - sliding fee scale
Our Mission
Disability Advocacy and Support Specialists, Inc, is a 501c3 nonprofit. Our mission is to provide personalized educational consulting services to parents of children with disabilities. We believe that every individual has unique strengths and challenges, and we work closely with our clients to help them achieve their full potential.
Our Team
Our team of experienced consultants has a diverse background in education, culture, and advocacy. We bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our work, and we are committed to providing the highest level of service to our clients.
Ready to take the next step? Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve your goals. We look forward to hearing from you! Contact Us
The Support System Every Parent Deserves
Empowering you with the tools and knowledge to advocate with confidence.
When you have a child with a disability, you need a support system that can provide the information, resources, and IEP advice your child deserves, and has the legal right to.
Unfortunately, no system offers a silver platter to choose from. Instead, it’s set up in a way that you MUST know what to ask for in advance. And that’s where we come in! No matter what challenge you are facing, you are not alone. At Disability Advocacy and Support Specialists, we have fought for our own children, and we stand ready to fight for yours.
Contact us online today to talk about the specifics of your situation and how our advocates can help. We work with families to ensure children’s needs are being met and that they are getting the education, services and accommodations they are entitled to receive.
We Help Children with Disabilities Receive What They Deserve
The under-achievement of students with disabilities in the public school system is staggering. Disability Advocacy and Support Specialists work with parents and caregivers to secure the knowledge they need to be the best possible advocates for their children.
“Achievement of students with disabilities is low, the achievement gap is high, and despite heroic efforts by schools and teachers, the gap isn’t closing,”
Causes of underachievement
Lack of thoughtful consideration of placement options
When students are placed in separate “programs”, they miss out on full emersion of your state’s educational standards. Every IEP team should first promote services and supports within inclusive classrooms.
Failure to access proper accommodations
From extra time, to 1:1 instruction, accommodations provide students with disabilities what they need to succeed in all classroom environments, even within the college setting.
Not receiving appropriate modifications or assistive technology to address their specific disability needs.
Lack of teacher training on best practices of students with disabilities
Teachers who fail to fully comprehend the impact of a student's disability, have a much stronger tendency to deliver ineffective strategies.
Omission of assistive technology
Students with disabilities must have access to technology to promote communication, independence, learning and social development.
Curriculum mismatch
The needs of the student may require specially designed instruction that matches their learning style. Simply giving a student extra time won’t promote learning if the curriculum is not adapted to meet their needs.
Addressing underachievement
Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
Provision of a personalized plan outlining specific goals, accommodations, and direct and related services for the student.
Collaboration between teachers and therapists
Regular communication between general education teachers, special education teachers, and related service providers to coordinate support and instruction.
Positive reinforcement and feedback
Providing frequent praise and encouragement to build student confidence.
Addressing behavioral, social and emotional needs
Providing specialized support to address challenges related to anxiety, sensory and communication needs.
Parent involvement
Actively engaging parents in their child's education and supporting their learning at home.
Where We Began
The purpose of DASS is to ensure that all available resources are utilized for the benefit of students with disabilities. By knowing and understanding the system, and your rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, we take a multidisciplinary team approach to protect and promote children with disabilities towards their most positive outcome by securing IEPs that truly provide what they need, and as such, promoting the rights of parents.
Hands-On Advocacy When It Matters Most
DASS services include assisting families in drafting correspondence to their schools, providing side-by-side advocacy at evaluation and re-evaluation plan meetings, Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, as well as Functional Behavior Assessment planning meetings for students in public schools. In addition, our advocates provide assistance to families in the areas of discipline, suspension and due process hearings.
IEP Meeting & Educational Advocacy
Navigating the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process can be overwhelming. Our advocates attend IEP meetings with you, ensuring your voice is heard and your child's needs are properly addressed. We attend meetings with you in person or online, advocating with you to ensure your child’s rights.
Transition Planning & Post-Secondary Prep
As your child approaches high school graduation, we help you prepare for the future. Our transition planning services support families in exploring college, career, and independent living paths. We help build realistic, goal-driven transition sections in IEPs and ensure accommodations continue into higher education.
School Observations & Consultations
Sometimes the best way to understand your child's needs is to observe them in the school setting. We provide guidance on what to look for when you spend time in your child's classroom. When necessary, we conduct observations and provide detailed feedback on classroom dynamics, instructional strategies, and areas of concern.
Disability Advocacy and Support Specialists is greatly appreciative to our funding partners at the Lucas P. Wintrode Foundation.
