You don't have to walk into your next meeting alone.
You could attend IEP meetings without help. But why would you? Your child has legal rights and we bring the knowledge, the experience, and the confidence to make sure those rights are heard.
Bring the expertise with you.
Experienced special education advocate
24 years working in the special education field as a teacher, consultant, and parent
Serving Nebraska families statewide
Remote services across Nebraska and in-person support in the Omaha metro area
A parent who has been in your shoes
Lived experience as a parent of a child with complex disabilities
Sound familiar?
You're not the only one who has felt this way
Whether you're walking into your first IEP meeting or your fifteenth, navigating special education can feel overwhelming, confusing, and lonely.
"I sat in that meeting and had no idea what they were saying."
IEP meetings are full of jargon and legal language. We translate it before, during, and after the meeting.
"I didn't know what I could ask for."
Most parents don't. IDEA gives you powerful rights including the right to request evaluations, challenge decisions, and demand appropriate services.
"It felt like ten people against just me."
You deserve someone in your corner who knows the law, knows the process, and knows how to speak up.
We help families Advocate Forward
Here's how we move forward together
Every family's journey is different. Here are the ways Advocate Forward helps you take the next step with confidence.
Understand your rights
We explain what IDEA, Section 504, and Nebraska state law actually guarantee your child in plain language.
Prepare for your next IEP meeting
We review your child's IEP, identify gaps, and walk you in prepared with the right questions and confidence.
Request the services your child deserves
We help you ask for evaluations, independent assessments, and additional services your child may be eligible to receive.
Have someone in your corner
We attend IEP meetings alongside you so you're never outnumbered, never alone, and never without a voice.
Challenge decisions you disagree with
We guide you through mediation, state complaints, and dispute resolution when the school's decisions aren't right.
Build knowledge that lasts
We don't just advocate for you. We teach you. Every family leaves more informed and more capable of advocating on their own.
Navigate transitions with confidence
From preschool to school age, elementary to secondary, and school to adult services.
Get answers when it matters most
When something changes unexpectedly, you have someone to call who knows what to do.
What we do
How we help
Advocate Forward exists to make sure parents of children with special needs are never alone in the process.
Parent advocacy
Direct representation and support for families navigating IEPs, evaluations, and special education rights. We stand beside you so you are never alone in the process.
Educator support
Professional development and training for school districts and educators seeking to strengthen their relationships with families and improve special education practice.
How it works
Getting started takes 20 minutes
No paperwork, no commitment. Just a conversation.
Free discovery call
20 minutes to tell us what's going on
Review your case
We dig into the IEP, records, and history
Build a plan
A clear path forward, tailored to your child
Advocate together
We walk in beside you every step
For families
Parent advocacy and IEP support
We stand beside you at every step of your child's special education journey. Contact us to discuss your situation and get a personalized quote.
Free discovery call
Start with a free 20 minute conversation. We will learn about your child's situation and explain how we can help.
IEP review and consultation
We review your child's IEP for compliance and appropriate services, then prepare you for the meeting ahead.
Evaluation and eligibility support
Assistance requesting evaluations, interpreting reports, and understanding eligibility criteria under IDEA.
Ongoing case management
Full support across your child's entire special education journey from initial evaluation through transitions.
Fees
Transparent pricing starts with a conversation
Every family's situation is different. Rather than publish a one-size-fits-all fee schedule, we discuss fees directly so we can match our services to what your child actually needs.
Contact us for fee information
We are happy to discuss our fees and what to expect during your free 20 minute discovery call. There is no obligation and no cost to reach out.
Or reach us directly at info@advocateforward.com
About the founder
Sharon Elliott, M.Ed.
Special Education Advocate and Consultant
Sharon Elliott brings something rare to special education advocacy: with 24 years of experience in the special education field, she has sat at the IEP table as a teacher, as a consultant, and as a parent. That combination of deep expertise and lived experience is what makes Advocate Forward different.
My story
I know this world from every angle
For more than a decade, I worked directly in classrooms as a certified special education teacher, supporting students with diverse and complex learning needs. I learned firsthand what meaningful inclusion looks like, what a well-written IEP can do for a child, and where the system too often falls short.
Then I became a parent of a child with complex disabilities. And everything I thought I knew about navigating the system was put to the test in an entirely new way.
Sitting on the other side of that IEP table, I felt the same confusion, the same overwhelm, and the same sense of being outnumbered that so many families describe. That experience didn't just change how I saw my work. It clarified exactly why this work matters.
I went on to work for a parent training and information center, spending years helping families across Nebraska understand their rights and learn to advocate effectively for their children. I became a recognized speaker at disability conferences, created training programs on the IEP process, transition planning, and evaluation procedures, and built a reputation for translating complex legal concepts into language that real families can understand and use.
Advocate Forward is the culmination of all of it. Every credential, every classroom, every conference, and every late night as a parent trying to figure out what my child needed and how to ask for it.
Credentials and experience
What Sharon brings to the table
A combination of academic preparation, direct classroom experience, behavior expertise, personal advocacy experience, and systems-level knowledge that very few advocates can offer.
Master of Education (M.Ed.)
Advanced graduate study in special education practice, policy and laws, assessment, inclusion and family engagement.
Nebraska-Certified Special Education Teacher
24 years of experience in the special education field, including 12 years of direct classroom experience supporting students with diverse and complex learning needs.
Behavior Consultant
Expertise in understanding and supporting students with challenging behaviors and complex disabilities.
Parent Training and Information Center
Direct experience helping families understand their rights and advocate effectively.
Recognized Conference Speaker
Sharing expertise with educators, families, and advocates at disability conferences.
Training Creator
Creator of multiple trainings on the IEP process, transition planning, and evaluation procedures.
Lived Parent Experience
A parent of a child with complex disabilities, bringing firsthand insight into the challenges families face.
Bridge Builder
Demonstrated ability to build trusting relationships between schools and the families they serve.
Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) Ambassador
Trained to champion person-centered and family-centered planning frameworks, using tools to help people with disabilities envision and plan for a good life.
COPAA Member and SEAT 2.0 Trainee
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates member, deepening professional expertise as an effective non-attorney special education advocate.
Why this work matters
Advocacy isn't just a career. It's personal.
When Sharon became a parent of a child with complex disabilities, the professional world she knew looked very different from the other side of the table. She experienced the late nights researching evaluations, the anxiety before IEP meetings, the moments of feeling alone in a room full of experts.
That experience is not something Sharon keeps separate from her work. It is at the center of it. She carries that understanding into every family she supports.
I know what it feels like to love a child with complex needs and not know where to turn. That is exactly who I built Advocate Forward for.
Ready to have Sharon in your corner?
Book a free 20-minute discovery call and let's talk about your child, your situation, and how Advocate Forward can help you move forward.
Free resources
Tools to help you advocate Forward
Free guides and downloads to help Nebraska families understand their rights and navigate the special education process with confidence.
Understanding your child's IEP
A walkthrough in plain language of every section of an IEP and what to look for.
Coming soonIEP meeting prep checklist
Everything you need to prepare for an IEP meeting and the questions you should be asking.
Coming soonYour rights under IDEA
A guide written for families that explains IDEA and what it means for your child.
Coming soonWritten request letter templates
Letters you can use to request evaluations, IEEs, and records from your school district.
Coming soonNebraska complaint procedures
A step by step guide to filing a state complaint or requesting mediation in Nebraska.
Coming soonSpecial education terms decoded
Plain definitions of FAPE, LRE, PWN, ESY so you are never confused in a meeting.
Coming soonNebraska Special Education Regulations (Rule 51)
Nebraska's governing regulations for special education programs, Title 92 Nebraska Administrative Code, Chapter 51. Effective May 2022.
Download PDF from NDE ↗Transition checklists
Guides to help families prepare for each major transition, from early intervention to school age, elementary to secondary, and school to adult services.
Transition Timeline ↗Transition Focused IEP Agenda ↗
Tip Sheet: Transition for Parents ↗
Person-centered planning
Flexible tools that can be used by anyone to help you explore, problem-solve, make decisions, or plan for the future.
LifeCourse Tools ↗Nebraska organizations
Agencies and organizations that can help
These Nebraska-based agencies provide free or low-cost support, information, and services for families of children with disabilities and special needs.
PTI Nebraska
Parent Training & Information Center
A federally funded center providing free training and information to help families of children with disabilities participate effectively in their children's education. Offers workshops, one-on-one support, and resources statewide.
pti-nebraska.org ↗Nebraska Department of Education — Special Education
State Agency
The state agency overseeing special education services in Nebraska. Provides information on state policies, procedural safeguards, dispute resolution options, and how to file a state complaint.
education.ne.gov/sped ↗Disability Rights Nebraska
Legal Advocacy
Nebraska's federally designated protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities. Provides free legal advocacy, information, and referrals for individuals whose rights have been violated.
disabilityrightsnebraska.org ↗Nebraska Early Development Network
Early Intervention (Birth to Age 3)
Nebraska's early intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities. Provides services to children from birth through age 2 and their families at no cost.
education.ne.gov/sped/edn ↗Easterseals Nebraska
Disability Services & Support
Provides a wide range of services for children and adults with disabilities across Nebraska, including therapy, early intervention, autism services, and family support programs.
easterseals.com/ne ↗Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation
Transition & Employment Services
A state agency helping individuals with disabilities prepare for, obtain, and maintain employment. Particularly relevant for students transitioning from school to adult life and families planning for post-secondary goals.
vr.nebraska.gov ↗Advocate Forward is not affiliated with any of the organizations listed above. These links are provided as a courtesy to help Nebraska families access additional support and information.
Contact
Let's talk about how we can help you move Forward
Contact us if you would like additional information, or would like to schedule your free 20 minute consultation.
Service area
Providing remote services across the entire state and available for in-person support in the Omaha metro area.
We strive to respond to all inquiries within two business days.