Rachel Mottern
Owner of Mottern Advocacy, LLC
Greetings!
- My name is Rachel Mottern and I am the owner of Mottern Advocacy, LLC. I am ecstatic you have found me and I look forward to sharing my passion for child advocacy with you by advocating for your child’s legal rights.
My Story
Growing up with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and ADHD, the educational environment was a nightmare. For years, I struggled with learning how to read, write, and focus in the general education classroom.
However, ... in fourth grade, everything changed when I became eligible for special education services. I met a very special special education teacher, Mrs. Deborah Scott. She looked past my labels and saw my potential. Because of her hard work and dedication, I slowly started to believe in myself.
Special Education was my game changer, the difference between failing out of school and earning a master’s degree from Vanderbilt University, the number one institution in the nation for Special Education. My Special Education experience has led me down an unusual path.
I desire to guide others on their extraordinary path. I strive to help others believe overcoming their disabilities can be an empowering and viable feat rather than frightening or unachievable.
My disabilities have, in fact, become some of my greatest assets. They are not disabilities at all, they are abilities. Because of my own experience with disabilities, I have endless patience for struggling learners. I have faith their hard work and perseverance will pay off when paired with essential Educational Supports and Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) which special education encompasses.
My special education experience is why I believe in the old adage “it is not the hand of cards you are dealt, but how you play the game.” Originally, I planned to dedicate my life to providing special education services. I desired teaching students with learning disabilities how to play the game—how to build on their strengths to achieve their potential despite challenges and obstacles. My personal experience with special education has made me the person I am, thus consequently informing my entire philosophy of special education. After nearly a decade as a Special Education Teacher in Public and Private schools I came to the arduous realization I can be more impactful outside of the classroom than in it.
Now, I strive to ensure every student with a disability is given the opportunity to learn to play the game by advocating for their civil rights and empowering families by navigating the complex system of Special Education right by their side.
My Education
I have a Masters in Education with a major in Special Education-Intervention Specialist with a focus in High Incidence Disabilities and the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Training Program from Vanderbilt University.
Furthermore, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree with a major in Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Concentration K-12 with a minor in Psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Education is everything! Knowlege is power.
Why have an Advocate?
Early Intervention is vital for children with disabilities. What we do together meeting by meeting will impact your child’s entire future. While Special Education and Related Services are public knowledge, fully accessing your child's legal rights in Special Education requires specific expertise. Such as a strong foundation in and vast experience with all 13 Eligibility Categories, a robust understanding and active engagement with the federal law, awareness of teacher expertise and how classrooms actually function, and an awareness of how school districts operate. This wealth of knowledge takes years of experience to acquire. Thus, the complex system makes navigating Special Education a privilege of knowledge difficult to decipher. Having professional expertise to assist you in navigating a complex system and walk with you every step of the way should be readily accessible and available to every parent. Let us start with you!
Why have Rachel Mottern as your advocate?
My personal experience with disability and professional experience as a Special Education Teacher enables me to have an acute awareness and perspective of each IEP team member’s role at the IEP meeting table. I know and live the full weight of what it means to have a disability. How vital it is to have the right educational support and instruction in place to meet students with disabilities educational needs. Furthermore, I know what is required in order to deliver a Free and Appropriate Public Education to students with disabilities. I know and have delivered Special Education Services and Specially Designed Instruction for a decade. I know how to establish rapport with staff, communicate effectively with stakeholders, and facilitate collaborative IEP meetings which produce results.