Educational Advocacy for Students & Families
When your child has been evaluated, diagnosed, or entering an IEP or 504 meeting, it can feel like everyone else knows the rules.
Schools have teams of specialists who attend IEP and 504 meetings every week. Most parents attend once or twice a year—without training, without experience reading evaluation reports, and without always knowing what they are entitled to ask for.
Our advocates level that playing field. We attend meetings with you as a knowledgeable ally, help you understand what the reports actually mean for your child’s day-to-day experience. We advise on which accommodations and services to request, and stay involved as your child’s needs evolve through each school year. For families of students with ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, and other learning differences, having the right person in the room often makes the difference between a plan that looks good on paper and one that actually works.
We can help whether you’re just getting started or already have a plan.
Your child was just diagnosed and you are not sure what to do next.
We help you understand the evaluation report, identify what to request from the school, and put a support plan in place before the next school year.
You have an IEP or 504 but it does not feel like it’s working.
We review your child’s current plan, help you understand whether the goals and services are appropriate, and prepare you for the next annual review.
You are heading into a school meeting and want to feel prepared.
We attend with you as your ally, help you ask the right questions, and make sure your child’s needs are clearly understood and documented.
Dynamic Tutoring Solutions provides educational advocacy services for families throughout Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Winnetka, Northfield, Glenview, Northbrook, Wilmette, Glencoe, Kenilworth, Evanston, and Highland Park. We help families navigate IEPs, 504 plans, neuropsychological evaluations, and school accommodations.
-
What is an advocate?
An advocate attends IEP/504 meetings with you as your ally, to ensure you understand the information being disseminated and offers advice and support as you work with the school and broader team to make critical decisions about your child’s education.
-
What is the difference between a 504 plan and an IEP?
Both are legal documents that provide accommodations and support for students with disabilities, but they differ in scope. A 504 plan is typically used for students who need accommodations to access the general education curriculum—things like extended time on tests, preferential seating, or copies of notes. An IEP (Individualized Education Program) is more comprehensive and is for students who need specialized instruction in addition to accommodations. IEPs include specific academic goals, services, and a team of school staff responsible for meeting those goals. Navigating which plan is right for your child—and making sure it is properly implemented—is exactly what our advocates help with.
-
Does my child need an advocate if they have ADHD or dyslexia?
Not always—but advocacy support is often valuable, especially when a diagnosis is new, when a child’s needs are not being met at school, or when you are heading into an IEP or 504 meeting and feel unsure of the process or your rights. Parents of children with ADHD and dyslexia frequently find that having an experienced advocate in the room leads to stronger plans and more appropriate accommodations. We can assess whether formal advocacy is necessary or whether consultation and coaching for parents would be sufficient.
-
How does an advocate work with my child's school?
At Dynamic Tutoring Solutions, we collaborate with parents, teachers, and school specialists as part of a coordinated team. This can include attending IEP and 504 meetings with you, helping you interpret evaluation reports, advising on which accommodations to request, and communicating with school staff about strategies that work for your child. We do not replace the school team—we complement it by making sure families have a knowledgeable, experienced voice in the room.
-
We already have an IEP or 504 in place. Can you still help us?
Yes, absolutely. Many of the families we work with come to us after a plan is already in place but are concerned it is not being fully implemented, that their child’s needs have changed, or that an upcoming annual review is approaching. We can review your child’s current plan, help you understand whether the goals and services are appropriate, prepare you for meetings, and advise on what to request as your child progresses. We also work with the school, specialists and parents to update goals and services to ensure the student’s needs are being met.
-
Can you help us understand the results of a neuropsychological evaluation?
Yes. Neuropsychological evaluation reports are detailed and full of technical language, and many families leave their feedback session still feeling uncertain about what it all means for their child’s day-to-day life and schooling. We help translate those findings into a practical action plan—identifying what to prioritize, what to advocate for at school, and what strategies to put in place at home. This is one of the most important steps after an evaluation, and it is a step many families do not get enough support with.
Ready to get started?
If your child is struggling with academics, executive functioning or learning differences, we can help build a clear plan forward. Contact us today to learn more.