Meet Your Portland Advocates: Helping Families Through Change

By Theresa Jahangir, Paulette Selman and Katie Jackson

There have been significant shifts in the disability landscape over the past few months, both here in Portland and across the nation. With prominent parent attorney Diane Wiscarson’s retirement, many in our community are feeling uncertainty about where families will turn for educational advocacy support. And now, with the recent layoffs in the Department of Education impacting the administration of services for students with disabilities, it’s understandable that families are left wondering what the future holds.

I’m collaborating with two other advocates in Portland to reassure you: there is still a strong network of highly trained, independent advocates ready to support your family. While we are not legal advocates and do not replace the role of an attorney, our work often helps families make meaningful progress with school districts through collaboration and relationship building, often reducing the need for legal intervention in IEP and 504 meetings.

Each of us brings unique expertise, experience, and a personal approach to advocacy that may meet your family’s needs in different ways. I’m excited to amplify messages from each of us below and share how we can be of service during this time of transition and change.

Meet Theresa Jahangir

After 18 years as a school counselor, most recently in alternative education, moving into full-time educational advocacy felt like a natural next step. I now support Portland-area families as an educational advocate, helping children find their place at school: a place where they feel safe, seen, and supported.

I know the educational system inside and out, but I also know what it’s like to be on the other side of the table. As the parent of a child with medical and developmental disabilities, I understand how complex and emotional this process can be. As part of an LGBTQ family, I also recognize how vital safety and trust are when working with schools. You can feel safe with me. There’s no story that would surprise me, and no judgment in how I support you.

The IEP and 504 process can be overwhelming, full of acronyms, meetings, and legal language that leave parents feeling unheard. My role is to help families make sense of that complexity, understand their rights, and approach advocacy with confidence and clarity. Together, we move from “crisis mode” to steady collaboration, developing strong, respectful relationships with educators and teams.

My approach is grounded in neuroaffirming advocacy: I center the needs of the child and ensure they feel affirmed, supported, and accommodated at school. Whether transitioning from preschool to kindergarten or navigating high school, I help families think creatively to find solutions that help students thrive.

You can find me here to book your first free 20 minute consultation.

Meet Paulette Selman

As a special education advocate, I help families navigate the school system so their children can get the support they need to succeed. My background as a school psychologist gives me a unique lens. I understand how schools operate, how eligibility decisions are made, and what effective, data based supports look like in practice.

During my years in schools, I conducted psychoeducational evaluations, developed behavior plans, and collaborated closely with teachers, specialists, and administrators. This experience helps me guide families through the evaluation process, interpret assessment results, and identify services or accommodations that best meet their child’s needs.

I’m especially passionate about helping families make progress when school teams feel stuck. I help keep discussions grounded in both the legal requirements and the spirit of collaboration, ensuring that every decision is based on data and centered on the student’s unique needs.

My approach is calm, informed, and collaborative. I provide direct support in meetings, helping parents feel confident and ensuring teams design interventions that are effective and realistic to implement. Having worked in both Oregon and Washington, I understand the nuances of each state’s special education systems and can guide families through their specific processes and timelines.

Reach out here to schedule our first session. 

Meet Katie Jackson

Hi, I’m Katie! I hold a Master of Science in Education from Portland State University with specializations in both Special and General Education. Over the past 18 years, I’ve served students with disabilities as a Special Education Teacher, Inclusion Specialist, and Autism Consultant. I’m also a parent to a child with complex medical needs, which gives me a deep understanding of what families experience in the special education process.

Before becoming an advocate, I worked across preschool through high school settings, developing and implementing IEPs and supporting students with a wide range of needs including learning disabilities, ADHD, Autism, and emotional and behavioral challenges. That firsthand experience helps me guide families through the complexities of special education with empathy and insight.

Today, I work with families in Oregon and Washington through my private practice, Northwest Neurodevelopment Center, which offers advocacy services as well as educational supports like tutoring, executive functioning coaching, and social skills groups. My approach is collaborative and child centered, helping families understand their rights, prepare for meetings, and build productive relationships with schools.

I believe every child deserves to feel supported and every family deserves to feel confident navigating the system. I’m honored to walk beside families through that journey.

You can contact my office here to schedule a free 30 min initial consultation or learn how to start working together.

Finding the Right Advocate for Your Family

Families in Oregon continue to have access to independent advocates dedicated to supporting students with IEPs and 504 plans. While each of us runs our own practice, we share the same goal: ensuring every child gets the support they need to thrive at school.

The right advocate is the one who feels like the best fit for your family. We encourage you to reach out, ask questions, and find someone whose style and approach match your needs.

We’re here to help your child feel seen, affirmed, and supported at school.

Get in touch with us:

• Theresa Jahangir — info@theresajahangirparentadvocate.com

• Paulette Selman — paulette@pauletteselman.com

• Katie Jackson — katie.jackson@nwndc.com

October Check-Ins: The Simple Step That Can Change Your Child’s School Year

Every fall, most parents start to wonder how things are going at school. With that feeling comes a swirl of questions: Is my child getting the support they need? Are we on track? That’s why I encourage the families I work with to request an October check-in meeting with their child’s school team—whether that’s the IEP team, 504 team, or general education intervention providers.

Why October?

• Teachers know your child now. By this point, new teachers have had time to get to know your child and can share meaningful feedback.

• Your child is in the groove. Routines are established, making it easier to identify what’s working and what might need problem-solving.

• It’s early enough to course-correct. Fall conferences usually happen in late November, which is too far into the year to address early concerns. An October meeting gives the team a chance to fix issues before they snowball.

Tips for Middle & High School Students

If your child is in middle or high school, try to include as many general education teachers as possible. It may not be feasible to get them all in one room, so prioritize teachers in the subjects tied to your child’s academic goals—for example, the math teacher if your child has math goals.

What to Cover at the Meeting

• Hear from general education teachers about how your child is doing in class.

• Review accommodations and make sure everyone knows how to implement them. This is a great chance to brainstorm solutions for tricky accommodations (like finding a break space outside the classroom).

• Confirm when and where services are being delivered—whether it’s specially designed instruction on the IEP or intervention groups.

• Clarify school-to-home communication plans. Decide whether a daily or weekly report is needed, and establish clear pathways for parents to raise concerns.

Outcomes You Can Expect

• Stronger relationships: The team gets to know your family early, and you get to know them.

• Increased collaboration: Families show they’re engaged and invested in the plan, which helps build trust and collaboration across the table.

• Prevention: Problems are identified and addressed before they escalate.

• A holistic view: Staff gets to know your child in new ways, which in the whirlwind of back-to-school may not have happened yet.

How I Can Help

As a parent advocate, I support families through the transition from one school year to the next. Staff may change from spring to fall, but parents remain consistent—and so do I. I bring forward the history of what’s worked, what’s been tried, and what needs improvement, helping to connect strategies across school years and schools. I meet with families to develop our list of priorities before the meeting and email the team our discussion topics, take notes during the meeting, and send a follow-up email to the team to document our agreements, any next steps, and support accountability.

Proactive planning is always easier than repairing problems after they’ve started.

Need help setting up or navigating an October check-in? Ask me—I’m here to support you. Let’s set up a call.