Educational Consultant - recommendation

[Anonymous]

Please share any recommendation(s) (positive and negative) re: experience working with educational consultants in MCPS system. Thanks!

PS I’m cross posting this with MCPS post

[Anonymous]

Weinfeld Education Group

[Anonymous]

Need help to appeal for HS to secure placement at school that would be a good fit. Thoughts on who to work with?

[Anonymous]

Does your child currently have an IEP? What type of placement are you seeking? Gen Ed with Support or something more restrictive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does your child currently have an IEP? What type of placement are you seeking? Gen Ed with Support or something more restrictive?

Also, are you seeking placement within the MCPS system or are you seeking for MCPS to provide you with private placement.

[Anonymous]

Hands down Suzie Blattner

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Weinfeld Education Group

Didn’t have a good experience with one of his associates. I feel he’s grown too much and tour paying really high prices for people who don’t have that much experience.

[Anonymous]

HIGHLY recommend Jennifer Ritchotte from the Special Kids Company. She helped us navigate and secure a 504 plan for our 4th grader with ADHD-Inattentive type. This was especially amazing considering the school psychologist did not initially agree with the diagnosis and need for a 504. The doctor who diagnosed her also did not have high hopes for us getting a 504 until at least middle school. Jen walked us through the process and attended the meetings and follow ups with the school team and was an excellent advocate for our daughter. https://www.specialkidscompany.com/jen-ritchotte-med.html
Ellen

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weinfeld Education Group

Didn’t have a good experience with one of his associates. I feel he’s grown too much and tour paying really high prices for people who don’t have that much experience.

I have to agree. My experience was with their intake person. She was unable to explain why she matched us with a consultant/advocate who specializes in juvenile offenders and kids who have significant behavioral difficulties. My DS has ADHD/inattentive and has never had behavioral difficulties. I was also put off that the pay clock started when the consultant left their office and wouldn't stop until the consultant returned to the office. Since we're on the opposite side of the beltway from them, it'd be like paying for 4 hours and only getting 2 hours of work. I don't have an issue with paying for the time it takes to review reports but not being able to explain why she matched us with that consultant and not having a consultant located closer to us made me cross them off our list.

[Anonymous]

I did not have a positive experience with Suzie Blattner and had a hard time reaching her via email. I have had a great experience with Jen Ritchotte. She’s also a reading specialist and has a special education background (including classroom experience) which has been a big help for us. She has MCPS and Howard County/Baltimore experience too as a consultant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weinfeld Education Group

Didn’t have a good experience with one of his associates. I feel he’s grown too much and tour paying really high prices for people who don’t have that much experience.

I have to agree. My experience was with their intake person. She was unable to explain why she matched us with a consultant/advocate who specializes in juvenile offenders and kids who have significant behavioral difficulties. My DS has ADHD/inattentive and has never had behavioral difficulties. I was also put off that the pay clock started when the consultant left their office and wouldn't stop until the consultant returned to the office. Since we're on the opposite side of the beltway from them, it'd be like paying for 4 hours and only getting 2 hours of work. I don't have an issue with paying for the time it takes to review reports but not being able to explain why she matched us with that consultant and not having a consultant located closer to us made me cross them off our list.

We've had a good experience so far working with WEG, specifically Rich Weinfeld and Hayley Jacobson to understand private and MCPS options for our twice exceptional child.

[Anonymous]

We used Jennifer Ritchotte from Special Kids Company about three years ago for our daughter. She was awesome! Very attentive and effective! DD has a 504 and is thriving in middle school. I plan to use her again for my son. I cannot recommend her highly enough!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HIGHLY recommend Jennifer Ritchotte from the Special Kids Company. She helped us navigate and secure a 504 plan for our 4th grader with ADHD-Inattentive type. This was especially amazing considering the school psychologist did not initially agree with the diagnosis and need for a 504. The doctor who diagnosed her also did not have high hopes for us getting a 504 until at least middle school. Jen walked us through the process and attended the meetings and follow ups with the school team and was an excellent advocate for our daughter. https://www.specialkidscompany.com/jen-ritchotte-med.html
Ellen

I concur. She’s super.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weinfeld Education Group

Didn’t have a good experience with one of his associates. I feel he’s grown too much and tour paying really high prices for people who don’t have that much experience.

I have to agree. My experience was with their intake person. She was unable to explain why she matched us with a consultant/advocate who specializes in juvenile offenders and kids who have significant behavioral difficulties. My DS has ADHD/inattentive and has never had behavioral difficulties. I was also put off that the pay clock started when the consultant left their office and wouldn't stop until the consultant returned to the office. Since we're on the opposite side of the beltway from them, it'd be like paying for 4 hours and only getting 2 hours of work. I don't have an issue with paying for the time it takes to review reports but not being able to explain why she matched us with that consultant and not having a consultant located closer to us made me cross them off our list.

I’d have to agree. They charge for the air you breath and the bills are outrageous. If you want Rick, his fees are comparable to that of special Ed lawyers, which is ridiculous.

I really liked Michelle Davis but ended up with another Ed consultant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weinfeld Education Group

Didn’t have a good experience with one of his associates. I feel he’s grown too much and tour paying really high prices for people who don’t have that much experience.

I have to agree. My experience was with their intake person. She was unable to explain why she matched us with a consultant/advocate who specializes in juvenile offenders and kids who have significant behavioral difficulties. My DS has ADHD/inattentive and has never had behavioral difficulties. I was also put off that the pay clock started when the consultant left their office and wouldn't stop until the consultant returned to the office. Since we're on the opposite side of the beltway from them, it'd be like paying for 4 hours and only getting 2 hours of work. I don't have an issue with paying for the time it takes to review reports but not being able to explain why she matched us with that consultant and not having a consultant located closer to us made me cross them off our list.

I’d have to agree. They charge for the air you breath and the bills are outrageous. If you want Rick, his fees are comparable to that of special Ed lawyers, which is ridiculous.

I really liked Michelle Davis but ended up with another Ed consultant

Who did you end up with and why didn't you use Michelle Davis?