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REFINE DISABILITIES

Donna R. Earnest, M.Ed
Non-Attorney Special Education AdvocateYou know your child. We know the system.

Together, we build the map. Clarity, strategy, and actionable guidance for your child’s education.

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We know full well what you’ve been through with your child and the struggles you are facing now. We know how “real” it can get at home. We know that feeling of not being “heard” at school, and feeling like you are all alone.Refine Disabilities is here for you. We are a boutique full-service special education advocacy service provider, and the go-to trusted brand for families of children with disabilities. Refine Disabilities was created to teach you how to become a confident co-creator at ARD/IEP meetings- one that can redesign and rebuild your child’s educational future.Refine Disabilities, LLC is licensed to serve families in all 50 US states, US territories, and indigenous communities within the United States. We work with public school ISDs and open enrollment public charter schools.

Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys (COPAA)

TESTIMONIALS

“I’m so grateful that I met Donna. She was so helpful when I couldn’t get [my daughter]’s school to listen to me. Donna was able to get things for [my daughter] that I didn’t even know I could ask for! She is doing so much better in school. I wish every family who has a child who is struggling in school could hire Donna as their advocate. We love her!”
- L.L., CA

“Donna’s fantastic!”
-A. D., TX

“Listen to Donna- she [seriously] knows what she’s talking about!”
-M.C., TX

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SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES

Support Designed to Empower You

It starts with a 20 minute phone consultation. When you schedule your appointment, we send a Parent Survey before the appointment to save you time and make your consultation as productive as we can. Everything remains confidential.Our special education advocacy services are flat-fee based. All of our clients pay an upfront, non-refundable retainer fee that will be applied to the cost of your services. You will never be surprised by an invoice you were not expecting.After your consultation, if we agree to work together, we email you a packet of paperwork and a list of documents we will need to get started. Within a few days, you will be on the path to give your child the Free Appropriate Public Education to which he or she is entitled.

🟩 EMPOWER
For parents with a child in a public ISD or public charter school- who need clarity, confidence, and direction, a plan.Purpose:
To give families a simple, calm starting point. Parents leave with a clear roadmap, plain- language
guidance, and the exact steps to take next.Includes:
• IEP/ARD Parent Guide (downloadable; plain- language, step- by- step)
• At least one Strategy Call
• Clarify current concerns
• Review your child’s IEP, 504 Plan, Behavior Intervention/Support Plan, and any educational records or emails you bring, **up to seven years back.”
• Plan your next parent action steps
• Customized ARD/IEP or 504 Plan Meeting Preparation
• Checklist (what to print, what to request, how to phrase parent input)
• Email Templates (requesting meetings, evaluations, progress reports) or help drafting letters, Prior Written Notices, and state or federal complaints.Outcome:
Parents feel steady, supported, and no longer overwhelmed. You know what to do next- and why.

🟨 ENSURE
For families who want hands- on advocacy support and IEP/ARD or 504 Plan representation.Purpose:
To strengthen the IEP or 504 Plan, improve communication with the school, establish meaningful parent participation, and ensure your child’s educational needs are thoroughly addressed.Includes everything in EMPOWER, plus:
•Full Document Review and up to 7 years History
• IEP or 504 Plan, progress data, teacher reports, discipline notes, emails, FBA/BIP behavior plan, autism supplement, transition plan reviews
• Suggested edits for goals, accommodations, modifications, PLAAFPs, and supplements for one ARD, IEP, or 504 Plan meeting
• Suggestions for appropriate and individualized special education services
• Virtual representation at ARD, IEP, 504, or MDR meetings in all 50 states & territories
• Pre-meeting briefing
• Post-meeting debriefing, with IEP review before the parents sign it
• Communication Support
• Drafted parent statements for ARD, IEP, or 504 meeting
• School communication
templates
•State Complaint Guidance (if needed)
-What qualifies
-Evidence checklist
-Drafted boxes (you upload attachments)
-Optional collaboration with your attorney if legal services become necessary
-Support during school hours for urgent concerns, new emails, or school changesOutcome:
A stronger IEP or 504 Plan, better parent-school communication, and a powerful advocate at your side during meetings that matter most.

🟥 ESCALATE
For complex, high- stakes cases involving disagreement, discipline, denial of services, or significant procedural violations.Purpose:
To give families a coordinated, high- touch plan when situations require escalation, documentation,
and alignment with legal standards.Includes everything in ENSURE plus:
• Records organization & timeline creation
• Evidence binder preparation
• Advanced TEA or state complaints
• Mediation & Due Process preparation and collaboration
• Priority scheduling and communication
• Ongoing parent coachingOutcome:
Families receive a structured, strategic plan backed by expert advocacy, documentation, and
coordinated support with special education attorneys where needed.

⭐️ HOW TO BEGIN
1. Schedule a 20 minute virtual consultation on Zoom.
2. Complete the Parent Intake Form and return it at least 48 hours before the call. If we agree to work together…
3. Sign the Service Agreement with the required nonrefundable retainer.
4. Begin support within 48–72 business hours.Important Note: Refine Disabilities does not provide legal representation. When needed, we collaborate with ABA bar- licensed and COPAA- vetted special education attorneys in all 50 US states. Advocacy, education navigation, ARD/IEP/504 support, and TEA or other state complaint drafting assistance are non- legal services.🙌 OPTIONAL ADD- ONS (Available with any tier)
• Records Request drafting
• FBA/BIP review
• Transition (14+) roadmap
• Parent training webinars
• Spanish- language IEP translation review (non- legal)

Meet Our Founder

Casual photo of Refine Disabilities founder Donna Earnest. She is a white woman in her late 60’s, with shoulder length brown mixed with gray hair, wearing light makeup. She is smiling with joy at something off camera. She is indoors, wearing a dark teal te

What Donna Does — Legal & Systems Advocacy
(Education • Disability • Family)Families don’t need more paperwork. They need someone who understands how systems actually work, and how to move through them without getting crushed.I work at the intersection of education, disability, and family systems, helping people understand their rights, their options, and the processes that affect real outcomes.What That Means in PracticeI help families and individuals:
Understand education rights, special education processes, and procedural safeguards
•Navigate administrative systems (school districts, agencies, hearings)
•Prepare for meetings, hearings, and transis with clarity and strategy
•Translate complex legal and regulatory language into plain English
•Advocate effectively without unnecessary conflict or riskI focus on process, preparation, and power …because knowing how decisions are made often matters more than knowing the law in the abstract.How I’m TrainedMy background combines:
•Graduate-level training in special education, special education law, policy, and legal reasoning
•Deep experience in education and family-centered advocacy
•Specialized focus on special
education, disability and transition issues
•Ongoing, structured study equivalent to a Master’s-level jurisprudence programI work ethically and within clear boundaries. When legal representation is required, I coordinate with — and defer to — licensed attorneys.What I’m Not•I am not a replacement for an attorney
•I am not an attorney
•I do not give legal advice or counsel
•I do not litigateWhat I do provide is something families often don’t get elsewhere:
time, clarity, preparation, and informed advocacyWhy Families Work With MeFamilies work with me because outcomes improve when:
•Meetings are prepared for
•Deadlines aren’t missed
•The right questions are asked
•Power dynamics are understood
•Someone is calmly and competently in you and your child’s cornerCredentials matter — but delivery matters more.If You’re Wondering Whether This Is for YouIf you’re feeling overwhelmed, confused, or dismissed by a system that’s supposed to help… that’s usually the moment this work matters most.You don’t need to know all the terminology. You just need someone who does — and who knows how to use it responsibly.If you’d like to talk about whether this kind of advocacy support fits your situation, you’re welcome to reach out. Use the appointment calendar link here to set up a free consultation.
-Donna

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The $8 Refine Disabilities Parent’s Checklist for IEP/ARD Meetings

How many ARD meetings have you attended where you were more lost at the end of the meeting than you were before it? How many IEP signature pages have you signed having NO IDEA what you were agreeing to?You need our IEP Checklist now.Once purchased, simply click the link in the email we send to download the checklist to your phone. Then, follow along during every ARD meeting going forward. The checklist tells you everything that goes on during the meeting, what to look for, AND the right questions to ask.Created by Refine Disabilities founder Donna Earnest, this $8 parent- friendly IEP checklist walks you through the entire ARD process- clearly, confidently, and with your child in the center.You will learn:✅ Equal IEP Participation as the parent✅ Your Legal Rights✅ How to Prepare for an ARD/IEP Meeting With ConfidenceClicking the button below takes you directly to our checkout page- your first step to giving your child what he or she needs to be successful in school.

Ready to Take Your First Step?

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OUR HIGHLY DETAILED 8- MODULE PARENT GUIDES TO SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVOCACY

I wish I had this information when I first started working special education teacher. I certainly wished I had it as a mother of a child on a Section 504 plan. It took over a decade in the special education resource room, a master’s degree in Special Education, and four years of training and serving as a special education advocate to bring this ebook to life for you and your child. I hope you find it useful.

Title: Module 1: Understanding the IEP Process
Image shows a stack of white papers. The top paper shows a blue bar graph showing positive growth. A magnifying glass hovers over the top paper.
On the left sits a spiral bound notepad with a checklist for SMART goals. A black fountain pen lies on top. On the right, an old fashioned alarm clock sits on top of a stack of sticky notes.
Colorful bar graphs, a small old fashioned alarm clock, and a yellow #2 pencil lie on a black table under a magnifying glass. Through these runs a streak of gold lightning surrounded by gold glitter. The title reads, Module 4: Monitoring Progress, and why
Against a dark background sits 3 stacked books. On the front side of the books is a gold padlock. On top of the books is a gold puzzle piece. Between the two is the golden key that opens the lock. The title reads: Module 5: Accommodations Mastery.
A golden fire shoots out flaming roads. Each leads to a gold circle containing different locations: school, home, hospital, etc.
Our fiery golden pages glow & spew tongues of flame depicting the network of support for students with disabilities- home, school, the judicial system, and the soft hands of love.

RESERVE NOW, PAY LATER

JOIN CLUB REFINE

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Virtual Resources

In addition to advocacy, Donna Earnest is committed to collaborating with both private and public school staff, private sector advocates, and providing information and training to all persons involved in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. Earnest speaks at local community, school events, and state conferences about special education issues.Donna’s days are often filled with consultations with parents, other advocates, and occasionally, mediators and attorneys, who want to learn how to advocate for children with disabilities, and what is available. Many of these individuals want to learn what the laws are and what rights children have within the public school system.There are wonderful resources online - especially from State Education Agencies, such as TEA. However, these resources often overwhelm parents (and teachers!). They would often rather sit down with a human being for an hour to talk things through. The problem? It gets expensive for many families of whom do not have the resources to hire advocates- much less attorneys.To remedy this situation, Donna conducts monthly subscription “Thursday Wine Nights In” evening live Q & As on Zoom to answer YOUR questions.

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TALK TO US

Find out for yourself how Refine Disabilities can empower you to help your child in school. Schedule your free 20 minute Zoom consultation today!

Image of a special education advocate with dark hair, glasses, and wearing a black suit smiling broadly while shaking hands with a younger woman with long dark hair across the advocate’s office desk.

How to Find a “Good” Special Education Advocate

CONTACT REFINE DISABILITIES

Need Help?
Contact: [email protected]

AI Disclosure:Refine Disabilities is not AI-run or automated- it is human-led, purpose-driven, and built to serve you.