Find an advocate to
fit your family

Paige Ryan

Caregiver Coach

I am a pediatric physical therapist and caregiver coach with over a decade of experience working with children with disabilities, neurodivergent profiles, and complex medical needs. I founded Foundation First Physical Therapy specifically because I kept watching families navigate impossibly complex systems alone — and I wanted to be the person in their corner. My advocacy work lives at the intersection of clinical expertise and systems navigation. I help families understand their child's PT needs, push back on insurance denials, navigate DME and equipment authorization, prepare for IEP meetings from a motor and functional perspective, and make sense of the medical language and recommendations being thrown at them by a team of specialists. What I bring that most advocates don't is the clinical background to speak the language of the providers AND the ability to translate it for families in a way that actually makes sense. I have sat in IEP meetings, written medical necessity letters, filed insurance appeals, and coached caregivers through some of the most overwhelming moments of their lives. I work with families of children with cerebral palsy, autism, rare and complex diagnoses, and medically complex profiles. I am based in Chelmsford, MA but offer virtual support nationwide through my caregiver coaching practice.

Ashley Traylor she/her

Special Education Advocate

I am a non-attorney special education advocate with a master’s degree in special education and nearly two decades of experience supporting students with disabilities and their families. My background includes work as a special education teacher, education consultant, and parent advocate, which gives me a strong understanding of both the school and family sides of the IEP process. I support families with IEPs, 504 plans, evaluations, eligibility, behavior plans, discipline concerns, transition planning, and parent participation in meetings. My goal is to help families feel prepared, informed, and confident while working collaboratively with school teams to address the student’s individual needs. I am also a parent of a child with disabilities, so I understand how emotional and overwhelming the process can feel. I believe families deserve clear information, practical support, and someone beside them who can help translate the paperwork, organize the concerns, and keep the focus on the child. My advocacy style is calm, collaborative, and solution-focused. I help families understand their rights, ask meaningful questions, review documents, prepare for meetings, and communicate concerns clearly and productively.

Kathlyn Roffina

Special Education Advocate

I have a physical disability and have lived this life for 31 years. My son and husband have different medical complexities and have been thrown into navigating everything as a parent. I would love to help you feel less alone and help you thrive again.

Ysela Heim

Special Education Advocate

Please visit our website to learn about our team. www.yselaheim.com

Maureen Brown

Special Education Advocate

I am a results orientated experienced Advocate, I find the right fit program, and I advocate for the appropriatte supports and services for every client.

Ayala Horwitz

Diagnosis & Healthcare Advocate

I do alot of coaching for families

Jordan LeVan

Special Education Advocate

I have been practicing IEP advocacy since 2020, and my work is deeply rooted in both professional experience and lived experience. As someone who had an IEP growing up, I understand firsthand what it feels like to navigate the special education system as a student. Today, I advocate alongside families to help ensure students receive the individualized supports, services, and protections they are entitled to under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). My advocacy approach is strategic, collaborative, and always centered on the best interests of the child. I believe every student is unique, so I adapt my approach based on what will be most effective in helping the learner access the services and supports they need. In some situations, that means working collaboratively with the school team to build consensus. In others, it means taking a more firm approach when necessary to ensure the student’s rights are protected and their safety/overall well being. Regardless of the strategy, I remain respectful, solution-focused, and committed to achieving meaningful outcomes for the child and their family.

Dr. Shelesha Taylor

Special Education Advocate

Kelli Helmer

Special Education Advocate

I am a social worker, care coordinator, non profit creator and a special needs mom x4. A guardian and one heck of an advocate!!

Michelle Mahan

Special Education Advocate

I have lived experience. When parents deal with CPS and custody issues, they're often scared, confused, and mad. Social workers, judge, lawyers don't explain your rights as a parent; they tell you, but don't really help you understand. That's where I come in....I can help you understand from both sides.