Elizabeth Essner is a highly experienced educational advocate who is knowledgeable in special education law and trained to represent and support families in navigating the special education system. A veteran of hundreds of IEP meetings, Elizabeth’s strong advocacy skills enable families to secure appropriate educational services for their children, which schools had previously been unwilling to provide. She obtains these results because of her excellent communication skills and understanding of special education law.

Ms. Essner believes it is best to foster a positive and collaborative relationship with schools and school districts. As a non-attorney, she is particularly effective in developing positive working relationships with school districts. However, when faced with an adversarial situation, Elizabeth uses her professional expertise and personal determination to achieve the necessary results for her clients. Her experience in filing compliance complaints with the California Department of Education has resulted in many positive outcomes for her clients.

Elizabeth began to develop these skills when she secured her own children’s special educational services. She learned firsthand how difficult it could be for parents to successfully navigate the special education system through the IEP process.

Elizabeth Essner earned a B.A. in Elementary Education from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, and a B.S.W. in Social Work from McGill University, Montreal, Canada. She has worked as a teacher, school counselor, and social worker, specializing in child abuse prevention, working with children and families in the Department of Youth Protection in Montreal and the Adult and Child Guidance Center in San Jose. Ms. Essner has also taught parenting classes and facilitated a single parent support and parenting group for the YMCA.

Currently, aside from her private advocacy practice, Elizabeth works part-time in the Education Department at Parents Helping Parents, a parent training and information center, answering calls and developing and presenting trainings on special education law. She also volunteers at PHP as an advocate for Project YEA! an educational advocacy program for wards and dependents of the court.

ELIZABETH ESSNER

Federal law requires that each child receive a free and appropriate education that meets his/her unique educational needs. However, schools and school districts do not always adequately serve children with special education needs. Whether it is the expense of the needed placement and services, or the process not being properly pursued, parents are often not aware that they can turn to an educational advocate for help to secure their child’s educational rights.

As an experienced educational advocate, Elizabeth is knowledgeable in special education law, trained to represent families in navigating the special education system in general, and the IEP process specifically.