Experience:
Juan has been advocating for children with special needs since 2007 when both of his children became enrolled in special education. He understands the special education laws and all the ways they can individually apply to each unique child. Juan is especially skilled at helping parents understand these laws and training them on how to incorporate them into a successful educational plan for their child. Juan has a B.S. from Kaplan University and a M.Ed. in Special Education from UTSA. Juan has served in the US Army for over 21 years.
Tenure at Brighton:
Juan has been a Special Education Consultant at Brighton since January 2015.
What Juan loves most about being a Special Education Consultant:
“My favorite thing about being an advocate is helping families that are just like mine. My family has been told “no” plenty of times from their school. We have felt the rejection of being told not to come back to places or that my children can’t participate in something because of their special needs. To have the opportunity to help other families face those same issues and ensure that their getting the education and resources provided to them that they have a legal right to is extremely rewarding.”
One of Juan’s most proudest moments as an Education Consultant is:
“There are too many proud moments to narrow down to just one, but the way our team approaches each child’s situation is one thing that stands out to me. Brighton’s Special Education Advocate Team critically analyzes each child’s education and behavioral data and ensures that the child is the center of the process. This child-centered and data driven approach has made our working relationships with school districts, military bases, attorneys, and other non-profits collaborative and positive which helps ensure a successful outcome for the child we are representing.”
If Juan could offer one piece of advice to a family who has a child struggling in school or enrolled in Special Education, it would be:
“Never give up. The key is doing your research and reaching out to others in your shoes that have been through it. Knowledge in special education terminology and the process is power and finding the right support system, including a special education advocate, can be key to being able to push through when all seems hopeless.”
