Introduction

In Los Angeles County, families of students with disabilities often face an uphill battle navigating the complex Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. The 2025 Report on Improving Student Outcomes and Ensuring Rights from LAUSD shows that this is a widespread reality, not an isolated issue. Lisa Mosko Barros, founder and Executive Director of SpEducational and the 2025 EALA New Champion, knows these challenges firsthand. As both a mother of two students with IEPs and an experienced advocate, Lisa transformed her personal experiences into a mission: to empower families as leaders in special education reform.

Through the IEP Empowerment Fellowship, SpEducational trains parents and self-advocates to understand their rights, become skilled supporters, and contribute to systemic change. 

The Origin Story

Lisa’s journey began as a self-described “special ed policy nerd” and, more importantly, as a parent. Navigating the IEP process for her own children, she quickly realized how inaccessible and overwhelming it was, even for someone fluent in English and who also had the time and resources. Witnessing systemic flaws and misconceptions about students’ abilities, Lisa became determined to help families with fewer advantages access the tools and knowledge they needed.

Her work is deeply personal. Lisa recalls being advised to place her preschool-aged daughter, later diagnosed as autistic and twice exceptional, in a restrictive special education-only classroom. Knowing it wasn’t the right fit, she sought out a collaborative team teaching environment instead. That decision Lisa credits changed her daughter’s trajectory, from struggling in preschool to graduating high school with honors and multiple AP courses. As Lisa emphasizes the broader lessons from her lived experience, “The diagnosis is not the prognosis. So your child will learn and grow in ways that you never imagined. They will exceed your wildest expectations as long as you don’t take no for an answer, and anytime you get an answer that just doesn’t feel right, just keep pushing and finding out as much as you can to learn if there’s another way.”

Lisa’s own journey taught her how to turn a personal challenge into a professional calling. Drawing from her experiences navigating the special education system, she founded SpEducational and created their signature program, the IEP Empowerment Fellowship. 

The IEP Empowerment Fellowship: Program Overview

The Fellowship is designed specifically for paents, guardians, and self-advocates who are currently navigating or have recently navigated the special education system within Los Angeles County, particularly those connected to underserved schools. Throughout the 2025-2026 school year (September to June), participants will engage in virtual training sessions and activities two to four times per month, focusing on developing self-advocacy skills, peer networking, and leadership development. Eligibility is open to parents and guardians of students with disabilities, as well as self-advocates who have recent IEP experience and are ready to take active leadership roles within their communities. Fellows receive over 30 hours of IEP and advocacy training, mentorship from experienced advocates, connections to local resources, and a stipend at the end of each semester upon successful completion of the program requirements. This structure supports participants not only in navigating their own IEP processes but also in becoming supporters and change-agents for others.

This case study defines advocacy as the strategic process of teaching and empowering parents and self-advocates to navigate, lead, and otherwise critically engage the IEP or other specialized services process, distinguishing it from the broader concept of professional Advocacy, where an individual acts as a direct representative for another party.

Addressing Systemic Challenges: The IEP Empowerment Fellowship Model

SpEducational’s Fellowship addresses these challenges through a comprehensive approach that equips families and self-advocates with the knowledge and skills needed to actively participate in the special education process and advocate for meaningful improvements. Key components include:

Impact and Future Vision

With support from the EALA Champion Fund, this initiative is expanding its reach, amplifying family voices, and laying the groundwork for more supportive and effective education systems. By centering the voices of parents and self-advocates, SpEducational is cultivating a community of informed leaders who can influence special education systems from the ground up. The Fellowship not only supports individual families but also generates data and resources that contribute to more responsive and effective educational practices. Lisa envisions a future where families, educators, and administrators work collaboratively to ensure every student’s strengths are recognized and nurtured, creating a more equitable and supportive special education environment across Los Angeles County.