We offer tailored consulting to meet each child’s unique needs. Our services provide personalized support for children, families, and educators to address individual challenges.
Our advocacy services guide parents and children through meetings. We ensure your child receives the necessary support and resources with a professional and sensitive approach.
Our coaching services help children build essential skills to succeed. We focus on developing personalized strategies to address each child’s learning strengths and challenges.
Our educational assessments provide critical insights into a child’s learning needs. We use these insights to create tailored support plans to enhance each child’s educational experience.
Tamara Ballou is an educational advocate with over 32 years of experience supporting families. She specializes in special needs and gifted education, helping parents navigate IEPs, 504 plans, and school communication. Her work focuses on building collaboration, resolving challenges, and ensuring every child receives the support they need to succeed.
Devon Willer is an educational advocate who supports families through the complexities of special education. She specializes in IEPs, 504 plans, and school communication, helping parents feel confident and informed. Her approach focuses on clarity, compassion, and creating effective strategies to ensure each child receives the support they need to succeed.
For intellectual and developmental disability services, including Early Start.
For assistance in navigating through all these agencies and resources, please contact us by clicking the button below.
Mastering the art of crafting effective IEP (Individualized Education Program) goals is pivotal for parents eager to see their children with learning challenges thrive in
As discussions about the potential abolition of the U.S. Department of Education circulate, many parents, educators, and policymakers ponder the future of special education and
Navigating the educational landscape for children with learning disabilities can often feel overwhelming for parents and educators alike. Understanding the key differences between an Individualized
The mission of Ballou Education is to support families and their children by providing them with comprehensive advocacy support and services that will assist them in obtaining the appropriate education their child deserves. We believe all children have the right to quality education so that the child can reach their full learning potential.
A Special Education Advocate is a dedicated professional who stands up for the rights of children with exceptional needs. Their role is to support parents by providing information, guidance, and representation in matters related to their child’s education.
A Special Education Advocate is an ally who speaks on behalf of parents and their children with special needs. They work to ensure that families are aware of their educational rights and help them navigate the complexities of the educational system. This includes advocating for appropriate educational programs and services that meet the specific requirements of each child.
If disagreements arise between parents and school districts regarding the educational needs of a child with special needs, a Special Education Advocate steps in to facilitate communication and negotiation. They aim to find amicable solutions that benefit the child’s education and well-being.
It’s important to note that Special Education Advocates are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice. However, they can recommend legal representation if a situation requires it, especially in mediation or due process cases.
At Ballou Education, our team of Special Education Advocates is committed to supporting families through every step of their journey. Whether you need assistance understanding your rights, navigating the special education process, or resolving disputes with your child’s school, we are here to help.
Choose your location to contact the right team
We offer individual consulting services tailored to meet each child’s unique needs. Our services provide individual personalized consulting for families. We understand that every child is unique, and that is why we offer comprehensive consulting services tailored to meet the individual needs of each child.
Our consulting services are designed to provide personalized guidance and support to families who have children with disabilities, children identified as gifted, and children identified as twice exceptional. Our consultants are experts in their field, with years of experience working with children with a wide range of abilities and challenges.
They stay up to date with the latest research and best practices in education, allowing them to provide informed guidance and recommendations to families. We believe that parents play a crucial role in their children’s education, which is why we work closely with families to empower them with the knowledge and tools they need to advocate for their children effectively.
We provide ongoing support and guidance to ensure that parents feel confident in navigating the educational system and advocating for their child’s needs in all educational settings and at home.
Our consulting services start with a full comprehensive review of records. Once we review the child’s records, we provide compressive feedback of our findings and recommendations. Our consultants provide ongoing consulting services to families and update recommendations as the child progresses each year to meet their individual needs.
Our consulting service packages are ideal for parents who want recommendations, guidance, and private consulting between Ballou Education and their family. Families prefer to attend their own meetings with schools and outside professionals and need consulting as they navigate services and attend meetings on their own.
We recognize the paramount importance of advocating for your child’s educational needs. Our Advocacy service is designed to support parents in navigating a variety of crucial meetings and situations within the educational system. Our advocates work tirelessly to ensure that your child receives the support and resources they need to thrive.
Whether it’s developing an individualized education program (IEP), 504 plan, identifying appropriate educational resources, or advocating for the child’s rights, our advocates are committed to providing guidance and support every step of the way.
We take the time to get to know each child on an individual level. This allows us to develop tailored strategies specifically designed to meet their needs, whether they require additional support in the classroom, specialized instruction, or assistance with transitioning between educational settings.
Focused on creating a plan to support students with disabilities so they can access and participate in their education.
Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings where plans are developed for students with disabilities, outlining the specific educational services they require.
Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) and Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) meetings addressing challenging behaviors and creating strategies for positive behavior support.
If your child is experiencing bullying, our advocates can help navigate the process of addressing these concerns with the school.
We assist in preparing for and participating in parent-teacher conferences to ensure that your child’s needs are effectively communicated and understood.
Our advocates provide support during classroom observations to ensure that the educational environment is conducive to your child’s learning needs.
When transitioning between schools or educational programs, our advocates help make the process smooth and successful.
These meetings determine if a student’s behavior is a result of their disability and what actions should be taken.
If your child is facing disciplinary action, our advocates guide you through the due process and ensure fair treatment.
We assist in resolving conflicts or issues that arise within the educational setting through effective communication and negotiation.
On school placement, scholarships, and funding resources for placements.
For each client, quarterly monitoring of each client’s progress on the plan, and development of evaluation plans.
On behalf of the child’s educational needs and placement.
Attend MET/RED, IEP, and/or 504 meetings.
On strategy for working with the school.
Recommend specialists, service providers, evaluators, and schools.
About services, programs, and accommodations that meet their children’s individual needs.
Interpret reports and evaluations as well as explaining the implications to the child’s education/placement.
Assisting parents with submitting written requests.
For accuracy and completion both before and after MET, RED, IEP, and 504 meetings.
To school meetings to advocate for the child’s rights protected under both federal and state law.
Advising parents about the strength of their cases after record review and offering referrals to special education attorneys when appropriate.
Assist families in navigating not only the laws but also the processes by which schools implement legislation.
Perform classroom observation and provide reports.
Prepare parents for MET/RED/IEP/504 meetings, including interpreting and prioritizing support materials, proposing goals and objectives, and providing/rehearsing strategies for the meeting.
Review all special education documents, including files, assessments, report cards, observation reports, etc., prior to RED/MET/IEP/504 meetings.
Accompany parents to meetings with the school and any other relevant meetings to provide advice and assistance.
Review RED/MET/IEP/504 documents before parents sign them.
Draft letters, responses, complaints, and written requests to school and district officials.
Consult and educate families to improve independent advocacy skills.
Consult and advocate for children in all areas as it relates to education.
At Ballou Education, we’re dedicated to providing compassionate and knowledgeable support for parents and their children. We believe that every child deserves an appropriate education, and we are committed to helping you navigate the educational system with confidence and success.
Every child is unique and has their own set of strengths and challenges when it comes to learning. That is why Ballou Education offers a coaching service that is dedicated to helping children develop the tools they need to succeed in school and beyond.
Our coaching services help children build essential skills to succeed. We focus on developing personalized strategies to address each child’s learning strengths and challenges.
Our coaches take a personalized approach, working closely with each child to identify their strengths and areas for growth. We believe in fostering a positive and nurturing environment where children can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. By focusing on the whole child, we aim to help them become confident and independent learners who are well-equipped to face any challenge that comes their way.
Whether it’s developing study skills, improving organizational skills, or building self-advocacy skills, our coaches are here to support your child every step of the way. We take a holistic approach to coaching, focusing not only on academic achievement but also on social and emotional development. Our goal is to empower children to become lifelong learners who are capable of overcoming any obstacle.
When you choose Ballou Education for coaching services, you can expect a team of dedicated professionals with a strong passion for helping children reach their full potential. Our coaches are not just educators; they are mentors, motivators, and advocates for your child’s success. We build strong relationships with our students, and we are committed to providing them with the support and encouragement they need to succeed.
Our coaching services are limited to a specific number of students each year. If you are interested in coaching service, please fill out the form and select “coaching services.”
There are times when parents will disagree about where their child should attend school. While most disagreements can be resolved, there are times when parents are unable to come to an agreement. In situations where parents are unable to agree, they often need to rely on an expert to assist in legal proceedings.
Ballou Education can be retained as an expert witness in matters involving domestic disputes between parents regarding school placement. With extensive experience in handling such cases, Ballou Education has testified in several cases in the state of Arizona, helping resolve school placement disagreements.
When parents are unable to resolve their disagreement regarding school placement, Ballou Education can be retained to provide a recommendation to the court. Our services include a comprehensive review of all records, including the child’s school records, observations, interviews, and assessments. We attend depositions and provide a detailed report of our findings, which can be used in court proceedings.
If you find yourself in need of an expert witness for school placement disputes, contact us, and we will schedule a time to discuss your specific case in depth.
Tamara Ballou is the Founder and CEO of Ballou Education and a highly sought-after educational consultant, bringing more than 32 years of experience in education, advocacy, coaching, and consulting to families navigating complex educational needs.
Tamara specializes in complex and high-stakes educational matters, providing individualized advocacy and strategic guidance in special education, gifted education, twice-exceptional (2e) learners, educational placement, and cases involving significant academic, behavioral, developmental, or emotional needs.
Throughout her career, Tamara has worked with hundreds of families navigating IEPs, 504 Plans, evaluations, eligibility and service disputes, school and program placement, and other complex educational decisions. Her comprehensive approach includes an in-depth review of educational records, evaluations, medical and clinical information, and school data to understand the whole student and develop an individualized strategy for moving forward.
Tamara also brings significant leadership and experience in gifted and twice-exceptional education. She played a key leadership role in introducing and advancing gifted education legislation in Arizona, helping lead the effort that resulted in its passage into law. She has extensive experience working with students whose exceptional abilities coexist with disabilities or other educational challenges.
As an educational advocate, consultant, parent coach, and expert witness, Tamara collaborates with families, attorneys, clinicians, psychologists, evaluators, schools, and other professionals. Her work includes educational record analysis, meeting representation, strategic case consultation, school and program recommendations, forensic educational review, and expert witness services.
For more than three decades, Tamara’s mission has remained focused on ensuring that students are understood as individuals and that families have knowledgeable, strategic, and experienced representation when making decisions that can profoundly shape their child’s education and future.
Through Ballou Education’s Beverly Hills, California, and Scottsdale, Arizona, offices, Tamara provides discreet, highly personalized educational advocacy, consulting, coaching, and expert witness services.
Devon Rose Willer is an educational advocate who helps busy families navigate the complexities of special education with clarity, compassion, and strategy. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and combines a background in executive-level client service and project management with extensive training under Tamara Ballou.
Devon combines an insider’s understanding of the IEP process, as someone who personally benefited from special education services. She understands not only the IEP process, but what it feels like to be on the other side of the table. That experience fuels her passion for helping parents feel heard, informed, and empowered as they advocate for their children.
Devon specializes in special education, gifted education, and twice-exceptional learners. She helps families understand their educational rights, prepare for IEP and 504 meetings, and secure the services and supports their children need to succeed. Known for her thoughtful communication, attention to detail, and calm approach, she is committed to making even the most overwhelming situations feel manageable while keeping every child’s unique needs at the center of the process.
