I, Cheryl A. Martinez, agree to act as your Advocate for your child’s educational needs. As your Advocate, I will provide the following services:
1. Educate you on your child’s rights under IDEA and N.J.A.C.6A:14;
2. Provide you with instruction and support on how to advocate for your child;
3. Attend and support you at IEP or other school meetings at your request;
4. Prepare mediation requests or other state filings at your request;
5. Prepare correspondence to schools and/or state representatives at your request;
6. Attend Mediation Hearings at your request.
7. Perform other agreeable services at your request.
You, the parent, will provide me with the following information to proceed with service:
Copy of most recent IEP;
Copy of most recent evaluations by Child Study Team or any other private consultants;
Copy of medical reports, including diagnosis;
Copy of any other relative information pertaining to your child’s educational needs.
You agree to pay $90.00 per hour for this service. This fee includes:
Consultations via telephone or in-person*;
Review of IEP and relative evaluations, medial reports and any other relative information;
Attendance and support at IEP or Child Study Team meetings;
Research needed to support your child’s needs;
Correspondence to schools, state or others as needed.
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You agree to pay $125.00 per hour for the following service:
Preparation and attendance for Mediation/due Process Petitions, Answers to Due Process Petitions, attending mediations and resolution meetings, review of proposed Agreements.
Travel fee is $40.00 per hour for more than a 15-minute distance.
*Initial 30-minute telephone consultation is at no cost.
A fee of .07 per page will apply for documents sent electronically.
A deposit of $720.00 is required upon Agreement of Services. The time used for consultations, review of material, research, correspondence, preparation of Petitions/Answers to Petitions, telephone calls on your behalf and travel will be applied to the deposit fee. When the deposit fee is used up, an additional deposit will be collected to continue services. Any balance on deposit will be applied to additional services. There are no refunds for unused services.
You understand that this service is not to be construed as legal advice or legal services. This is strictly an educational and support service to help you understand the New Jersey Administrative Code for special education (N.J.A.C.6:A:14) and the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for the purpose of advocating for your child’s educational needs. Attendance at Mediation and/or Due Process hearings is not to be confused with representation by an attorney. If you require legal representation by an attorney, you must hire an attorney. I will advocate for you to the extent of my knowledge and experience in the matter.
As your Advocate, I attest to the fact that I have extensive experience in advocating for children with special needs. I have received specialized training from numerous entities, including the following:
State Parent Advocacy Network, Inc. (SPAN)
The New Jersey Center for Outreach & Services
for the Autism Community (COSAC)
Monmouth Ocean Educational Services (MOESC)
New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education (NJCIE)
Parents of Autistic Children (POAC)
Autism Treatment Center of America (SonRise Program)
The Infancy & Early Childhood Training Course (DIR)
Certified in the Studies of Paralegal
Cheryl A. Martinez, Advocate
