Special education advocate in Virginia

I'm Karlie Libraro, a speech-language pathologist and special education advocate in Virginia. Maybe a meeting notice just came home. Maybe a 504 plan arrived that doesn't match what you see at home. Either way, you don't have to sort it out alone. I work with families across the state by video and phone. In the Richmond area, I come to meetings in person.

Who I work with in Virginia

I work with families of children with disabilities in any Virginia school division. Virtual support covers the whole state. Consultations, document review and meeting attendance all work well over video. If you live in Central Virginia, I can also come to meetings in person. That includes Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover. A travel fee applies to in-person services more than 30 miles from ZIP code 23230.

I've spent more than ten years as a speech-language pathologist in schools, outpatient clinics and private practice. I've sat on the school side of these meetings. So I know what a thorough evaluation report and a solid IEP goal look like. I'm not an attorney. Nothing I do is legal advice or legal representation.

Special education advocate services and prices

My prices are published so you can plan before you call:

• A free 15-minute call to talk through where things stand
• Consultations: $150 for new clients, $125 for returning clients (60 minutes)
• Document review: $130 for an IEP, 504 plan or prior written notice, $180 for an eligibility or evaluation report
• Letters and written responses to the school: $100
• Meeting attendance: $60 per 30 minutes with a one-hour minimum, virtual or in person in Central Virginia, with preparation included

Advocacy hours cover any of these: 3 hours for $360, 6 hours for $690 or 10 hours for $1,100. Ongoing cases can use a $480 monthly retainer. Want to mostly understand the process yourself? My Caregiver Education sessions are $65 for 30 minutes. Sliding-scale pricing is available for families who need it. The full list is on the services and prices page. What an IEP advocate costs walks through what changes the price.

How the special education process works in Virginia

Federal law (IDEA) sets the floor. Virginia fills in the details in the Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia, found at 8VAC20-81. A few of those details differ from what you'll read on national websites.

Evaluation and eligibility: 65 business days

Once the school division's special education administrator or designee receives a referral for an initial evaluation, the division has 65 business days to finish the evaluations and decide eligibility (8VAC20-81-60). The clock counts business days. It starts at the referral. The federal default in 34 CFR 300.301 is 60 days from your consent, unless the state sets its own timeframe. Virginia does. A division may set a shorter deadline. You and the eligibility group can also agree in writing to extend it when more data is needed. The date of the referral matters. So make your request in writing and keep a dated copy. That one step protects your timeline.

The IEP: 30 calendar days

If your child is found eligible, the IEP has to be developed within 30 calendar days of that decision (8VAC20-81-110). Will the school use a draft IEP at the meeting? Then the same section requires it to give you a copy at least two business days ahead. After the meeting, you should receive a copy of the IEP at no cost. That's either at the meeting or within 10 calendar days.

The Virginia Department of Education keeps parent guides and its dispute resolution options on its special education page for families. If the eligibility step is where you are right now, my posts on the school evaluation and the eligibility meeting explain what to expect.

504 plans in Virginia schools

504 plans in Virginia public schools follow federal law: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and its regulation at 34 CFR Part 104. Each school division runs its own 504 process. The regulation requires the school to evaluate a student who needs, or is believed to need, services because of a disability before deciding on placement (34 CFR 104.35). It also gives a parent or legal guardian procedural safeguards. Those include notice, a chance to review records and an impartial hearing (34 CFR 104.36).

A 504 plan fits a child whose disability substantially limits a major life activity, such as learning, reading or concentrating. That child mainly needs accommodations. I help Virginia families ask for a 504 evaluation, read proposed plans and get ready for 504 meetings. The 504 plan advocate page goes through the process step by step. The IEP vs. 504 plan guide explains which plan fits which child.

Free help for Virginia families

You may not need to pay anyone, at least at first. These Virginia organizations help families at no cost:

• The Parent Ombudsman for Special Education at VDOE is a neutral contact who gives confidential, informal help with non-legal special education questions and concerns.
• PEATC, the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center, is Virginia's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. It runs trainings and answers questions for families of children with disabilities.
• The disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV) is the state's designated protection and advocacy organization, and a place to ask about legal help if you think your child's rights have been violated.

Some families start with these. They come to me when they want someone to read every page of a report or sit in the meeting with them. Others do both at once. Either way is fine.

When you need an attorney

A few situations call for a lawyer: a due process hearing, a long suspension or expulsion, a settlement agreement, or a question about what the law requires in your child's specific case. If we're working together and you reach that point, I'll say so. I'll help you organize your records for the attorney. The advocate vs. attorney guide lays out who does what.

Getting started

Most families start with the free 15-minute call. You tell me what's going on. I tell you whether I can help and what that could look like. Then you decide. No pressure. I also work with families in Illinois, virtually. See my page for Illinois IEP advocacy. Is a meeting coming up and you aren't sure what to ask? Start with the printable below.