Why my work goes far beyond the IEP meeting room.
More Than Just One Family at a Time
Most people know me as the person who shows up to IEP meetings armed with office supplies, data, and caffeeine. But advocacy doesn’t stop when the meeting ends or when one family’s case is closed.
Every IEP, every conversation, every email I write connects to something bigger, a system that needs to do better. The changes I fight for at the table are the same ones I work for in our community, at the state level, and even on Capitol Hill.
Because when one family wins, we all move forward.
Why I Advocate
This work is deeply personal to me. I’m not just an advocate or educator. I’m also the mom of a teen with special needs.
His future is at the center of everything I do. Every policy I study, every training I attend, every family I support, it all ties back to creating a world where students like him have real access, inclusion, and opportunity.
That perspective keeps me grounded. It reminds me that advocacy isn’t abstract; it’s about people. It’s about our kids’ everyday lives and their futures.
Where I Bring the Parent Voice to the Table
As the Founder and Executive Director of Bridges 2 Advocacy, I am proud to wear many hats, all for the same purpose — to make sure families and individuals with disabilities are heard where decisions are made.
-VP, Autism Society of the Quad Cities
I work with parents, professionals, and self-advocates to build inclusion across local schools, workplaces, and communities. From sensory-friendly events to resource fairs, we are breaking down barriers one conversation at a time.
-Member, The Arc of Iowa
The Arc champions civil rights and community inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Through this network, I collaborate on statewide initiatives that strengthen services, funding, and legal protections.
-Member, Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council
This role allows me to help shape statewide policy and funding priorities to ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to employment, education, housing, and self-advocacy training.
-Member, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)
This national organization connects advocates and attorneys across the country. Through COPAA, I stay current on federal legislation, case law, and emerging advocacy strategies that directly influence how I support families here in Iowa and beyond.
Each of these roles feeds back into my daily work with families and ensures that the advice I give is not just practical, but informed by the very policies and systems shaping our children’s futures.
Showing Up for My Community
Advocacy doesn’t live in conference rooms. It lives in the community.
You’ll often find me at local awareness walks, sensory-friendly movie nights, and back-to-school resource fairs. I show up not just to network but to listen to the parents, teachers, and community members who remind me why this work matters.
Through Bridges 2 Advocacy, I also give back through community trainings, scholarship programs for families who can’t afford advocacy services, and collaborations with local nonprofits and schools.
Because advocacy isn’t just about what happens at the table. It’s about what happens after, when we build relationships, spread knowledge, and create bridges of understanding across our community.
Learning, Lobbying, and Leading
I attend conferences, advocacy days, and legislative sessions to stay at the forefront of change.
When Iowa holds hearings or listening sessions on special education, I’m there.
When national disability policy shifts, I’m reading every line of it.
And when legislators meet to discuss funding or IDEA compliance, I’m the one saying, “Have you heard from the parents who live this every day?”
These experiences remind me that advocacy isn’t about being loud. It’s about being strategic, informed, and persistent.
Why This Matters for Families
When families work with me, they’re not just getting someone who understands IEP law. They’re getting an advocate who’s connected to every layer of the system, from the local district to the national policy table.
That means I can bring context, connections, and real-time insight that most advocates simply don’t have. It’s not just about getting your child the right support today. It’s about making sure the system is better for the next child tomorrow, including mine.
A Seat at Every Table
I started writing Hot Mess to Head of the Table to help parents walk into IEPs with confidence. But my mission has grown into something larger: to build bridges between families, schools, and policymakers so that no one ever has to fight alone.
As the Founder and Executive Director of Bridges 2 Advocacy, and as a mom of a teen with special needs, I believe that advocacy doesn’t end when the meeting adjourns. It begins again, in every room where decisions are made about our kids’ futures.
Join the Movement
💙 Learn more about my statewide and national advocacy work and how it supports Bridges 2 Advocacy at www.bridges2advocacy.org
📘 Get your copy of Hot Mess to Head of the Table for real-world advocacy tools and strategies, and know that every purchase directly supports Bridges 2 Advocacy’s mission to provide free and low-cost advocacy services for families in need. www.bridges2advocacy.org
💬 Or, if you’re ready for support in your own journey, schedule a consultation through EmpowerEd Consulting & Advocacy
