Founder

Sandy Smith is the founder of EmpowerED Advocacy, a parent-empower non-profit organization . She knows from her own story, change in special education happens when parents are recognized as equal members of the team. This shift forces change in your child’s special education program.

EmpowerED believes every parent and caregiver is an “untapped pool of advocacy talent”. The EmpowerED model trains parents and caregivers to become their child’s strongest advocate, supporting their children’s educational success.

Sandy has developed a formula that guides EmpowerED’s work:

Ask families questions. Listen to their hopes, dreams, frustrations and fears. Build strong solutions.

• Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) Special Education Advocacy Training Graduate (Levels I, II, III)

• Member of Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), COPAA Social and Racial Equity Committee

• Member of Learning Disabilities Association of America

• Member of The Arc

• Member of International Dyslexia Association

• Member of Down Syndrome Association