Meet Maureen Brown, M.S.
Your Child Doesn't Need a Louder Advocate. They Need a Prepared One.
For more than 23 years, Maureen Brown has helped Massachusetts families navigate IEPs, complex school placements, dispute resolution, and the decisions that can shape a child's education.
Why Ask The Advocate Exists
This Work Started With Her Own Child.
Maureen didn't enter special education advocacy from the outside. She first encountered the system as a parent.
When her own child faced barriers at school, Maureen learned everything she could about the system, the process, and the rights families have within it. What started as advocating for her own child grew into a career helping other families walk into difficult education decisions better informed and better prepared.
Before founding Ask The Advocate in 2002, Maureen spent nine years in public service at the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office and the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance.
That work put her beside families during high-pressure situations where details mattered, emotions ran high, and the next decision could have a lasting impact.
"Maureen understands the law. She also understands what it feels like to sit across the table from a school district as a parent who doesn't know what they don't know."
Her Approach
Preparation Changes the Conversation.
Maureen works with families facing everything from IEP questions to complex therapeutic and out-of-district placements. Her approach combines documentation, strategy, professional relationships, and a clear understanding of the child's individual needs.
Know the Record
Strong advocacy starts with understanding what the evaluations, IEPs, progress reports, school records, and other documentation actually show.
Know the Process
Maureen helps families understand where they are in the special education process, what questions need to be asked, and what options may come next.
Know the Child
An appropriate education is not a standard package. The strategy has to come back to the individual student's strengths, challenges, documented needs, and educational goals.
Not Sure How Much Help You Need?
From a 30-minute strategy session to document review and full advocacy support, start with the level of help that fits where you are right now.
23+ Years of Experience
Complex Cases Require More Than a Checklist.
Maureen works with families throughout Massachusetts on special education matters ranging from early IEP strategy through complex placement decisions.
Her work has included attending IEP meetings, drafting formal correspondence to school districts, guiding families through dispute resolution, evaluating inclusion, therapeutic, and out-of-district placements, and helping students with learning differences plan for college.
Through her work with therapeutic schools and programs, Maureen conducts site visits and evaluates options for students whose needs extend beyond a traditional public school setting.
IEP strategy, meetings, documentation, and implementation
Dispute resolution and mediation strategy
Therapeutic and out-of-district placement consultation
College planning for students with learning differences
Education + Professional Training
Experience Backed by Continued Training.
Maureen's professional training spans psychology, human services, college counseling, mediation, special education law, and educational leadership.
University of Massachusetts
Undergraduate degree in Psychology and Master of Science in Human Services.
UCLA
Advanced Certificate in College Counseling.
Suffolk Law School
Specialized legal training in special education law.
Certified Mediator
Mediation training paired with years of experience navigating high-stakes education decisions.
Federation for Children with Special Needs
Certified through the Federation for Children with Special Needs.
Doctor of Education
Accepted to Merrimack College's EdD program in Educational Leadership, beginning Spring 2027.
Professional Memberships
Connected to the People Doing This Work.
Maureen maintains professional memberships that keep her connected to special education advocacy, educational consulting, therapeutic programs, and the professionals serving students and families.
Recent Google Reviews
What Families Say About Working With Maureen.
Recent feedback from families who have worked with Ask The Advocate through IEP meetings, school challenges, and special education advocacy.
“Maureen was an incredible asset in our experience with the local public schools. Her extensive knowledge in the IEP process, coupled with a passion for helping those parents who don't know what we don't know, was critical to our success.”
“With no reservation I recommend Maureen to help out anyone living through this challenge - she is awesome!”
Colleen Carney Courtney Google Review • 3 months ago“Maureen was extremely helpful, friendly and very knowledgeable. She was easy to talk with and always got right back to me if I had questions.”
“Having Maureen there by my side, made me feel more confident and I am very grateful to have met her.”
Kimberly Noonan Google Review • 1 year ago“We have been working with our school system to get the help needed for our son for almost 3 years with no success. Maureen listened to our struggles and just after a few meetings she got us all the help & support our son needed.”
“We would not have been able to do this without Maureen's knowledge and expertise.”
Teresa Rossetti Google Review • 1 year agoReady for Your Next Step?
You Don't Have to Figure This Out by Yourself.
Whether you need someone to answer your questions, review the documents in front of you, or stand beside you through the process, start with the level of support that fits your situation.
Beyond the Meeting Table
Sometimes the Next Question Is, “Who Do We Call?”
Over more than two decades, Maureen has built working relationships with professionals across special education, clinical care, therapeutic programming, and education.
Speaking + Professional Education
Taking What She Knows Beyond Individual Families.
Maureen speaks to parent organizations, professional groups, conferences, and education communities on special education advocacy, IEP rights, therapeutic placement, and transitions for students with learning differences.
She presented at the 2024 NATSAP Annual Conference in San Diego on funding sources for therapeutic care.
Professional Services + SpeakingYour Next Step
You Don't Have to Know Which Service You Need Before You Start.
Start by seeing the ways Ask The Advocate supports families and professionals, then choose the next step that fits where you are right now.