Katy Petrik spent years selling luxury goods and was good at it. She also has a child with a disability and is a former educator, so when her oldest hit middle school and things got hard, she knew exactly what to ask for and could afford the testing to get it. Then she started meeting other parents. Families with money sailed through the IEP process. Families without it couldn't get their kids what the law says they're owed.
That gap is why Evolve Empowerment Initiative exists. Katy walked away from her sales career, teamed up with a burned out but brilliant teacher named Jess who had taught both her kids, and launched a nonprofit in Northern Virginia that just turned one. In this episode of The PR Bunker Podcast, Katy explains how they advocate differently and what year two looks like.
A few takeaways from the conversation:
Most advocates are hired to get parents whatever they want, however many meetings it takes, and that tends to drive a wedge between families and schools. EEI reads every record, spots patterns and hands the family a roadmap of what's working, what isn't and what the school is actually required to provide. They coach parents on how to be heard when emotions are running high, and they hold schools to the requirements without tearing them apart. Schools that were on edge about an advocate walking in have started to recognize the difference.
One mother had been fighting her school for years. It turned out she was misunderstanding a single accommodation because of a language barrier. EEI brought in a qualified interpreter at no charge, and in six weeks the family made more progress than in all the years before. Katy's point is that the fix is often simpler than the conflict.
EEI charges on a sliding scale that goes down to pay what you can, and there's a long line of families who can't pay anything. Plenty of advocates serve families who can afford them. Nobody else is serving these. Katy set aside a year of personal savings to make it work, and George Mason students are now helping write grants so the founders can stay focused on clients.
Katy says her sales superpower finally has a purpose. Clients now come from Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee and Iowa. Visit eeiadvocacy.com to donate or refer a family.
Listen to the full episode above.
Reading is the hello. SBGA is where we get to yes.
What does a special education advocate do?
An advocate helps families understand their child's rights under IDEA, reviews school records and data, prepares parents for IEP meetings and helps them communicate effectively with the school team. Evolve Empowerment Initiative works collaboratively with schools rather than adversarially.
How do I get my child evaluated for special education services?
Under federal law, a parent can request an evaluation in writing and the school is required to conduct one. Signs worth acting on include a bright child who can't keep up with work, after-school meltdowns, or new behaviors that interfere with learning.
How much does IEP advocacy cost?
Private advocates often charge substantial hourly fees. Evolve Empowerment Initiative uses a sliding scale that goes down to pay what you can, funded by donations, so families without resources can still get help.
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