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I have known Toni Saunders of The Associated Advocacy Center since 2004. At this time, I was a young Mom trying to find my bearings with my Preschool aged daughter. Before my daughter even had a diagnosis, I needed outside help when her behaviors were too much for the public school to handle. At this time, Toni was recommended to me through a person in my community that told me to “just give her a call,” to see if she could help me.

What Toni did was help me with navigating the process of getting my child the services that she rightly deserved from our school district. That call started me on a path of empowerment and understanding and literally changed mine and my daughter’s life.

As parents, the information and answers we think should be forthcoming from our educational systems are not always given freely. We must become self-taught parent warriors for our children. Toni and the Associated Advocacy Center not only have been there for me these last 14 years, Toni has given me the support and the tools as a parent to help navigate the not-so-easy road of Special needs education, services and information. I can say after 14 years, my daughter has made amazing progress and reached milestones that I am sure would not have been possible had I not made that first call to Toni at the Associated Advocacy Center those many years ago. I was delighted that Toni was also the Mashpee Wampanoag Educational Advocate, as my daughter is a Tribal member.

If you are reading this, please know that you and your child are in amazing hands with Toni and Associated Advocacy Center. Make that first call like I did and empower yourself with the knowledge and support that you and your child deserve.

As a student, since the age of 8, Toni Saunders of the Associated Advocacy Center has helped me throughout my life as an Educational Advocate. She made it possible for me to get and education that has allowed me to look at a world of opportunities. She made sure that my IEP would be heard and acknowledged working diligently and attended countless meetings growing up. She has always advocated for my rights and helped me to understand them. Now I am an adult and am grateful that she helped me to graduate from high school.

Toni Saunders of the Associated Advocacy Center has truly been a God send. I was in desperate need of help, especially through the maze called (school system). I was confused, she was knowledgeable. I felt inadequate, she was professional. I was fearful, she calmed my fears and because of her infectious dedication compassion and strength, I have the utmost confidence that whatever arises will be met with the best solution. Thank you, Toni. You are awesome.

I feel so fortunate to have met and worked with the Associated Advocacy Center for the last 7 years. Having Toni Saunders as my educational consultant has been both a lifesaver and a game changer for myself and my children. Before I met Toni, I was not aware of the rules and responsibilities of the public school system regarding special education services. I also didn’t know that my child’s medical issues qualified him for special education. I had never heard of a 504 plan and wasn’t exactly sure what an IEP was.

Toni provided to me the awareness, the knowledge, and the ability to be able to learn, and expect results from the school system. She attended every meeting, answered every call, email, and text answering questions and demanding that my children receive the right to an education regardless of their disability. Having her in our corner has relieved tremendous stress and has disallowed the school system to neglect the needs of my children. My child is now a high school senior who is a straight A student and has excelled at all levels and made a complete turn-around. I am truly grateful and highly satisfied with the services and outcome that working with her has provided to my children’s education. Toni’s assistance has made a positive difference not only in school but also in our home. Thank you, Toni! - Shari S