We were lucky to catch up with Maureen Brown recently and have shared our conversation below.

Maureen , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

Staying the Course in Challenging Times

There was a time when being a special education advocate meant helping families navigate a system that—while imperfect—was at least trying to do the right thing. But lately, it’s become harder to stay excited, inspired, and hopeful.

With increasing government cuts to special education programs, essential services are being slashed, staff are stretched thin, and children who rely on support are left waiting—waiting for evaluations, waiting for help, waiting to be seen. These are not delays—they are denials. And each one chips away at the progress we’ve fought so hard for.

As an advocate, I’ve felt the emotional weight of this shift. It’s no longer just about ensuring a student gets the right accommodations. It’s often about fighting just to keep the basics in place. I’ve watched parents break down because they’re being told “no” too many times. I’ve watched teachers cry because they’re trying to do right by kids without enough support. And I’ve gone home some nights wondering how long we can keep going like this.

But then—I remember why I started.

I remember the first time I helped a parent secure services that gave their child a voice. I remember students who finally found a school that understood them. I remember the messages years later from parents who say, “You changed our lives.” That’s what keeps me going. Not the policies. Not the paperwork. The people.

So yes, it’s hard to stay excited in this climate of cuts. But I stay committed. Because if we don’t fight for these kids, who will?

Maureen , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Thank you for the opportunity to share more about myself and Ask the Advocate. I’m Maureen Brown, and I’ve been a special education consultant and advocate for over 23 years. My journey into this field began in the most personal of ways—through my own child’s struggles with learning and mental health challenges. Like so many parents, I found myself overwhelmed by a system that was supposed to help but often left me feeling unheard and unsupported. I knew I couldn’t be the only one feeling this way. That’s when I decided to turn my experience—and my frustration—into action.

Ask the Advocate was born out of a simple but powerful idea: No parent should have to navigate the special education process alone.

Today, I offer comprehensive advocacy and consulting services to families across Massachusetts and beyond. This includes IEP meeting support, school placement consulting (including therapeutic and residential placements), transition planning, and college counseling for students with learning differences. I also provide sample letters, legal guidance, and strategic advice through a membership platform for DIY parents who want to advocate more effectively on their own.

I’ve been trained as a mediator, which allows me to approach conflicts with a mindset of resolution, not escalation. I see myself as a bridge—between parents and schools, between confusion and clarity, between fear and empowerment. I also have deep knowledge of state systems, community resources, and educational law, which allows me to help families access supports that aren’t always obvious or well-publicized.

What sets me apart is the fact that I bring both personal and professional experience to every case. I’ve lived this, and I’ve helped thousands of families live through it, too. I don’t just know the law—I know the emotional toll, the sleepless nights, the feeling of being dismissed. That dual perspective allows me to connect deeply with my clients and advocate from a place of compassion and competence.

What I’m most proud of is the long-term impact. I hear from families years after working with them—telling me their child graduated, found the right school, or finally feels confident. That’s the reward.

For anyone considering working with Ask the Advocate, I want you to know that this isn’t just a service—it’s a partnership. I care deeply about each child I represent. I’m relentless, resourceful, and rooted in the belief that every child deserves a free and appropriate education that meets their unique needs.

Whether you’re just beginning your special education journey or you’re deep in the trenches, I’m here to help you navigate with confidence, clarity, and heart.

Have you ever had to pivot?

As my advocacy work deepened over the years, I found that many of the students I had supported since elementary or middle school were now approaching graduation—and their families needed help navigating what came next. That’s what inspired me to pursue a certification in College Counseling through UCLA. I wanted to ensure that I could guide families not just through the IEP process, but also through transition planning, postsecondary options, and college admissions—especially for students with learning differences or complex needs.

During this time, I also became a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), which connected me to a robust network of professionals and kept me informed of best practices in placement and college counseling. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, and with it, a sharp increase in students presenting with serious emotional impairments, anxiety, and mental health crises. Many of these students needed more than accommodations—they needed therapeutic or residential placements that could address their clinical, academic, and emotional needs in a comprehensive way.

Because of this shift, I expanded my practice to include placement consultation for therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment centers, and transition programs for young adults. This allowed me to offer families a full continuum of support—from initial evaluations through to specialized placements—based on each student’s individual needs and future goals.

For me, it’s always about meeting families where they are and helping them move forward. The needs of my clients are constantly evolving, and I’ve made it a point to grow with them.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One of the most defining moments in my journey as a special education advocate came not from a professional triumph, but from a personal crossroads. Years ago, I was advocating for my own child—navigating IEP meetings, evaluations, denials of services, and the emotional toll that comes with watching your child struggle while the system fails to respond adequately. I wasn’t an expert yet. I was a mother, tired and frustrated, but unwilling to give up.

At one point, I sat across from a team of school professionals who told me, “He’s doing fine.” But I knew he wasn’t. I knew the signs of anxiety, of learning struggles, of missed potential. I didn’t have a background in education or law at the time—but I knew I had to do something more. So I researched, I read regulations, I talked to other parents, and I kept showing up to meetings—better prepared each time.

That experience changed my life. It lit a fire in me not only to fight for my son, but to help other families avoid the feeling of helplessness I had felt. That was the moment Ask the Advocate began, even if it didn’t have a name yet.

Since then, I’ve weathered challenges that would have made many people walk away—budget cuts, school pushback, families in crisis, and even professional obstacles. But I’ve never lost sight of the mission. My resilience comes from a simple truth: when you believe in what you’re doing, you don’t stop because it’s hard. You dig deeper.

And now, 23 years later, I’ve supported thousands of families, built a practice grounded in compassion and expertise, and even returned to the same districts—this time, sitting across the table as a professional advocate with a seat at the table.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://asktheadvocate.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asktheadvocate
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Asktheadvocate
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenbrownedadvocate
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Asktheadvocatellc

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