You left that meeting wondering if you just agreed to something you shouldn't have.
IEP or 504 exists for that moment.
This is a resource for parents of kids with IEPs and 504s who want to understand the system well enough to stop feeling powerless in the room — without hiring a lawyer, without becoming a special education expert, and without turning every conversation with the school into a fight.
Here you'll find clear, practical insider knowledge on three things:
What schools are actually required to provide — so when someone says "we don't do that," you know whether it's true
How IEP and 504 meetings really work — so you can prepare before the meeting, understand what's happening in the room, and know what to ask before you agree
How to spot weak plans, vague language, and soft no's — so your child doesn't lose support because something sounded better than it actually was
Download The IEP Ask List — Free 👇
Who Is Behind This
Once upon a time, I was constantly wracked with self-doubt, despite having multiple degrees and professional "success."
It was December 2018 and I was on a 12 hour flight from Los Angeles to Paris when it hit me: I had to break up with my entire life.
Hi, I'm Nicole Gelormini.
I spent more than 20 years inside the school system as a special education teacher, school psychologist, and special education administrator.
I've written the assessments. I've run the meetings. I've sat in the administrator's chair signing the 504.
I know how school teams think before parents walk into the room. I know which words tend to trigger action, which concerns get minimized, and how a soft no can sound a lot like a polite maybe.
Most importantly, I know how often parents are asked to make decisions without being given the full picture.
My nephew and my godson both have learning disabilities. I also have ADHD — so this is personal in more ways than one. I'm not just someone who worked inside the system. I'm someone who has watched people I love navigate it from the other side of the table.
That combination is why I created IEP or 504.
Because the gap between what schools are required to provide and what most parents know to ask for is enormous. And it doesn't have to be.
Values
I'm on a mission to help people improve their lives, one Human Design chart at a time, through:
Self-Love
Authenticity
Individuality
Favorites...
the beach (I live 6 miles away from it)
this tiny Italian place that makes their own pasta
the San Diego Padres
The Allman Bros., Dave Matthews Band
green smoothies, red wine
a trip to Italy with my husband
START HERE
Before your next meeting, know what you can actually ask for.
Most parents only hear the options the school team brings up first. But there are services, supports, accommodations, and questions that may never get volunteered — unless you know to ask.
Download The IEP Menu to get a clearer picture of what may be on the table, what the school is required to consider, and where you may have more room than you think.
It won't make you combative. It will make you harder to dismiss.
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