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Debra Isaacs Schafer

Special Education Advocate.

Parent Advisor & Coach.

Workplace Consultant.

Speaker.

Writer.

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Educating, advising, guiding & supporting parents and families raising neurodiverse children & teens through the special education arena from preschool through college.

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About Me, You, & More...

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My journey. From a business career to focusing on my child's unique needs, the past 25 years have been dedicated to bringing a unique perspective steeped in deep expertise to the special education, special needs, and caregiving arenas to help parents and families help their children struggling in school succeed.

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Your journey. Understanding well the herculean efforts of being an "exceptional caregiver," partnering with me will provide a new way forward, reducing the struggling, confusion, and exhaustion and moving toward solutions. Positive steps happen when you acknowledge your role, gaining control as the person who knows your child best. 

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Your child. School is their job. Their chronic and crisis issues often create daily anticipatory anxiety and additional challenges for them and for you. The job of school is to prepare your child for life, building essential learning and skills, focusing on today's needs while keeping keen eyes and attention on the future.

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You. Raising a neurodivergent child with their incredible strengths & needs impacts all aspects of life -- families, jobs, relationships, time, and your own mental health and wellness. Many parents, particularly mothers, have left and are leaving the workforce due to their children's complex needs and the lack of workplace flexibility and supports.

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Us. First, the floor is yours to share what's going on. I'll listen & ask questions. We'll unravel what's been happening, discussing your needs, concerns, expectations, and pain points. We'll create strategies, tactics, and steps and will monitor/adjust as we go. Yes, it's a lot, but I know you can do it. I'll make sure of it. 

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                                                       "Fall seven times, stand up eight."

                                                                                                  Japanese Proverb

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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 necessary school services & supports.

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Participate in school discussions to ensure your concerns are heard, addressed, and documented.

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Evaluate and strategize transition-focused issues & priorities grade-to-grade, post-high school, and beyond.

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Maximize your efforts by correlating evaluation data to IEP development, preparing for IEP meetings, and developing processes for school engagement & monitoring. 

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Some of the ways I've
helped other parents.

Increased academic, social, behavioral, developmental, and executive function school services & supports.

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Coached business strategies to improve discussions and outcomes in school meetings and progress monitoring.

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Negotiated special education eligibility and private educational placements at school district expense.

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Acted as an informal mediator in challenging school meetings to help reach consensus and resolutions.

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Collaborated with clinicians, specialists, legal counsel, and other independent providers to synthesize issues and develop solutions to address parent concerns.

 From Chaos To Clarity©      The Deep Dive     Targeted Coaching

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Credentials

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25 years supporting and partnering with parents & families raising neurodiverse children, teens, and young adults with autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, learning differences, & mental health needs from their earliest years through college graduation.

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Founder/CEO, Education Navigation. Founder/Managing Partner, Work/Family Management & Professional Mothers. Director, Human Resources Development, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Business & nonprofit consultant.

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Speaker: Working Mothers Work Life Congress and Work Beyond Conference. Education Law Center. Human Resources and Employee Assistance conferences. Corporate workshops & webinars, parent support groups.

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Media resource/expert, podcast guest, consultant, and writer. Supporting and retaining working mothers/parents raising neurodiverse children, family-functioning employee benefits & supports, exceptional caregiving in the workplace, work/life integration and workplace flexibility.

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Affiliations: Pennsylvania Autism Taskforce; Columnist, Parents Express & Times Chronicle; Host, Work/Life Journal,

WBEB-FM/Philadelphia.

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Recipient: WorldatWork Alliance for Work/Life Progress award for innovative special education employee benefits. Recognized by Autism Speaks and Cure Autism Now.

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Image by Mitchell Luo

Testimonials

Debra is, without a doubt, one of the most valuable and knowledgeable resources about autism and special education you can find. I highly recommend her - you will not find anyone better.

 

Dad, CEO, Pharmaceutical Industry

White Waves

Media, Mentions & More

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College Transition: - ADHD - Learning Disabilities - With Dr. Richard Selznick, "The Shut-Down Learner"The Coffee Klatch
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