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Maureen Brown, Education Consultant Owner of Ask the Advocate

Ask the Advocate is the special education advocacy practice of Maureen Brown, M.S., serving families across Massachusetts for more than twenty years.

EDUCATION CONSULTANT

About Maureen Brown, M.S.

Owner and founder

Maureen Brown, M.S. | Special Education Advocate in Massachusetts | Ask the Advocate.

Maureen Brown is a Massachusetts special education advocate with 23 years of experience helping families navigate IEPs, school placements, and special education law. Learn how she can help your child.

Maureen Brown is the founder of Ask the Advocate and a special education advocate based in Massachusetts with 23 years of experience helping families navigate the IEP process, school placements, and their rights under federal and state special education law.

Her path to advocacy is personal. When her own child encountered barriers in the school system, she didn't step back — she learned everything she could and built a career around making sure other families didn't face those same walls alone. That foundation shapes every case she takes on today.

Before launching Ask the Advocate in 2002, Maureen spent nine years in public service, first at the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office and then at the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance. That experience — working directly with families in high-stakes, emotionally charged situations — gave her something no classroom training can fully teach: the ability to stay focused, strategic, and effective when the pressure is high and the outcome matters.

Today she works with families throughout Massachusetts on some of the most complex special education cases in the state. She attends IEP meetings, drafts formal correspondence to school districts, guides families through dispute resolution, evaluates placements ranging from inclusion settings to therapeutic and out-of-district programs, and provides college counseling for students with learning differences. She builds her cases the way an attorney prepares for a hearing — grounded in the law, supported by documentation, and focused on achieving a specific result for the child in front of her.

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. Both of those things matter in this work.

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Maureen Brown, Education Consultant, College Counselor, and Theraputic Placement Consultant.

Education and Credentials

Education and Credentials

Maureen holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Master of Science in Human Services, both from the University of Massachusetts. She holds an advanced Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA and has completed specialized legal training in special education law through Suffolk Law School. She is certified through the Federation for Children with Special Needs.

Certified Mediator and Legal Strategist Maureen is a certified mediator and has completed advanced special education law training through Suffolk Law School. She's a member of COPAA and SPAN, and she stays current on Massachusetts BSEA decisions, federal case law, and regulatory changes that affect the families she serves.

As a member of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP), she conducts regular site visits to therapeutic programs and schools across the country to evaluate placements for students whose needs extend beyond the traditional public school setting.

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PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS SECTION

IECA — Independent Educational Consultants Association SPAN — Special Needs Advocacy Network of Massachusetts NATSAP — National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs Boston Business Women COPAA — Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates

Independent Edcuational Consultant Association Professional Member
Special Needs Advocacy Network Massachusetts
Natioal Orgnaization fo Theraputic Schools and Programs Professional Membership
Boston Business Women
Council for Parents Attorneys and Advocates

Inclusive Education

Ask the Advocate Gets Results

Unwavering Commitment

Every Child's Education Should Fit the Child Maureen's work is grounded in one core belief — that an appropriate education isn't a standard package. It's an individualized program built around a specific child's strengths, challenges, and documented needs. She holds school districts accountable to that standard.

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Certified Mediator

Certified Mediator and Legal Strategist Maureen is a certified mediator and has completed advanced special education law training through Suffolk Law School. She's a member of COPAA and SPAN, and she stays current on Massachusetts BSEA decisions, federal case law, and regulatory changes that affect the families she serves.

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Trusted Network of Professionals

A Proven Professional Network Over 23 years, Maureen has built working relationships with neuropsychologists, special education attorneys, BCBAs, assistive technology specialists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and therapeutic schools across the country. When a family needs someone specific, she knows who to call.

By challenging barriers and promoting understanding, Maureen champions the importance of embracing diversity and fostering inclusive educational opportunities that allow every child to thrive and reach their full potential.

Maureen Brown, Special Education Consultant Owner of Ask the Advocate

Speaking Engagements and Workshops:

Maureen is a sought-after speaker and facilitator, delivering engaging presentations and workshops on various topics related to special education advocacy and inclusive education.

Maureen speaks at parent organizations, professional conferences, and school district events on topics including IEP rights under IDEA, the Massachusetts special education process, therapeutic placement options, and college transitions for students with learning differences. She presented at the 2024 NATSAP Annual Conference in San Diego on funding sources for therapeutic care. Her sessions are practical by design — families and professionals leave with tools they can use.

Her presentations are informative, inspiring, and designed to create lasting positive change within educational communities.

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The IEP Playbook

The step-by-step course for parents who are done walking out of IEP meetings wondering if they said enough.

The IEP Playbook is designed for parents who want to understand the system, know their rights, and walk into every meeting prepared. For a one-time investment of $99, you get lifetime access to video lessons, real templates, scripts, printable workbooks, and clear explanations of what federal and state law actually requires of your child's school. No fluff. No legal jargon. Just exactly what you need.

👉 GET THE PLAYBOOK

  • “We hired Maureen as an educational advocate for my son who has Autism when we lived in the City of Boston. She was organized, professional and personable. I don’t think we could have survived the IEP process in Boston without her. Many advocates won’t even work in Boston but Maureen does so with expertise.”

    ~ Ann Rounseville, Clinical Social Worker at Children’s Hospital Boston

  • "Maureen was recommended to me as an Advocate from Dr. Willoughby at Mass General. She was a tremendous resource during the IEP process and having her by my side at the IEP meetings provided a great sense relief as I knew we were in good hands. One of her strengths is that she works very well with the school system and does not make the meetings more confrontational than they need to be. At one point I even had a request from one of the teachers for Maureen’s contact information because she was so impressed with her work, and wanted to pass along her information to a family member. Maureen is a pleasure to work with, I highly recommend her as a Special Education Advocate."

    ~ Katie McCormack Donnelly, Director of Human Resources at Affirmed Networks

  • My husband and I were by the grace of God put in contact with Maureen. Maureen is beyond knowledgeable and understanding of the needs of students with disabilities. I myself am a school teacher and part of a public school system and was able to learn an extreme amount of information just in our first conversation. Maureen is quick, articulate, and passionate about getting students what they deserve within their school setting. Maureen understands the steps to take in order to make your child's IEP the strongest and most inclusive it can possibly be. Maureen knows the law in and out! Our family is forever grateful for the work Maureen did.

    Meredith Mcgrory

  • Maureen is fantastic and has helped me from beginning stages of getting my daughter an out of district placement for middle school, highschool and now she is in a 3 year transitional school. Having her voice at all these meetings took away my anxieties and stress. Maureen not just understands the IEP process but the educational laws that go into place. She has outstanding recommendations for neuropsychological doctors, educational attorneys, schools that are best for your child's needs and so much more. I would have been lost without her. Maureen was always available when I needed to talk and ask questions and never had to wait. My daughter is thriving now and we are so grateful to her for all her knowledge. This work is arduous and thank you so much Maureen for everything. My daughter's life will be so much more because of YOU.

    Jennifer sherman

  • My wife and I couldn't be happier with the service Maureen has provided. Her expertise, knowledge and professionalism are unmatched and exactly what we needed for our son so he could receive every service possible to accompany his needs. I highly recommend Maureen Brown as an advocate for any family looking for assistance, for their child, to receive the best services from their school district.

    Ryan Maloney

  • Maureen is an incredible advocate who will make sure your child's school provides all the services and support she needs to succeed. She is tenacious, knowledgeable and compassionate. She's the best advocate I've ever seen.

    Jorgette Theophilis

  • Maureen, our Family cannot thank you enough for what you were able to accomplish for our son. His life will be forever changed because of the efforts you put forth to get him the placement he needed to start making progress. Maureen is able to navigate through complex reports and information for a child that is in crisis and quickly prioritize the issues that are most pressing. Families choose to work with her long term because she builds relationships around the child. We were introduced to our daughters Neuropsychologists, Psychiatrist and the school she has been attending for the past two years. It's challenging enough to be a parent of a child with mental health challenges, but Maureen has the ability to help make things more manable in so many ways, and her sense of humor is so refreshing. Thank you!!!

    Joe Sullivan

Contact Maureen

If you are seeking support, guidance, or advocacy in the special education system, Maureen is here to help.

Please reach out through the contact page to schedule a consultation, discuss your needs, or inquire about her services. Together, let's work towards a future where all children receive the quality education they deserve.

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