Debra Isaacs Schafer
Special education coach.
Crisis management advisor.
School advocacy consultant. Speaker & writer.
​
25 years supporting, educating, advising, and guiding parents raising neurodiverse children, teens, and young adults through school and the special education arena.
​
About Me, You, & More...
​
My journey. Leaving my career in human resources and communications after my then young child was diagnosed as neurodivergent, my work for 2+ decades has combined business expertise with broad and deep special education and special needs mastery to increase the competence and confidence of parents raising neurodiverse children in advocating for their children's needs in school.
​​
Your journey. Understanding the herculean efforts of being an "exceptional caregiver," it's by partnering with you to provide strategies, tactics, and answers that leads to ending your ongoing struggling and endless exhaustion to move toward solutions. Positive steps are not only possible, but happen when things begin to change as you gain control of the process as an equal member of your child's team. You are not alone on this journey.
​​​
Your child. School is their job. Their anticipatory anxiety about their daily struggles intensifies their chronic and crisis issues that ebb and flow, creating added challenges for them and for you. School needs to prepare them for college, employment, independent living, and life as their abilities and aspirations dictate. And while their needs often do change over time, addressing today must be the priority. I understand because I've lived this reality too.
​​​
You. Raising a neurodivergent child has a significant impact on all aspects of life. Your family, household, finances, relationships, jobs, time, and your own mental health and wellness. Many parents, particularly mothers, have left or are leaving their careers and jobs due to their children's complex needs, creating additional family stressors. The pressures are real yet "upping your game" can & will result in positive changes across the board.
​​
Us. First you'll talk to relieve some of the pressure. I'll listen & ask questions. We'll unravel what's been happening, still happening, and expected to happen. What's working & what's not. What needs are not being addressed. We'll keep a keen eye on longer-term needs, decisions, concerns, and plans including if transitions to another grade, school, or placement are at play. It's a lot to handle, navigate, and carry. I can & will help you.
Some of the ways
I can help you.
Provide and clarify essential baseline information you need to know about the special education arena.
Pinpoint and evaluate your child's school-based needs including if school is addressing/supporting them.
​
Increase your success preparing for & navigating meetings, deciphering documents, and documenting your concerns.
​​
Evaluate and strategize steps related to your child's transitions - grade-to-grade, post high school, and beyond.
​​
Ensure the best use of your time and efforts preparing for IEP meetings focusing on holding your district accountable while anticipating what comes next.
Some of the ways I've
helped other parents.
Increased school services and supports targeting academic, social, behavioral, and executive function needs.
​
Integrated & taught business strategies to improve parent communication in school meetings and discussions.
​
Negotiated special education eligibility and private educational placements at school district expense.
​
Acted as an informal mediator in challenging school district meetings to help reach consensus and resolutions.
​
Collaborated with clinicians, specialists, and other independent providers to ensure everyone is working toward the same progress and goals.
Credentials
​
25 years experience partnering with and supporting parents raising neurodiverse children, teens, and young adults with autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, learning differences, and mental health needs from their earliest years through college.
​
Founder/CEO, Education Navigation. Founder/Managing Partner, Work/Family Management & Professional Mothers. Director, Human Resources Development, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Nonprofit consultant.
​
Speaker: Working Mothers Work Life Congress and Work Beyond Conference. Education Law Center, Alternative Dispute Resolution. Human Resources and Employee Assistance conferences. Corporations, special needs meetings, parent support groups.
​
​
​
Media resource, podcast guest, consultant, and writer. Navigating special education/school, supporting and retaining working mothers and parents raising neurodiverse children, exceptional caregiving in the workplace, work/life integration and workplace flexibility, family-functioning employee benefits.
​
Former: Member, Pennsylvania Autism Taskforce; Columnist, Parents Express & Times Chronicle; Host, Work/Life Journal, WBEB-FM/Philadelphia.
​
Recipient: WorldatWork Alliance for Work/Life Progress award for innovative special education employee benefits. Recognized by Autism Speaks and Cure Autism Now.
​
Testimonials
Media, Mentions & More
Helping Employees Whose Dependents Have Special Needs
Is Education Care the New Elder Care?
5 Work-Life Winners
​