EDUCATION ADVOCACY
For students with complex neurodivergent profiles, school-based mental health needs, and PDA
Is This You?
You've been to the meetings. You've signed the paperwork. But something still isn't working.
Maybe your child is shutting down, refusing school, or struggling in ways the team doesn't seem to understand. Maybe you've been told they don't qualify, or that they're "fine" when you know they're not. Maybe the behaviors everyone sees are masking something deeper that no one is addressing.
I work with families of students facing:
Anxiety, depression, and other internalizing challenges that show up as withdrawal, avoidance, or shutdown
School avoidance and school refusal
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) profiles
Complex neurodivergent presentations including ADHD, autism, and twice-exceptionality
Dysregulation, aggression, or other behaviors leading to disciplinary action
Transitions into or out of hospitalization or therapeutic settings
Students who clearly need support but haven't yet been formally identified
If you're exhausted from fighting a system that wasn't built for your child, I can help.
What to Expect
Here's how we'll work together:
1. Initial Conversation We start by talking. I want to understand your concerns, your child's history, and what you're hoping to achieve.
2. Record Review I examine evaluations, IEPs, 504 Plans, report cards, and any communication between you and the school to build a complete picture.
3. Provider Collaboration I connect with therapists, evaluators, and other professionals already involved in your child's care to understand all perspectives.
4. School Observation When appropriate, I observe your child in their school environment (discreetly) and speak directly with staff to understand how they see your child.
5. Expert Recommendations I meet with you to share my findings, including what's working, what isn't, and a clear path forward for programming, services, or placement.
6. Advocacy in Action I join you in IEP and 504 meetings, communicate with school personnel on your behalf, and ensure the plan we've built doesn't just exist on paper.
I stay involved as long as you need me to monitor progress and adjust the plan as your child grows.
Curriculum & PD Design
Creating actionable, neurodiversity-affirming materials for educators and staff—customized to your setting and learner population.
Educational Program Consulting
Helping schools and therapeutic programs implement inclusive, brain-based approaches to learning, mental health, and student success. Includes my work with programs like The Highland School and Spruce Mountain Inn.
Keynotes & Speaking
From inspiring keynotes to intimate trainings, I speak on neurodiversity, burnout recovery, change leadership, and more.
Corporate Training on Neurodiversity
Training leadership and teams on how to create truly inclusive, innovative environments that harness neurodiverse strengths.
Advocacy & Policy Work
Dr. Kristen’s impact extends beyond schools—she has contributed to state-level special education reform, shaped best practices through her leadership at Weinfeld Education Group, and authored content for national policy papers, including contributions to the Manhattan Institute. Her work bridges real-world practice with big-picture change.
Areas of Expertise
IEP & 504 Advocacy
Support navigating eligibility, evaluations, service delivery, and ensuring your child's plan reflects their actual needs.
Behavioral & Nervous System Support
Development of Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans rooted in understanding, not control. I address both internalizing presentations (anxiety, avoidance, shutdown) and externalizing presentations (dysregulation, aggression, disruption).
Discipline, Suspension & Expulsion
Representation for students facing disciplinary removal, manifestation determinations, appeals, or district-level hearings. I help families protect their child's rights and educational access.
Expert Witness Testimony
When disputes require legal intervention, I provide expert testimony in mediation, due process, and family court proceedings. I work directly with families and accept attorney referrals.
Areas of Expertise
IEP & 504 Advocacy
Support navigating eligibility, evaluations, service delivery, and ensuring your child's plan reflects their actual needs.
Behavioral & Nervous System Support
Development of Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans rooted in understanding, not control. I address both internalizing presentations (anxiety, avoidance, shutdown) and externalizing presentations (dysregulation, aggression, disruption).
Discipline, Suspension & Expulsion
Representation for students facing disciplinary removal, manifestation determinations, appeals, or district-level hearings. I help families protect their child's rights and educational access.
Expert Witness Testimony
When disputes require legal intervention, I provide expert testimony in mediation, due process, and family court proceedings. I work directly with families and accept attorney referrals.
The Lens I Bring
Every behavior is communication. Every nervous system is telling us something.
I completed advanced PDA training with international specialist Laura Kirby in 2022, and that work fundamentally shaped my practice. I lead with collaboration, autonomy, and regulation rather than compliance-driven strategies that backfire for complex kids.
What makes my work different is depth. I bring 19 years of experience alongside doctoral research in how trauma, anxiety, neurodivergence, and school environments interact to shape how students think, feel, and function. I help teams recognize what's underneath the surface so students stop being mislabeled, misplaced, or pushed through systems that make everything worse.
GETTING STARTED
"Exactly what our team needed."
“Kristen’s presentation was fabulous—our staff are still talking about how helpful it was. The training outline she provided was exactly what we needed: clear, detailed, and immediately actionable. We can’t wait to see it all come to life.”
- Karen O., Clinical Director
Spruce Mountain Inn
“A force for inclusion and change.”
“Kristen’s work in celebrating neurodiversity is nothing short of humanitarian. I hold her in the same esteem as a front-line worker, given the stakes for our youth and the broader impact on society. Her dedication, tireless effort, and infectious enthusiasm continue to inspire me—and push me to work harder to build a more inclusive school and world.”
- Nate Z., Director of Inclusivity & Social Science Department Chair, Highland School
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
"We couldn’t have done it without her."
INTAKE FORM
DISCOVERY CALL
SERVICE AGREEMENT
Complete a brief form so I can understand your child's situation and your goals before we talk.
We'll connect for a short call (10-15 minutes) to discuss your needs, answer your questions, and determine fit.
Once we're aligned, you'll receive a contract and we'll begin working together.
“Kristen’s expertise and guidance were absolutely invaluable. We were completely overwhelmed trying to navigate the complex world of special education, and she not only helped us understand every step—she made sure no detail was overlooked. Her support, advocacy, and genuine care for our child went above and beyond. We are so grateful.”
- Parent, WEG Client
GETTING STARTED
"Exactly what our team needed."
“Kristen’s presentation was fabulous—our staff are still talking about how helpful it was. The training outline she provided was exactly what we needed: clear, detailed, and immediately actionable. We can’t wait to see it all come to life.”
- Karen O., Clinical Director
Spruce Mountain Inn
“A force for inclusion and change.”
“Kristen’s work in celebrating neurodiversity is nothing short of humanitarian. I hold her in the same esteem as a front-line worker, given the stakes for our youth and the broader impact on society. Her dedication, tireless effort, and infectious enthusiasm continue to inspire me—and push me to work harder to build a more inclusive school and world.”
- Nate Z., Director of Inclusivity & Social Science Department Chair, Highland School
STEP 1
INTAKE FORM
Complete a brief form so I can understand your child's situation and your goals before we talk.
STEP 2
DISCOVERY CALL
We'll connect for a short call (10-15 minutes) to discuss your needs, answer your questions, and determine fit.
STEP 3
SERVICE AGREEMENT
Once we're aligned, you'll receive a contract and we'll begin working together.
“Kristen’s expertise and guidance were absolutely invaluable. We were completely overwhelmed trying to navigate the complex world of special education, and she not only helped us understand every step—she made sure no detail was overlooked. Her support, advocacy, and genuine care for our child went above and beyond. We are so grateful.”
- Parent, WEG Client
Not the Right Fit?
My practice focuses specifically on students with complex neurodivergent profiles and school-based mental health needs. If your child's situation falls outside that scope, I recommend Weinfeld Education Group.
WEG is a full-service advocacy organization with a multidisciplinary team covering learning disabilities, giftedness, independent school placement, homeschooling, and more.
Ready to Move Forward?
You know your child better than anyone. Let's make sure the school does too.
PHONE
Main number Mon-Fri 9 am-3 pm
LEGAL
ADDRESS
NEW MARKET, MD 21774
