Sarah Barlow Child Advocate

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It’s hard to put into words the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with learning you’re autistic after 38 years. A lot of the time I can laugh about it and make light of the whole thing. Like, “can you believe I’ve been auti

Last school year was when I began noticing subtle things in Liam that made me wonder if there was something else going on that we hadn’t picked up on yet.

I reached out to his teacher and explained what I was noticing at home. She reassured me

My goal is to make the process feel a little less overwhelming and a lot more manageable by helping you understand your child’s needs, prepare for meetings, ask the right questions, and feel more confident advocating for the supports they need.

Because what works at school should have a place at home, too. ✨

Accommodations aren’t just for school 🏠💛
If a child needs support to access learning at school, they may need support to navigate everyday life at home, too.

Think: visual schedules, movement breaks, extra processing time, reduced verbal

Liam loves a good fun fact. He wants to know about everything. Last year I started leaving “did you know” notes in his lunch for him to share with his friends. This year we are starting the school year off with a fact about license plates

What if the answer isn’t more reminders… but a better way to deliver the reminders?
I recently worked with a family of five whose biggest goal was helping their oldest child with ADHD become more independent in the mornings.
The family

As a teacher, I always appreciated when parents reached out beforehand. It showed me that we were working as a team and gave me a little sneak peek into their child, like their personality, interests, strengths, or anything they might be struggling w

Dimming the lights is a simple way to signal that bedtime is approaching and it’s time to wind down ✨

A swing in the hallway...another thing I never thought I’d have in my home.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that behavior is communication. Sometimes what looks like “too much energy” is actually a child seeking th

I never thought I’d be the kind of person to hang a swinging ladder in my house...but here we are. And honestly, it’s been worth it.

Over the years, we’ve bought countless products hoping they’d “fix” the constant

An eligibility meeting is one of the most important steps in the special education process. It’s where the team reviews evaluation results and determines whether your child qualifies for special education services.
You are an equal member of t

These screenshots tell a story 🤍
Progress isn’t always measured by grades, test scores, or benchmarks. Sometimes it’s measured by a child’s first “hi,” first conversation, or first moment of confidence.

Over the yea

I’ve been disagreeing for as long as I can remember🤪

I was told by a number of people that I was overanalyzing Liam and that I just knew “too much.”

You don’t have to agree with every recommendation simply because it came f

It can all feel confusing! But knowing the difference helps you advocate with confidence 💪🏻

After Liam’s diagnosis, I dedicated myself to learning about Selective Mutism and have since had the privilege of supporting other families through their own SM journey ✨

Advocacy isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking the right questions. ✨

I’m so glad you’re here 🫶🏻✨

Sarah Barlow Child Advocate

sbarlow.childadvocate@gmail.com