Supporting families and self-advocates nationwide through informed, collaborative advocacy.

I’m Jackie Darrough, an independent educational and disability advocate and the founder of The Disability Advocate, LLC.

My work is informed by over 20 years of lived experience navigating special education, disability, and medically complex systems as a parent, combined with more than 15 years of professional advocacy experience supporting families and self-advocates nationwide. I work across early intervention, K–12 education, transition planning, postsecondary education, and adult services.

My advocacy is informed by lived experience as a parent of children with disabilities, including neurodevelopmental, physical, medical, and learning-related needs. This perspective deepens my understanding of how disability, health, and education intersect across the lifespan and reinforces my commitment to practical, informed, and respectful advocacy.

I have extensive experience supporting individuals whose educational access is impacted by complex medical needs, as well as those with behavioral, social-emotional, mental health, and neurodivergent profiles, including twice-exceptional (2e) students.

I understand how anxiety, depression, trauma, emotional dysregulation, executive functioning challenges, and neurodevelopmental differences can significantly affect learning, behavior, communication, attendance, and participation in school—and how these needs must be addressed through appropriate educational supports rather than discipline-based responses.

I have particular experience supporting students whose behavioral, social-emotional, mental health, and neurodivergent needs significantly impact educational access and success, including situations where strengths and abilities may mask areas of need or where traditional academic performance does not fully reflect a student’s support requirements.

Throughout my advocacy work, I have participated in thousands of educational meetings, including IEP, 504, IFSP, manifestation determination, resolution, mediation, and transition planning meetings

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I have also supported families with hundreds of formal complaints and dispute-resolution processes, including state complaints, OCR complaints, and advocacy support related to due process matters (excluding legal representation). This depth of experience provides a practical, systems-level understanding of how educational decisions are made and implemented in real-world settings.

My services include comprehensive record review; consultation and strategic guidance; preparation for and attendance at meetings; and providing informed input on evaluations, eligibility, services, accommodations, supports, goals, progress monitoring, and educational programming.

I also work closely with parents and self-advocates to understand their rights, procedural safeguards, and available dispute-resolution options, helping them interpret notices, timelines, and school obligations so they can participate meaningfully and confidently in educational decision-making.

• Comprehensive educational record review
• IEP / 504 / IFSP meeting preparation and attendance
• Consultation on evaluations, eligibility, and accommodations
• Guidance on procedural safeguards and educational rights
• Support with state and OCR complaint , and due process 

In addition to direct advocacy work, I have served in state- and systems-level advisory and governance roles, including sitting on boards and advisory councils related to special education, disability, and health services.

This includes service on the Michigan Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) and the MDHHS Children’s Special Health Care Services (CSHCS) Advisory Council, as both a parent representative and member at large, along with participation on other advisory bodies. These roles provide insight into policy development, systems-level decision-making, and the practical realities families face when navigating education, disability, and health-related services.

In addition to lived and professional experience, I have completed extensive formal training in special education, disability rights, and advocacy, including long-term national and statewide programs, along with ongoing professional development.

I continue to participate regularly in trainings and webinars to remain current on special education law, policy, and best practices.

I am not an attorney, physician, psychologist, or mental health provider. My work is limited to non-attorney educational and disability advocacy and consulting services and does not include legal, medical, or mental health advice or treatment.

My approach is practical, collaborative, and informed. I work alongside families and self-advocates to support meaningful participation, effective communication, and informed decision-making.

My collaborative philosophy is further informed by close family connections to public education, including immediate family members who are elementary school educators, which supports an understanding of classroom realities and school-based decision-making.

I believe effective advocacy requires being clear, prepared, and appropriately assertive—while remaining respectful, solution-focused, and grounded in data and law rather than conflict or confrontation.