Special Education Advocacy | Tennessee and Beyond
You don’t have to walk into that meeting alone.
Most families find me when things have already gotten complicated — after IEP or 504 meetings that didn't go the way they hoped, after agreements that didn't stick, or moments where you sensed something wasn't right but couldn't quite name it.
I help you sort through the noise, understand what your options are, and teach you how to navigate the special education process so you can show up at the table as an informed partner. My goal is to move you from overwhelmed and frustrated to informed and empowered, because if you don’t know what your child is entitled to, you don’t know what to ask for.
I’ll respond within one business day to set up your free 15 minute consultation call.
A decade ago, after my son was diagnosed as autistic, I had to learn everything I could about navigating the school system because I needed to make sure he was going to be okay.
I spent a year reading every book I could get my hands on about special education, evaluations, and how to read testing and diagnostic reports. I studied federal regulations, completed a special education advocacy program at Vanderbilt, and started working with families to get my feet wet. Thanks to a mentorship with experienced advocates and attorneys, I took on my own clients, and grew entirely by word of mouth. I have spent the years since serving families across Middle Tennessee.
I'm a special education advocate serving families across Tennessee and beyond.
Many families find me through referrals from doctors, psychologists, and therapists. Teachers and school district employees reach out when they see a student struggling and know the system isn't giving them what they need. Over nearly a decade of helping families navigate a complicated process, I've earned the trust of the professionals who understand what's at stake — both the benefit of a great team, and the cost of leaving a child unsupported.
Whether you're dealing with a complicated multi-year case or just in need of someone to look over your child's IEP, I’m available via virtual appointment anywhere in the US or in person in Tennessee.
Our first free conversation tells us both what you need and whether I'm the right person to help. You don’t have to do this alone.
Ways I can support families across Tennessee and beyond
IEP and 504 reviews
Evaluation and test score interpretation
Meeting attendance and advocacy
Pre-meeting preparation
Mediation support
Dispute support and escalation
Document review and guidance
Navigating evaluations and re-evaluations
And more
Not ready to talk yet?
That's okay. Start with our library of guides and tools — practical resources you can download today, including free resources and paid resources starting at $3. From understanding your rights to documenting what's happening at school, these are the tools I wish existed when I was in your shoes.
Let’s Talk
Whether you're ready to get started or just trying to figure out if this is even the right fit — fill out the form. There's no commitment, no sales pitch. Just a conversation.
The families and educators I work with say it best
“Appropriate support in the educational setting relies on knowing your rights, what’s available, and having the vocabulary to ask for it and this is where Kate comes in. She has a network of contacts who respect her work and insights, and will partner with her on cases. Working with Kate made it possible to navigate the difficult IEP process at our son’s high school.”
“Mrs. Cortelyou provides exceptional support and advocacy for the families she serves. Her extensive knowledge, willingness to address concerns and inappropriate practices directly, combined with her first-hand experience of raising a child with autism makes her an invaluable resource. If I found myself in need of a dedicated and passionate professional in my corner, Mrs. Cortelyou would be my first call. ”
“Kate has helped us with our son’s IEP at three different schools, over the years.
She has been so supportive, guiding us through the process of writing actionable goals and advocating for practical accommodations to help our kid thrive.
We always feel better going into team meetings knowing that Kate has our back!”
“We found Kate in 2023 while desperately searching for help — our son was in an environment where he was getting injured and the administration was more concerned with protecting their staff than keeping our child safe. Kate was an integral part of us learning our rights and our son’s rights within the school system. She taught us how to advocate for him and gave us a deeper understanding of how to navigate public school as parents of an autistic child. We’ve been at a wonderful school for two years now, but we still have Kate join us at IEP meetings, brainstorm with us, and review IEP drafts. Her wisdom and knowledge is truly priceless.”
“Before finding Kate we had several meetings with the school and things just kept getting worse. We were at our wits end and didn’t know where to go or who to turn to. After meeting with Kate, our daughter’s IEP went from 4 pages to 25. Not only did she get her needs addressed, she started going to some general education classes. IEP meetings can be overwhelming and emotional, but Kate is always calm and knows when to step in and take control of the conversation. She knows the ins and outs and has earned the respect of the school. We have been with Kate for over seven years and it was the best decision we ever made.”
More advocacy, less filter.
Follow me on TikTok @katecortelyou for tips, breakdowns, and real talk about the IEP process.
With over 25 million views and 24,000 followers, you know the information is resonating.