Advocacy Assistance 

We understand some families are facing financial hardships. So while the need for advocacy assistance cuts across all economic lines, the ability to pay differs widely. As has been our custom, we have listed below organizations that can provide assistance with special education advocacy.  In addition to xMinds free resources, we've expanded our listings to include providers that offer services at a reduced-fee or sliding scale. To find more general guidance for parents advocacy in the IEP process, see our Parent Advocacy Guidance. 

Free xMinds Team Consult

A small group of xMinds parents who have both experience and training navigating the MCPS special needs system provides help to parents who are new to the system or who need guidance or support in finding a school placement or advocating within the IEP process. These volunteers provide guidance, support, and can connect parents with resources (including educational consultants and lawyers, if needed), but these volunteers do not provide legal advice and do not accompany you to IEP meetings. 

Our process:  Once you complete our short intake form, one of our volunteer advocates will reach out to you to discuss your child’s situation. After you talk with the volunteer, they will report your information to our group of volunteer advocates who are supervised by one professional special education advocate. This group will pool their collective knowledge and advice to address your questions. Then the volunteer will get back to you with the guidance they've assembled. You do not send xMinds your IEP or other documents. 

If you want to speak to one of our volunteer advocates, please complete this form. This service is offered free of charge.  Complete this form in Spanish here. 

Free Advocacy Assistance | Sliding-Scale Advocacy | Free Information and Resources

Free Advocacy Assistance

SEE US

Special Education Excellence for Underserved Students (SEEUS) provides no-cost, expert, high-quality special education advocacy to Black students with special needs whose education has been impacted by systemic racism.

Educational Resources Group of Greater Washington

Educational Resources Group of Greater Washington never turns away a client, regardless of ability to pay. Directors Stacy Ganz Kahn and Donna Sagona have experience as regular education teachers, special education teachers, staff development trainers, public school administrators, and parents of children with learning differences. This gives them a unique perspective on the entire IEP process. Educational Resources Group offers not only educational consulting and advocacy, but also academic therapy (tutoring) services. We do pro bono, sliding scale, and reduced cost. We do not turn anyone away. We work within all budgets.

Sliding-Scale Advocacy Assistance

Advocate Navigator LLC offers a sliding scale. 

Weinfeld Education Group (WEG) provides its own reduced-fee program, based on financial need. We also are part of WISER’s reduced fee/pro bono program. in addition, we partner with some community organizations who pay for our services so that the client does not have to pay. Finally, we offer discounts for teachers and the military.

A community-based program of the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) at Kennedy Krieger Institute, Project HEAL provides comprehensive advocacy and civil legal services for Kennedy Krieger patients and their families. If a case proceeds to representation, families must provide proof of income to determine appropriate fees based on Project HEAL’s sliding-scale, fee-for-service model.

Free Information and Resources

Parents' Place of Maryland

You can contact Parents' Place of Maryland for free resources and information to help you ensure your child receives the support they need at school. Experts from the "Ask the Expert" program are available in Spanish or English. 

Resource Finder 

The Resource Finder at the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities, housed at Baltimore's Kennedy Krieger Institute, provides free information about autism and other developmental disabilities, as well as access to related resources. Whether you’re looking for resources on advocacy assistance, child care, education, service providers, housing or more, the Resource Finder can help. To contact the Resource Finder, call 800-390-3372, email ResourceFinder@KennedyKrieger.org or submit an online form. Be sure to include information about your specific needs and location. The Resource Finder compiles and disseminates a personalized response to each inquiry.

For more resources, check out the Maryland State Department of Disabilities.