A Non-Profit Company

Bradford Education Project

Making Advocacy Accessible For All

About

What is Bradford Education Project?

The Bradford Education Project is a 501c3 Non Profit Organization. Our mission is to provide quality educational advocacy and support for the most vulnerable students – children with disabilities, children in poverty, experiencing homelessness, requiring foster care, involved in the juvenile justice system, and English language learners.  We seek to provide expert educational advocacy for all children.  We provide access through free and low cost advocacy services for middle and low income families. 

Educational Advocates often speak on behalf of children and families in crisis. The job is tough, and includes investigating cases thoroughly, reviewing records and academic progress, observing children in social settings, reporting findings, and counseling the child and the family.

What do we do?

Bradford Education Project’s Educational Advocacy assists parents with understanding and participating in the special education process. The following items will give you an idea of how Bradford may be able to assist your family. You may choose to have a special education advocate work in an advisory role for you behind the scenes, or you may choose to have the advocate be much more involved in obtaining, maintaining, and monitoring your child’s special education services.

Who do we help?

Bradford Educational Project and their Special Education Advocates assist families of children with any learning concerns. Some students have needs that are already identified, whereas other parents will seek advocacy support in helping them identify issues that may be affecting their child’s learning.

Common examples

Where Bradford Expertise Makes a Difference

  • Learning disabilities and processing disorders (math, reading/writing)
  • Speech and language deficits
  • Hearing or Visual Impairment
  • AD/HD and Sensory Disorders
  • Autistic spectrum
  • Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
  • Behavioral Issues and Emotional disorders
  • Physical disabilities
  • Chronic illnesses
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Intellectual Disabilities

Since each student is unique, the process will be unique as well. Generally, you will first be asked to fill out an Intake Form, giving relevant background details on your child and family.

How do I get started?

How can you help my family?

  • Provide support, guidance, and expertise along each step of the special education process.
  • Explain federal and state special education laws, policies, and procedures in a way you can understand.
  • Review your child’s educational record, including evaluations and testing, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and progress reports.
  • Objectively analyze the quality of your child’s education program to determine if your child’s needs are being met.
  • Recommend additional testing to help you better understand and advocate for your child’s needs.
  • Refer you to private service professionals who can conduct Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) or provide other services as needed.
  • Prepare, attend, and follow up from meetings related to your child’s special education program, especially meetings to discuss reevaluations and IEPs
  • Help write appropriate IEP goals and objectives and suggest appropriate supports and accommodations.
  • Knows about services and supports which may be helpful for your child. Objectively analyze the quality of your child’s education program to determine if your child’s needs are being met.
  • Draft and review correspondences to the school, including IEP response letters.
  • Organize your special education files.
  • Assist you in dispute resolution, including mediation or referral to legal counsel.
  • Teach you to become a better, more effective advocate for your child.
  • Empower your child to advocate for his/her educational needs and goals.

Guidelines for Choosing an Advocate

Why work with an Educational Advocate?

The Role of an Educational Advocate

As a parent, you care deeply how your child learns and grows, and about being an equal partner on the team that develops and oversees or carries out your child’s IEP. A good advocate wants to help you assume a primary role in your child’s education. He or she won’t make your decisions for you but will help you be informed and assist you in considering options and alternatives. A good advocate will empower you.

Answer your questions and simplify the education maze to move toward a better, more appropriate education for your child.

Examine test results and school records to determine whether further assessment is necessary.

Suggest possible educational and/or clinical areas to investigate based on the unique needs of your child.

Provide referrals to proven professionals such as physicians, evaluators, educational consultants, speech therapists, occupational therapists and physical therapists.

Prepare documentation to support the program your child needs.

Assist in the process from evaluation through eligibility and IEP development.

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Suggest accommodations to add to your child’s IEP to further support learning. Monitor progress and request program modifications, as needed.

Investigate and explore alternative educational placements for your child.

Support parents through mediation and other avenues of dispute resolution.

Suggest possible educational and/or clinical areas to investigate based on the unique needs of your child.

Teach parents how to advocate effectively for their child.

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Board Members

Victoria Crisp

President, Executive Director

For 20 years Victoria’s personal and professional resume is filled with factual bullets of helping children succeed. Whether in a specific special education setting, a private charter school or a traditional public school system, Victoria has “been there & done that”. Victoria understands families, she empathizes with grace and gets results. Victoria is a change agent. She fights for the children she represents and is determined to get what they deserve. Parents have called her a “life changer”.

Victoria’s strengths: counseling skills, being able to cope with distressing situations, problem solving, a caring personality (empathetic), excellent people skills, planning, and decision-making.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) are just a few of the medical diagnoses of kids that Victoria’s has represented.

Victoria lives just North of Boston, MA in Salem, MA. To reach Victoria for a consult, ask a question or get some advice please call or email her at vcrisp@bradfordeducationproject.org

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