/>Skip to searchSkip to main content
EmpowerEd Consulting & Advocacy

About EmpowerEd Consulting & Advocacy

EmpowerEd Consulting & Advocacy provides experienced special education advocacy and disability-related support for families navigating school systems, services, and next steps.


We help families understand documents, prepare for meetings, ask meaningful questions, and advocate for supports that are centered on the child’s individual needs.


Meet Ashley Traylor, M.Ed.

Non-Attorney Special Education Advocate


Ashley is a Non-Attorney Special Education Advocate, former special education teacher, and founder of EmpowerEd Consulting & Advocacy. She helps families navigate IEPs, 504 plans, evaluations, eligibility, behavior supports, transition planning, and the often-overwhelming systems that come with disability advocacy.


Ashley brings both professional experience and lived experience to her work. Before becoming a full-time advocate, she spent nearly two decades in special education as a teacher and education consultant. She is also the parent of a child with complex disabilities, which gives her a deeply personal understanding of what families face when trying to secure appropriate support.


Her approach is direct, compassionate, collaborative, and family-centered. Ashley believes the best outcomes happen when families, schools, providers, and agencies work together with a shared focus on the child. She supports parents in understanding their rights, organizing their concerns, asking stronger questions, and participating as informed, confident members of the team.

Why Families Choose EmpowerEd

Professional experience. Parent perspective. Practical advocacy support.



As the parent of a child with multiple disabilities, Ashley understands how overwhelming school and systems can feel for families. 


Nearly two decades of lived experience in special education, disability services, family support, non-profit leadership, and school-based advocacy.


Master’s degree in Special Education with experience supporting families through IEPs, 504 Plans, evaluations, eligibility, behavior supports, and transition planning.



COPAA-trained advocate and actively involved in the disability community as a volunteer, board member, partner, and supporter of local disability agencies, organizations, and advisory councils.


Meet Our Advocacy Team

EmpowerEd is growing to better support families navigating special education, disability services, and school-based concerns. Our advocates bring professional experience, compassion, and practical knowledge to their work with families.

Each advocate receives training and guidance through EmpowerEd’s process so families receive consistent, thoughtful, and individualized support.

Kelsey Johnson

Special Education Advocate


About: Kelsey has spent seven years championing student success in the special education field. As a special education teacher and transition specialist, she brings deep expertise in transition planning for youth and young adults aged 14 to 22. Kelsey is committed to guiding students and their families through critical milestones to foster lifelong independence and confidence. 

Specialty Areas: School-based Transition Services, Post-Secondary Living, Learning & Working, SSI, Vocational Rehabilitation

Connect with Kelsey

Joy Barlean

Disability Advocate

About: Joy is a Disability and Special Education Advocate who helps individuals with disabilities and their families navigate education, healthcare, Medicaid, HCBS waiver services, and community-based supports. She brings experience in special education advocacy, Medicaid services, waiver navigation, family leadership, and cross-system coordination.

Joy supports families through evaluations, IEPs, Section 504 plans, Medicaid eligibility, HCBS waiver services, CCO, and service planning. 


Her background as an Independent Support Broker, along with her work with the Iowa Department of Public Health, ASK Resource Center, and Molina Healthcare, gives her a strong understanding of how education, healthcare, and disability service systems intersect.


Joy is passionate about helping families understand their rights, access meaningful supports, and advocate confidently for inclusive opportunities and positive outcomes.


Specialty Areas: Medicaid, Waivers, Community Resources, and cross-service coordination

Connect with Joy

Renee Green

Special Education Advocate


About: Renee Green brings over 30 years of experience in special education, educational leadership, and student support systems. She has served as a special education teacher, work experience coordinator, Director of Special Education, assistant principal, adjunct faculty member, and Special Education Consultant with Grant Wood AEA. Renee has extensive experience supporting students with disabilities across elementary, middle, and high school settings, with a strong background in transition planning, inclusive practices, reading support, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. She is passionate about helping families and teams understand student needs and build meaningful supports that help students succeed.


Specialty Areas: IEPs, 504 Plans, academics, MTSS, and coaching teams

Connect with Renee