ann miller

I have been in the special education field for 54 years, and I currently hold a multifaceted role at an advocacy group that works to provide children with disabilities their due in terms of the education they're receiving. When they're not receiving it, we fight to make sure that they do receive it. I am both a special education analyst and an advocate, which means I review all documentation that we need for hearings, and I explain the neuropsychological evaluation to the parents in detail. Because of my previous background as one of the co-directors of a special education school in New York for 26 years, I understand neuropsych fairly well. I talk about the documents we're going to need to create a legal case, and then I work with psychologists and psychiatrists to communicate our needs. On a few occasions, I've actually written the hearing request. I also attend meetings with parents, visit schools, and support them. Prior to my work at the special education school, I worked for 9 years in the New York City Public Schools. I've had the privilege of working with all economic groups, and I think that's very important because there are tremendous differences, tremendous similarities, and tremendous inequities. My most rewarding professional achievement is having seen some of the children that started out as disabled learn to compensate and have gone on to do amazing things. That achievement has been multiplied many, many times and brings me the greatest satisfaction.