Ashly Barta
Special Education Advocate
Iowa
16 yrs experience
Remote
I bring both professional experience and deeply personal experience to special education advocacy. As an educator, consultant, and parent, I understand special education from both sides of the table. My greatest lessons in advocacy, however, have come from advocating for my own children, especially my son, who is nonverbal, uses AAC to communicate, and has epilepsy. His journey has taught me how important it is to look beyond a diagnosis, ask difficult questions, navigate complex educational and medical systems, and make sure a child’s needs and abilities are truly understood. I know firsthand how overwhelming it can feel when you are trying to make the right decisions for your child while also learning policies, services, evaluations, and supports.
Those experiences shape the advocate I strive to be: knowledgeable, compassionate, collaborative, and willing to ask questions when something doesn’t seem right. My goal is not simply to help families navigate special education, but to help them find their voice, understand their options, and confidently advocate for a child who deserves to be seen, heard, and supported.
Preferred
Verified
Special ed & IEPs
Early intervention
Financial support
Advocacy