Jackson's Advocacy
All needs. All stories. All welcome here.
Hi, I'm Tara...
I'm not just an advocate.
I'm a special needs mom.
I get it.
For parents, by a mom who's been through it all —
twice, maybe three times…
okay, definitely three
MASTER'S
IN POLICY
AUTISM MOM OF THREE
SOUL INVESTED
Hi there. I'm the mom of three wildly unique, wonderfully autistic kids, and I've seen it all: the diagnoses, the school evals, the IEP meetings that feel like job interviews you never applied for, the ESA paperwork (yikes), the DDD process (double yikes), and the maze of special education services (don't even get me started). We didn't choose this maze — but we learned how to run it.
We ended up hiring an attorney just to make sense of the system, and the retainer was eye-watering. Most families don't have that kind of money, and honestly? You shouldn't need it just to get your child what they're owed. That's why I started Jackson's Advocacy — to give families real, experienced support from someone who's been exactly where you are, without the intimidating costs or the legal-speak.
My own kids are autistic, but I support families across the full spectrum of needs. I hold a Master's in Public Administration & Policy, which means I actually enjoy dissecting the fine print so you don't have to. And I'm not just invested — I'm soul invested. Because I've been there for the frustration, the fights, and yes, the tears.
Let me help make this easier. You've got enough on your plate already.
Why me, when AI can answer anything?
You can get every answer in the world online now. What you can't get is someone who can look at your child — across every system at once — tell you which of those answers actually applies to your family, and then sit beside you while you act on it.
Anyone can tell you what an IEP is. I can tell you whether the one in front of you will hold up, what it's quietly missing, and whether the school promised you something out loud that never made it onto the page.
Most advocates know one system. I understand how all of them connect — school, medical, state services, funding, therapies, and community. And I don't just know the rules. I've lived inside these systems myself, as the mom of three autistic kids. That's the part, no search bar, and no stranger can give you
Before anything else
If you're reading this with a knot in your stomach, feeling like you should have had this figured out — please hear me.
You have not failed your child. These systems are hard. They're hard for me, and understanding them is my training and my job. Feeling lost doesn't mean you're doing it wrong. It means the system is doing exactly what it does to almost every family who walks into it.
You found your way here. That's the first right step.
Is This You?
Most families don't call me because they're missing information. They call me because they're overwhelmed, exhausted, and not sure where to even begin.
If any of these sound familiar, you're exactly who I help:
"Where do I even start?"
"What school would actually be a good fit?"
"What services should I be asking for?"
"Do we qualify for DDD?"
"Should I apply for ALTCS?"
"Can you help me understand this evaluation?"
"What do I do next?"
If you've been staring at a stack of paperwork — or a denial letter — wondering how anyone is supposed to figure this out, you're not behind and you're not failing. You just need someone who's already walked the path.
How I Help
Most people think of me as "the IEP person." I am — but that's only a fraction of it. I don't just know one system. I understand how all of them connect:
• IEPs, evaluations, and special education services
• DDD (Division of Developmental Disabilities)
• ALTCS (Arizona Long Term Care System)
• ESA (Empowerment Scholarship Account)
• AHCCCS and Medicaid-related services
• Therapy services and providers
• Charter schools and specialized / autism schools
• Autism-specific resources and supports
• Community programs
• Providers and referrals
• Advocacy planning
School. Medical. State services. Funding. Therapies. Community. Most parents only get to see the one piece in front of them. My job is to see the whole map — and help you find your way across it.
The ways I can help:
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IEP Analysis — A careful review of your child's current plan to spot what's working, what's missing, and what we should push the school to add.
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Phone Consults — A focused call to talk through your situation, get real answers, and walk away with a clear next step instead of a waiting game.
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In-Person Advocacy — Me, right there in the room with you at the meetings that matter most, so you never have to face that table alone.
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Support & Training — Hands-on coaching before your meeting, so you walk in knowing your rights and exactly what to say when it counts.
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Record Evaluation — A close read of the evaluations and paperwork to catch what the school may have glossed over or quietly left out.
How I Work
Here's something I want you to know before we ever talk: I'm not going to tell you what to do.
Every child is different. Every family is different. What's right for the family down the street might be completely wrong for yours. So my job isn't to hand you an answer — it's to make sure you understand your options, what each one could mean for your child, the benefits and drawbacks, the costs, the timelines, the tradeoffs. Then you decide.
I break the complicated stuff down into plain language, lay the paths out in front of you, and help you figure out which one truly fits your child and your family.
You're the expert on your kid. I'm the expert on the maze. Together, we make a plan you actually feel good about.
How Families Find Me
I don't advertise. I never have.
Families find me the old-fashioned way — through other families I've helped, through community organizations, and through professionals who trust my judgment enough to send me the parents they can't fully help themselves. I've been referred by previous families, by community organizations and even by attorneys who know that many families don't need a lawyer yet.
They need someone who understands the whole autism and disability ecosystem and can help them find their next step.
That kind of trust is something I don't take lightly.
"Tara gave me direction on the exact steps to get my children evaluated through the public schools… she has real personal experience in the public and private services available to our autistic kids in Phoenix." — Duncan & Miranda Ford
"Tara helped me understand things the doctors and therapists failed to tell me about… she makes it a little less overwhelming." — Nikki Bonewell
"It's not rocket science, it just feels that way at first."
