Lisa Lightner, Special Education Advocate

Welcome!

What I do here–share information and resources so that parents can make more informed decisions regarding your child with disabilities and their IEP.

Hire Me as your Advocate

If you are interested in hiring me as an advocate, I am not currently taking any new 1:1 clients. My schedule is already fuller than I’d like it to be. Please respect this and do not email us with your story. We hear a lot of unfortunate stories, and it wears on you. This is exactly why I created the online training that I offer–because there is so much need and so few advocates.

Please feel free to post your question on our chat forums, where every question is answered by an advocate.

If you would like me to do a presentation for your group, you can email us at IEP @ adayinourshoes.com and tell us what you’re looking for.

I do not do evening presentations.

Lisa Lightner is a special education advocate and lobbyist who is pictured with her two sons and former Congressman Joe Pitts — My boys and I with Congressman Pitts (retired)

To contact us, email us at IEP at ADayInOurShoes dot com

If you’re thinking, “where have I seen this before?” here are some media appearances we’ve made.

About Lisa Lightner, Special Education Advocate and Lobbyist

Epilepsy Foundation EPAC Member-Epilepsy Policy Advisory Committee; provides input on the Foundation’s annual policy agenda and position on new and/or complex issues.
Parent Advocacy Council-Philadelphia Department of Public Health
Professional Special Education Advocate, completion of COPAA Advanced Advocate Certificate, expected March 2020.
Completed a 12-week certification course for Special Education Advocacy, 2011.
Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, Devereux Board of Trustees- Devereux Family Advisory Board
COPAA, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, a member in good standing.
2012 Arc of Chester County Special Education Advocate of the year
Board member for Pennsylvania Education for All Coalition, 2013-2015; Secretary/Executive Committee for 2014-2015
Former Chairperson Chester County Right to Education Task Force, 3 years.
Featured Speaker for Global Genes Rare Disease Day, 2020
Participant/Member of Little Lobbyists, many lobbying visits.
Have testified before PA State Special Education Funding Commission
PA State Education Branch of NAACP on issues related to Disability Community, testified before the committee.
Testified before PA State Senate Education Committee and again in 2019.
Parent Advisory Board, PA Education Voters.
Worked with US Department of Justice on complaints related to PA and disabled children in AEDY programs.
Former Board Member, Dup15Q Alliance (when it was IDEAS).
Shot at Life Champion and Credentialed Lobbyist for UN Foundation.
Fellow for Save the Children
PTO President, Devereux CARES, 4 years, Secretary, 5 years.
Former Instructor for county Adult Vocational Program.
New! Named a Best Blog of 2023

Lisa Lightner is an IEP advocate and lobbyist pictured with her son Kevin and former PA Governor Ed Rendell — Me, Governor Rendell and Kevin trying to steal the Governor’s iPad.

Former PA Governor Tom Corbett is pictured with Kevin and Brian Lightner who were at an event with him due to their mom Lisa Lightner's work in special education funding reform — My boys with Governor Corbett, Special Education Funding Reform

Lisa Lightner a special education advocate is shown with other Little Lobbyists and Congresswoman Mary Scanlon at a lobbying event. — Kevin and I with Little Lobbyists and Congresswoman Scanlon

Lisa Lightner is an IEP advocate and lobbyist shown with her disabled son Kevin and Christina Sappey, State Representative for the PA 158th District. — Kevin and I with State Rep Christina Sappey.

As Seen In/On:

OAR, the Organization for Autism Research
Harvard Graduate School: Usable Knowledge
Monthly contributor for MetroKids, over 100k total monthly circulation.
NBC Philadelphia
Pace University Law School
Autism Parenting Magazine
Philadelphia Family
Fun and Function, Company devoted to celebrating the uniqueness of each child.
The TODAY show community
Times of Israel, Jewish Week.
Parenting Children with Mental Health Challenges
Everyday Hero
Cult of Pedagogy
Main Line Parent
Parenting Special Needs
Center on Technology and Disability
Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health
PrAACtical AAC
Chester County Press
Garforth Education
Baltimore Times
Weekly family newspaper column in Kennett Paper and Avon Grove Sun from 2010-2015.
Monthly contributor to Grounded Parents, the parenting website of Skepchick, 2013-2015.
Panel Speaker, PRA World Disease Day 2020
Featured on Web Wide Open

Lisa Lightner is a special education advocate and lobbyist who was a featured panel speaker at Rare Disease Day 2020

I have a sub-reddit that isn’t terribly active. But, that doesn’t stop redditors from bringing up my name now and then.

lisa lightner special education advocate recommended on reddit

A Day in our shoes is the best IEP advocacy site for parents and is recommended on reddit

About the Blog and Podcast reach:

Monthly Page Views: 500,000
Monthly Listens-10,000
Facebook Page-143,000
Personal Facebook Profile-2000 followers
PA Parent to Parent, Peer Supporter 5+ years
Epilepsy Foundation, EPAC Epilepsy Police Advisory Committee, 2021-2022, 2-year term; providing input on finalizing the Foundation’s annual policy agenda and perspective on the Foundation’s position on new and/or complex policy issues.
Featured by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation “Impatient Optimists” blog
EveryLife Foundation-Member of Rare Disease Community Congress
Sesame Place-ambassador, 4 years
National Constitution Center-Family Blog Ambassador, 2 years
Longwood Gardens- Star Blogger/Ambassador, 2 years
Netflix Stream Team ambassador program, 4 years
Love, Hallmark blogger program, 3 years
Ambassador for Oriental Trading Company
Bloganthopy Finalist in 2012
CBS3 as a “blog to watch” in 2011
NBC10 one of “Philly Most Important Blogs” in 2011
Nominated as Circle of Moms “Top Family Blogs” in 2013
On the blog rolls of The Chester County Daily Local, The Delco Daily Times, The Kennett Paper

Lisa Lightner is shown with other parent advocates and former PA state senator Andrew Dinniman — Moms and Gun Sense Voters with State Senator Andy Dinniman

…”Professional Advocate extraordinaire…”

Lisa Lightner special education advocate is shown with her sons and others at Senator Casey's office in Washington DC — My boys and I with Blake Emmanuel and her sons, Senator Casey’s office.

Accolades & Media Appearances

Featured on PHL 17’s morning show “Eye Opener” in May of 2012.
Featured on Ben 95.7’s “Real Mom Radio.”
Named a DealPro in 2011 by Savings.com.
I also spread the word as a founding Member of Mom Bloggers for Social Good, which began 1/1/12.
In 2012, I was nominated as a finalist for the Bloganthropy awards and recognized at BlogHer in NYC.
In October of 2012, I was chosen for the Global Team of 200, a highly specialized group of members of mom bloggers that concentrates on issues involving women and girls, children, world hunger and maternal health.
Presented (or scheduled to present) at PodCamp East, Brain Recovery Project and numerous local conferences.
I have also been published in Parenting Special Needs magazine.

Kevin lightner with State Senator Andy Dinniman, he was in Harrisburg for a lobbying trip for special education funding reform — Kevin with State Senator Andy Dinniman

Lisa Lightner-Other, email.

I live in southeastern Pennsylvania. It’s considered suburban Philadelphia by many and I love that city! However, I always say “I could walk to Delaware or Maryland if I had to” as I am close to both of those state lines. I live here in the heart of Mushroom Country (Yes, you do get used to the smell.) with my husband, two boys and two dogs.

You can email me at IEP at ADayInOurShoes.com.

Kevin Lightner is shown needing a break from lobbying with Representative Roebuck — Kevin needing a break from lobbying with Representative Roebuck; shown with Kim and Mikayla from Mikayla’s Voice (Mikayla has since passed away).

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