Jill Chuckas, MSW, Special Education Advocate opens CT Education Advocacy, LLC

STAMFORD, Conn. - Aug. 29, 2016 - PRLog -- Over the last 20 years, the special education system has become increasingly difficult to understand and maneuver through for parents. Families need expert and informed support in order to ask the right questions and advocate for their children with special learning needs.  CT Education Advocacy, LLC, founded August 2016, was created in order to facilitate the process for parents to better support their children.  Knowledge is power, and Jill Chuckas, MSW, Special Education Advocate, works with families to advocate and better understand what can be done to support their child's unique learning needs. From first diagnosis of eligibility for special education services, through development of an individualized education program (IEP) or 504 accommodation plan, to ongoing follow-through to ensure the IEP is being implemented, Jill will be there every step of the way, to help determine next steps from where ever the family is in the special education process.

Ms. Chuckas has more than 22 years' experience advocating for children. In her various positions, she has been intricately involved in the special education process - leading PPT meetings, implementing and writing IEPs, coordinating services for children and families, facilitating conflict management, and supporting teachers and families to provide corrective, social emotional learning environments for children. It has always been important to Jill to be meticulous, detailed and organized in her process to review, discuss and support her families in every role that she holds. She is seen as a collaborative and dedicated member of the team and works hard to have a strong, positive outcome for each child.  In her new role as Director and Special Education advocate with CTEA, Ms. Chuckas will help parents of children diagnosed with various concerns including, but not limited to: autism spectrum disorders; learning, speech and language, and developmental disabilities; ADD/ADHD; and emotional challenges such as school phobia and anxiety; to work with their school districts to ensure that appropriate educational and support services are in place to meet their particular special needs.

"All of my years of service to families brings me to this point.  Leading my own agency, committed to supporting families and their children and advocating on a local, state and federal level for better delivery, implementation and consistency of services across districts, is extremely important to me.  I am thrilled to be able to take this next step ",  shared Ms. Chuckas.

Upon receiving her undergraduate degree from Syracuse University in Child and Family Studies and Psychology, and her Masters in Social Work from New York University, Ms. Chuckas spent ten years as a school social worker.  She spent her earlier years as a case manager in social services agencies.  Jill has also advocated for children in foster care as an Educational Surrogate Parent through the CT State Department of Education. Over the last 5+ years, Jill has diligently worked as a Special Education Advocate, providing her with a wealth of knowledge and experience to serve families and their children.

Ms. Chuckas is a member of the Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys (COPAA), as well as the Connecticut Association of Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities (CACLD). She has previously served on the volunteer/ professional committees for the Stamford Public Schools of Middle School Advisory Council and the School Governance Council. On a broader advocacy platform, Jill has experience advocating for small business owners at the federal level as a founding member of a non-profit alliance of small business owners, lobbying on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, working with a regulatory agency, testifying before the U.S. Senate and collaborating on a legislative amendment.

Ms. Chuckas has delivered presentations to groups throughout Fairfield County on various topics surrounding special education and has been asked by school district groups to share feedback and concern regarding their districts special education programs. Professional development occurs regularly as Jill understands that to actively serve the families she works with, she must remain current with changes in special education law, practice and service delivery.  Jill looks forward to supporting families in the Fairfield County CT area.

Learn more about CTEA at www.cteducationadvocacy.com and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CTEducationAdvocacy/