Colleen is a bilingual speech-language pathologist and non-attorney special-education advocate serving her community through her private practice and engaging with the broader disability advocacy community through her page @theadvocate.slp on Instagram.

Colleen’s desire to create "Unfiltered IEPs” was borne out of the need she saw to bridge the gap between parents and professionals who sit at the IEP table. So much is left unsaid in the formal setting of an IEP meeting, and Colleen wanted to create a space where everyone could share their unfiltered opinions and their own truths about their experiences at the IEP table. She wants both parents and school staff to realize they’re stronger united against the forces that seek to dismantle and defund public education.

As a public school SLP, Colleen advocated for her students on the inside but felt pulled to help the parents who weren’t experiencing the full informed participation they deserved to have. She began taking courses in special education policy and IDEA. Now she is able to offer both speech-language therapy AND advocacy services as the owner of her private practice.

Colleen will soon be sharing a resource guide for school team members on how to advocate for their students from inside the school system. Subscribe to her email list so you will know when it’s available.