Karen Lowry,R.N.,M.S.N.
Karen Lowry, R.N., M.S.N., is the founder and sole owner of ADDadvocate, LLC, where she provides ADHD coaching and IEP/504 advocacy to help families navigate school systems and secure individualized supports for their children. Drawing on her own experience as a parent of a child with Combined ADHD, Karen offers both virtual and in-person guidance, attending meetings and equipping parents with actionable strategies to advocate effectively for their child’s educational needs.
With a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the College of New Jersey and a Master’s in Nursing of Children from the University of Pennsylvania, Karen began her career in healthcare before transitioning to ADHD coaching and advocacy. Her volunteer work with CHADD and participation in the Master IEP Coach Network deepened her expertise, allowing her to combine professional knowledge with lived experience to support families navigating the challenges of ADHD and executive functioning difficulties in the classroom.
Karen’s approach emphasizes empowering parents, believing that they know their children best and deserve the tools and confidence to ensure effective classroom support. She has authored publications such as ADHD From a Child’s Perspective and 365+1 Ways to Succeed with ADHD, sharing practical tips and strategies from experts and coaches worldwide. Karen is recognized for translating her personal advocacy journey into meaningful guidance for others, making her a trusted resource for families seeking educational support for children with ADHD.
• ADHD Coach
• Master IEP Coach Program
• College of New Jersey- B.S.N.
• University of Pennsylvania- M.S.N.
• ADHD and REFUELING
• Master IEP Coach Network
• CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD)
• CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD) - Webinars and Advocacy Work
What do you attribute your success to?
I think it's because people can relate to the fact that what I'm talking about is not from a book, it's from what I've lived. I've lived the journey of the helpless, frustrated feeling of a kid who's struggling. I've lived that journey of school meetings where people are telling you all sorts of things, and you don't really know if it's true or not, except that you know your child better than they do. And you don't fully understand that diagnosis at that time, and you don't know how to help your child. So all of those things, people can relate to that - that I'm real, this is for real. And I have a passion for that, because I've lived it, and I want to help other families who are living the same life. I bring all that to the table, and that's what has helped the success of this business, because I understand it totally.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Have perseverance based on the knowledge you have and don't let anyone tell you you're wrong when you're right.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You have to be patient, and you have to have a lot of perseverance. And you have to believe in what you're doing. If you have personal experience, it's the best. I think it's really important to have the passion for it and the experience with it. Remember that I've narrowed down that special ed umbrella to a very specific niche of ADHD, which is much smaller, so it's not easy. But if you want to run a business like mine in particular, I think it's really important to have the passion for it and the experience with it.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think that the challenge is probably more of actually dealing with the schools that you have to deal with, and dealing with the families, and helping them advocate for their child, because it's not that easy sometimes. Obstacles do come with advocacy, for sure, depending on the school and depending on their understanding of ADHD. So I think that can be a problem if they don't understand it, and it takes a lot longer to secure the support for a child like that if they don't understand it. There's still a lot of misinformation out there about ADHD. A lot. Things like assumptions that a child is old enough now to organize himself, or old enough to turn assignments in on time. The assumption that an age leads to the maturity and ability to overcome your struggles when you have a medical diagnosis like ADHD is totally false and so unfair. I think a lot of times teachers are not given a lot of information when they're becoming teachers regarding this niche of ADHD.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think integrity is a big one. I think honesty, integrity, perseverance - I certainly had a lot of perseverance through the journey with my son. Feeling confident in the knowledge that you have to continue on with the passion that you have, that's what I would say are the most important values to me.