Latina Nickelson M.Ed, Non-Attorney Special Education Advocate

Quick question. When was the last time you walked into an IEP or 504 meeting and felt like the calm one in the room?

For a lot of parents, the honest answer is never. Not because you aren't capable. Because nobody ever handed you a system.
That's the whole point of the Collaboration Intensive. Four Fridays, live with me, building the exact tools that change how that meeting feels.

Week one, we build your Back-to-School Binder so every document lives in one place. Week two, a one-page Student Snapshot that puts your child's strengths in front of the team before anyone says a word. Week three, the letter that sets a collaborative tone before you ever sit down. Week four, a simple tracker so you can tell whether the plan is actually working.

By the time school starts, you are not reacting. You are ready.
$147. Only 25 seats in this cohort. We start Friday, July 17, 6 to 8 PM ET, live on Google Meet. Replays come with your seat.

Save your spot:

https://soareduservices.com/back-to-school-iep-prep/

Tell me in the comments: which one would help you most right now, the binder, the snapshot, the letter, or the tracker?

You've got this, and you're not alone in this.

From Chaos to Collaboration℠,
Latina

Let's talk about something that should make every parent stop scrolling.

Roughly 1 in 3 students walk across the graduation stage reading below the Basic level. Below Basic. Not a little behind. Below the floor.

For our kids, the ones with IEPs and 504 plans who are already fighting for every support, that number lands even harder. Reading is the door to everything else. Math word problems. Science class. Their own rights, written on a page they're handed at a meeting.
Here's the part I want you to hear. There's a bill on the table right now that could move the needle.

The READ Act. It's bipartisan. It was built with parents at the table, not just politicians in a room. And it's the biggest federal literacy reform we've seen in a decade.

This is one of those rare moments where your voice actually moves something.

So here's the ask. Sixty seconds. That's all.

Call your senators using the number on the graphic. Tell them this: "I'm a parent and a voter. Please support the READ Act so every kid in our state learns to read."

Not sure who your senators are? senate.gov has you covered.
Your child's right to read isn't up for debate. Let's make sure the people writing the laws know it too.

Who's making the call with me this week?

From Chaos to Collaboration℠, Latina

P.S. Want the full breakdown before you dial? Read it here: https://tinyurl.com/4e63dm7uLet's

Every August tends to start the same way for a lot of us. A new teacher who has never met your child. A plan that may or may not have followed them from last spring. And you, holding every detail in your head while the meeting keeps moving.
So here's a different idea. What if you walked in already ready?
That's what the Collaboration Intensive is built for. Four weeks, live, with me. We get you organized, set a collaborative tone with the team before the year even starts, and put real tools in your hands so you're not piecing it together in the room.
Here's what's inside:

✔ 4 live sessions on Google Meet

✔ The Back-to-School Binder, plus templates you can reuse all year

✔ Copy-paste scripts for the conversations that count

✔ Replays, so a busy week never costs you the lesson
Your child's seat in that classroom is not up for debate. This is about you walking in steady, organized, and ready to collaborate.
The details:

$147. Only 25 seats in this cohort.

Starts Friday, July 17. 6 to 8 PM ET, live.

Can't make it live? Replays come with your seat.
Save your spot here:

https://soareduservices.com/back-to-school-iep-prep/
Tell me in the comments: what's the one thing you wish you had ready before that first meeting of the year?
You've got this, and you're not alone in this.

From Chaos to Collaboration℠,
Latina

In celebration of Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, join the National Parents Union for a special edition of our live-streamed series highlighting some of our phenomenal male educators and fatherhood partners.

NPU Fathers & Families Forum In celebration of men's mental health awareness month, join the National Parents Union for a special edition of our live streamed series highlighting some of our phenomenal male educator and fatherhood partners.

Now hiring a part-time learning specialist. Two to three days a week, one-on-one, structured literacy with a wonderful twelve-year-old who loves theater and learns big when he is taught the right way. Florida teaching certificate required. Experience with autistic learners and the science of reading preferred. Click the link for the full description. Resume to [email protected]. Background check covered. Tag a teacher who would be perfect for this.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10AkGCN-FIWZHzhlxcms2UoWTMYa4IA6p/edit?usp=sharing

Teachers shape our children's futures every single day.

As a board member of the Golden Keys Foundation, I am proud to share that mini-grants of up to $500 are now available for educators in our community.

Funds can be used for:
✓ Classroom supplies and educational resources
✓ Professional growth and certifications
✓ Hobbies that support additional income
✓ Mental health and self-care

For my SOAR families: The educators who show up for your children deserve to be celebrated and supported. Please share this with a teacher who has made a difference.

Nominate a teacher or apply at the link in bio.

Follow for more.

I wear a lot of hats, and one of my favorites is board member of the Golden Keys Foundation.

We are calling all local businesses and organizations to join us at our Spring Tea Party on May 30th, 2026, from 12 to 2 pm at 530 N Palmetto Ave, Sanford, FL 32771.

This is a beautiful opportunity to showcase your products and services to a community dedicated to supporting educators.

Vendor fee: $75 for-profit | FREE for nonprofits | In-kind donations welcomed.

For my SOAR families: You know how much I believe in the educators who show up for our children. The Golden Keys Foundation does the work to support them, and I am proud to be part of that mission.

Help us spread the word. Share this with a local business that belongs in that room.

Contact: [email protected]

April is also
Occupational Therapy Month, and I want to address something many families struggle with.

If an OT evaluation has identified your child's needs and OT services are written into the IEP, the school cannot reduce those minutes without your agreement.
That is not a preference.
That is FAPE.

For IEP families: Check your current service minutes. If OT was recommended and is not consistently happening, ask why in writing.

For 504 families: OT recommendations can be documented as accommodations or supports in your child's 504 plan. Do not assume it only applies to IEP students.

If you are not sure what your child is entitled to, that is a great question for a discovery call.

Something special is coming to Sanford, and I want you there.

On May 30th, the Golden Keys Foundation is hosting its Spring Tea Party, and we're calling all local businesses and organizations to come set up shop. This is your chance to put your products and services in front of a community that shows up for educators every single day.

Vendor spots are $75 for businesses and FREE for nonprofits. In-kind donations are also welcome.

The event runs from 12 to 2 pm at 530 N Palmetto Ave, right here in Sanford.

As a board member of this foundation, I can tell you firsthand: the people who come through our events are invested, engaged, and community-first. You want to be in that room.

Drop a comment if you're interested, or reach out directly to to get your application in.

Happy Easter to all who celebrate!
Wishing you and your family a peaceful and joyful day.
You deserve rest today.
Take it.