SPECIAL EDUCATION INSIGHTS
When You Know More,
You Can Ask Better Questions.
Practical guidance from Maureen Brown on IEPs, special education advocacy, BSEA decisions, therapeutic placement, college transition, and the questions families don't always know to ask.
Find guidance based on what you're working through right now.
LATEST FROM THE BLOG
Recent Insights From Maureen
Practical guidance on IEPs, advocacy, placement, transition, and the decisions families are facing right now.
BSEA Decision Summaries Summer Decisions
BSEA Decisions from Summer 2026.
How parents can use it to determine how hearing officers make decisions.
A Year Later, the Groundwork Finally Paid Off
This post follows a family whose son, bright but struggling with autism spectrum disorder and emotional regulation, spent a year stuck after a generalist consultant handed them a school list with no guidance on towns, districts, or how special education law actually works. It walks through how Maureen stepped in to identify the right town, the right specialized programs, and the exact testing needed to build a strong placement case. The family took a full year to decide on the move itself, keeping their son in an out-of-district placement in the meantime while they weighed the decision. Once they finally relocated last week, one meeting with the new district was enough to send referrals out to every program identified a year earlier. The piece uses this story to explain what a new district legally owes a student with an existing IEP, and why solid groundwork holds its value even when a family needs time before acting on it.
MASSACHUSETTS BSEA DECISIONSBSEA Decisions, Without the Legal Jargon.
When a special education dispute in Massachusetts reaches the Bureau of Special Education Appeals, the decisions can tell families a lot about how hearing officers look at evidence, placement, evaluations, stay-put rights, district obligations, and FAPE. Maureen breaks down selected BSEA decisions in plain language so you can understand what happened, why the hearing officer ruled the way they did, and what families can learn from the case.
NEED MORE THAN AN ARTICLE?
Your Child's Situation Isn't Generic.
Your Next Step Shouldn't Be Either.
Articles can help you understand the issue. But your child's records, history, school district, and current situation determine what comes next. If you need help figuring out your next move, start with the level of support you need.
I NEED DIRECTION
Education Strategy Session
A focused 30-minute conversation with Maureen to talk through your situation, understand your options, and decide what to do next.
I NEED MY DOCUMENTS REVIEWED
Document Review + Strategy
Maureen reviews up to two documents before your 30-minute strategy call so you can discuss the records, concerns, and next steps together.
BSEA Decisions from Summer 2026.
How parents can use it to determine how hearing officers make decisions.