by Alison Stone | Mar 5, 2026 | Advocacy
I see you. It’s March, and if you’re reading this, you’re probably wondering: does my child need summer special education services? Maybe your school mentioned something called “ESY” at your last IEP meeting and you weren’t sure...
by Alison Stone | Feb 28, 2026 | Advocacy
I’ve been on both sides of the evaluation request. As an administrator, I facilitated evaluations. As an advocate, I’ve fought with schools that dragged their feet, missed timelines, or conducted evaluations so narrow they missed real problems....
by Alison Stone | Feb 28, 2026 | Advocacy
I’m hearing it in conversations with parents every week: “Alison, I’m worried about what budget cuts mean for my child’s IEP. Can they just take services away? What can I do?” Your worry is justified. Arizona is facing real budget...
by Alison Stone | Feb 27, 2026 | Advocacy
Every day, I work with families whose children are struggling—not with math or reading, but with their mental health. Anxiety that makes it impossible to raise a hand in class. Depression that manifests as “laziness” that the school interprets as lack of...
by Alison Stone | Feb 27, 2026 | Advocacy
I’ve sat at the school’s table. I know how they think, what arguments they make, and what they’re banking on you not understanding. As a special education advocate who spent 25 years in Arizona schools—as a teacher, coordinator, and...
