Special Education Advocacy · Colfax, CA

Every child deserves to be
seen, heard, and supported.

We help families in Placer and Nevada County navigate the IEP process, understand their rights, and get the education their child is legally entitled to.

Schedule a Free Call See How We Help
Serving Placer & Nevada County families since 2025
"Every child deserves to be seen, heard, and supported."
OAH Due Process Experience
Family-Centered Approach
Free Initial Consultation
Local to the Sierra Foothills
Detail-Oriented Accountability
Benjamin Dickerson, Special Education Advocate
Our Story

I sat where you're sitting.

"I know what it feels like to leave an IEP meeting wondering if you just agreed to something your child didn't deserve."

I'm Benjamin Dickerson — my friends call me Ben — a dad from Colfax who spent years fighting for my children in IEP meetings, due process hearings, and negotiations with school districts that had attorneys in the room and I didn't.

I learned the hard way how to prepare for an OAH hearing, navigate complex IEP disputes, and push back when a district wasn't following the law. Now I help other families in Placer and Nevada County do the same.

Dickerson Education Advocates was built on one simple belief: your child deserves more than your district's first offer — and you deserve someone in your corner who has actually been through it.

Talk to Benjamin — Free Call
The Team

People who have been in the room

Every member of our team has personal experience with the special education system — not just professional training. That lived knowledge is what makes us different.

Benjamin Dickerson, Founder & Special Education Advocate
Benjamin Dickerson
Founder & Lead Advocate

Benjamin has personally navigated IEP meetings, OAH due process hearings, and complex district disputes as a parent. He founded Dickerson Education Advocates to give other families the experienced guidance he had to find on his own. His friends call him Ben.

OAH Due Process Experience IEP Advocacy IDEA Compliance
DD

Danielle Dickerson

Danielle Dickerson
Education Specialist

Danielle holds a California Teaching Credential and brings both professional classroom expertise and firsthand family experience to every case. She has sat alongside Benjamin in IEP meetings and understands from both sides of the table what good — and inadequate — special education support looks like.

California Teaching Credential IEP Meeting Experience Classroom Expertise
How We Help

Services for families at every stage

Whether you're preparing for your first IEP meeting or already in a dispute with your district, we provide knowledgeable, compassionate support every step of the way.

IEP Meeting Support

We attend IEP meetings with you, help you prepare meaningful questions, and ensure the meeting stays focused on your child's real needs — not the district's convenience.

Records Review & Analysis

We comb through assessments, prior IEPs, and school records to identify gaps, procedural violations, and opportunities your district may not have disclosed.

District Correspondence

We draft clear, legally grounded letters to your district — requesting evaluations, disputing decisions, and documenting your concerns to protect your child's rights.

Due Process Preparation

If your family is heading toward an OAH hearing, we help you understand the process, organize your evidence, and prepare — drawing on direct hearing experience.

Parent Coaching & Training

We teach you how to navigate the IEP process confidently — so you're empowered at every meeting, not just when we're in the room with you.

Transition Planning Support

For students ages 14–22, transition planning is one of the most overlooked parts of special education. We make sure your teen's IEP prepares them for what comes next.

Our Approach

Meticulous detail. Real accountability.

We read everything — twice

Every assessment, every prior IEP, every email from your district. We find the details that matter, including the ones your district hopes you miss.

We hold districts accountable to the law

IDEA has strict timelines, procedural requirements, and parental rights that districts don't always follow. We track every deadline and document every deviation.

We create a paper trail that protects your child

Verbal promises mean nothing. We ensure every commitment from the district is written, dated, and enforceable — so there's no room for backtracking.

We don't let districts run the clock

School districts are experienced at delay. We know their tactics and respond with urgency — filing complaints, requesting mediation, and escalating when necessary.

"The district had attorneys and specialists. We just had hope. That wasn't enough."

Most families enter IEP meetings without knowing what procedural safeguards they have, what timelines the district must follow, or what happens when those timelines aren't met.

We do. And we bring that knowledge to every meeting, every letter, and every negotiation — not to be adversarial, but to make sure your district understands that your family knows exactly what your child is owed.

Districts treat families differently when they know there's an experienced advocate at the table who has read every document, tracked every deadline, and isn't afraid to hold them accountable.

Get an Advocate in Your Corner
Not Sure Where to Start?

Does my child need an IEP?

Answer a few quick questions and we'll tell you whether your child may qualify for an IEP, what your rights are, and how we can help you take the next step.

How old is your child?
IEP eligibility under IDEA covers children ages 3–21 in California.
Is your child struggling in school in any of these ways?
Select the option that best describes your child's situation.
Has your child been diagnosed with or evaluated for any of the following?
A diagnosis isn't required for an IEP, but it's helpful context.
Has the school taken any of these steps for your child?
This helps us understand where you are in the process.
Have you experienced any of these with your child's school?
Select the situation that feels most like yours right now.
The Process

Simple, supportive, and on your side

We make it easy to get started — and we walk with you every step of the way.

1

Free Consultation Call

We talk through your situation, answer your questions, and tell you honestly whether and how we can help — no pressure, no sales pitch.

2

Records Review

We review your child's IEP, evaluations, and school records to build a clear picture of where things stand and what options exist.

3

Build a Plan Together

We lay out a realistic strategy — what to ask for, how to ask for it, and what to do if the district says no.

4

Advocate at Every Step

We attend meetings, draft letters, and stand beside you through every interaction with your district until your child gets what they deserve.

Families We've Helped

What families say

★★★★★

"Benjamin came into our IEP meeting and completely changed the dynamic. He knew the law, he knew what to ask, and he wasn't afraid to push back. Our son got services the district had been denying for two years."

— Parent of a student with autism
Auburn, CA
★★★★★

"I walked into every IEP meeting feeling overwhelmed and alone. Working with Dickerson Education Advocates gave me confidence and a real understanding of what my daughter is entitled to."

— Mother of a student with learning disabilities
Grass Valley, CA
★★★★★

"Benjamin is the real deal. He's been through the process himself as a parent and it shows. He's not just book smart about IDEA — he's been in the room. That made all the difference for our family."

— Father of a student in due process
Colfax, CA
Get Started

Your first call is free.

No pressure. No jargon. Just an honest conversation about your child's situation and what we can do to help.

Schedule Your Free Consultation
30-minute call
Phone or video
Serving Placer & Nevada County
Contact Us

Let's talk about your child.

Reach out anytime

Fill out the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to schedule your free consultation call.

Colfax, CA — Serving Placer & Nevada County
(916) 672-1964
benjamin@dickersoneducationadvocates.com

Not sure if you need an advocate?
That's exactly what the free call is for. We'll tell you honestly what your options are — even if that means referring you somewhere else.