Hello!

IEP advocacy, parent coaching and educational assesment that finally makes sense - for you and your child.

A middle-aged woman with curly gray hair, wearing a black top, standing outdoors near water, with a wooden structure in the background.

Rhonda Austin - Special Education Advocate | Assesment Specialist | IEP Coach

After working 27+ years in education as a general education and special education teacher, assistant principal, and diagnostician. I’ve sat in every seat at the IEP table, and now, I sit in the one that matters the most, next to you.

“We all carry different buckets. Some leak, some overflow, and some need refilling more often. But when we understand what each one holds, we can stop blaming the child and start building the bridge.”
— Rhonda Austin, M.Ed.

“We all carry different buckets. Some leak, some overflow, and some need refilling more often. But when we understand what each one holds, we can stop blaming the child and start building the bridge.”

— Rhonda Austin, M.Ed.

How Can I Help?

Getting Started

Every child is more than a stack of paperwork. That’s why we always start with a conversation. I want to hear your hopes, concerns, and dreams for your child.

Then I will review your child's IEP/504 past and current records, which you have provided, digging into the evaluations, goals, accommodations, and progress reports with trained eyes. We meet on Zoom to walk through what I’ve found, explaining where things stand, what’s missing, and areas needing to be addressed.

In that first conversation, we’ll make sure we’re on the same page—and that we both feel like this is the right fit. I believe in honest partnerships and clear expectations, and I want you to feel fully seen, supported, and informed every step of the way.

What is best for you and your child?

Special Education Advocacy

Sometimes, you need more than support; you need someone who can step in, hold the line, and speak clearly on behalf of your child. As an advocate, I help you navigate the system, make sense of the data, and make sure your child’s needs aren’t just discussed—they’re met.

I attend IEP/504 meetings with you, review the IEP/504 draft paperwork or new assessments, and help ensure that you are a part of the decision-making team to meet the law requirements and your child's unique needs.

IEP and 504 Coaching

Other times, you’re ready to be led, but you need a guide. IEP/504 coaching is for parents who want to understand the process, ask questions, and show up to meetings feeling confident and prepared.

Together, we walk through your child’s plan, clarify what’s working and what's not, getting you ready to advocate from a place of calm, not chaos.

When the IEP/504 meeting day comes, I do my best to stay accessible in case something shifts, and you need quick support in the moment. You’re not alone—even when it’s go time.

What’s the Difference?

Advocacy means I speak for you.

Coaching means I help you speak for yourself.

Both are rooted in deep experience, compassion, and a desire to see your child thrive. In both roles, I break down the process step by step and explain the acronyms, vocabulary, timelines, and options in plain language—so you’re not just present, you’re prepared.

You get to choose what feels right for your child, and I’ll be right there, either way.

Private Assessment

My Assessment Work

If questioning a previous assessment or trying to understand your child’s learning profile, or if the Buckets and Barrels checklist gave you clarity or caused more questions, and you need data to support your gut feelings or observations, a formal assessment may be warranted. I approach every evaluation like a puzzle. My job is to figure out why your child is struggling—and how we can help them move forward.

Using a whole child approach, trusted tools, and plain language, you will get more than a report. Giving real answers, personalized insight, and a written roadmap for next steps—at school, at home, and everywhere in between.

I specialize in:

1. Learning differences like dyslexia, dysgraphia, executive Functioning, and ADHD

2. Anxiety, depression, and behavior disorders rating scales (Leading to the next step, not a diagnosis)

3. Formal Achievement

4. Formal Cognitive strength-and-weakness profiles (Buckets and Barrels Gs)

5. Parent-friendly explanations

6. Practical recommendations

If something is not adding up, let's figure out what is going on. Want a call to action at the bottom like “See Assessment Options” or “Start a Records Review”? Or should we fold this right into your Services page? (Need a way parents can upload documents that go to my email or so someplace else or schedule an appointment.)