Download your $8 Parent’s Checklist for the IEP right to your phone - the first steps on the road to advocacy, rights, and confident meetings!
REFINE DISABILITIES
Special Education Advocates in Texas
Refine Disabilities is a boutique full-service special education advocacy service provider, crafted to redefine your child’s educational future.
Refining disabilities into strengths- one step at a time- Donna
ABOUT REFINE DISABILITIES
Refine Disabilities pays meticulous attention to detail so your child’s school experience is not only successful today, but also prepares them for future education, employment opportunities, and independent life as an adult.
A bright future is waiting for your child.
Each child has unique strengths and gaps. At Refine Disabilities, we focus on your child’s strengths and talents, provide support for any gaps, and remove that which no longer serves your child. Our core tenants are advocacy, clarity, and strength.
ADVOCACY
We are committed to providing a world class advocacy experience for all of our clients.
CLARITY
We use simple language to explain complex special education jargon and procedures, so that our clients can make informed decisions about their child’s education.
STRENGTH
With strong federal legislation, case law, and evidence based practices behind us, Refine Disabilities builds confidence in the entire ARD committee or IEP team.
Back In School
HOW WE HELP YOU AND YOUR CHILD
IEP, ARD, and 504 Advocacy Services in Texas- for Texans!
Learn how our Empower. Advocate, and Engage tiers support your child and unique learning needs.
Level I: Empower
Our EMPOWER package is a document review for parents who want an expert to thoroughly study their child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP), Section 504 Plan, Full Individualized Evaluation (FIE), Manifestation Determination Review (MDR), or supplements, and provide recommendations.We review your child’s paperwork, test scores, progress reports, and other documents with the precision you would expect from any professional who sees your child.When we complete our audit, we write our report and provide suggestions for moving forward. In a private 1:1 (2 if both parents wish to attend, 3 if you want to bring a translator) virtual consultation, we explain everything in plain language. We want our clients to be able to speak with school members with confidence, and make informed decisions about their child’s educational needs.Included in the EMPOWER package;
•Free 30-minute initial consultation
• Refine Disabilities E-Newsletter, delivered monthly to your inbox
•IEP or 504 Document review, including supplements, if any
•Up to two FIE evaluations (6 years)
•Optional MDR preparation
•Educational records review for the past 12 months at minimum
•Our written report with suggestions for next steps
•Virtual parent conference to review findings
•Copy of “The Refine Disabilities 8 Module Parents’ Guide to the IEP”**This package does not include advocate attendance at your child’s ARD (Texas) meeting.
LEVEL II: ADVOCATE
Our ADVOCATE package is our most popular service. It includes the EMPOWER service and adds preparation for and virtual attendance as your child’s advocate at all of your child’s important meetings.We follow up afterwards, ensuring that you are clear about the outcome of the meeting, and understand the next steps in the process.This package is required of all of our new clients before their initial ARD meeting, so we have all of the facts before we advocate at your child’s meeting.It is also required for any existing client who wants us to advocate for their child.Included in the ADVOCATE package is everything offered in our EMPOWER package, PLUS:•Assistance with written communications to your child’s school
•Parent preparation prior to meetings
•Virtual attendance at all meetings and conferences
•Post meeting private parent conference & IEP review
•Home IEP integration & implementation, if any
•Collaboration with your child’s teachers for IEP implementation, when approved
•Ongoing resource support during the contract timeframeFor your convenience and peace of mind, optional retainer packages are available by the quarter, semester, or a full 12 month calendar year.
LEVEL III: ENGAGE
If your child’s school district refuses to agree to an IEP or 504 Plan that meets your child’s educational needs, Refine Disabilities will guide you every step of the way during dispute resolution cases.We connect families with highly respected state mediators or the top education attorneys in Texas, ensuring your child’s right to a free appropriate public education is protected.Donna and her team at Refine Disabilities are not attorneys, and do not practice law. Furthermore, we do not provide legal advice or counsel. Donna does not pretend to be a lawyer. As a non-attorney special education advocacy service provider, Refine Disabilities is able to prepare pertinent documents for hand-selected, premium attorneys and state mediators to consider as evidentiary support for our clients’ cases.
The $8 Refine Disabilities Parent’s Checklist to the IEP
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 yesterday.Simply download the checklist to your phone and follow along during every ARD meeting going forward. It tells you everything that goes on during the meeting, what to look for, AND the right questions to ask.Created by Donna Earnest, a retired veteran special education teacher and non-attorney special education advocate, 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 Stripe 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?
TESTIMONIALS
“Donna’s fantastic!” -Andrea, Dallas, TX
“Listen to Donna- she [seriously] knows what she’s talking about!” -Mitch, Seattle, WA
“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!” - Linda, San Diego, CA
TALK TO US
Find out for yourself what Refine Disabilities can do for your child. Schedule your free 30 minute Zoom consultation today!
ABOUT OUR FOUNDER
Learn about Refine Disabilities founder, Donna Earnest, a retired special education teacher turned advocate, supporting families across Texas.✅ Has a disability herself and is a mother and grandmother of children with disabilities
✅ Earned a master’s degree in special education in 2017 at Texas A&M, the top public university for autism research in the United States
✅ Has 15 years combined experience as a special education teacher in A- rated Texas public and charter schools and a special education advocate
✅ Was vetted by the Council for Parent Advocates and Attorneys in 2023
✅ Established Refine Disabilities, LLC in 2023 as Founder and Executive DirectorDonna combines a compassionate child-centered approach to special education advocacy with data-driven, evidence-based science. Combined with an understanding of the laws written specifically for children with disabilities like yours, while outcomes are never guaranteed, Donna works hard to create meaningful positive outcomes for your child.
Refine Disabilities and its founder, Donna Earnest, are COPAA compliant.
RESERVE NOW, PAY LATER
With Stripe, you can request the products and services you want for your child now, and pay over time in installments.
JOIN CLUB REFINE
You don’t have to be a Refine Disabilities client in order to enjoy getting free tips, knowledge, heartwarming stories, real client successes, behind the scenes peeks, and real talk about the folks (human and AI) who build Refine Disabilities, delivered weekly directly to your inbox!Join the Club Refine newsletter community to be the first to hear about new resources, webinars, and offerings, as well as seasonal discounts and surprises! Just sign up with the click of the button below!
How to Find a “Good” Special Education Advocate
CONTACT REFINE DISABILITIES
25335 W. Fernhurst Dr. Ste. 212
Katy, TX 77494
[email protected]OFFICE HOURS:
Monday- Friday
8:30 am- 12:30 pm
3:30 pm- 5:30 pm for consultations
CENTRAL TIME
CLOSED Saturday- SundayRefer to our online appointment calendar with the button below for available dates and times. Openings fill up fast during the Fall and Spring “IEP Seasons.” We highly recommend scheduling your ARD meetings as early in the school year as possible.
Need Help? Email us! [email protected]
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Refine Disabilities, LLC is not a law firm. Content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice, legal counsel, or the unauthorized practice of law.
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