About IEP San Diego
IEP San Diego supports families in San Diego County throughout the special education process to ensure their child with behavioral, emotional or learning disabilities is provided with an appropriate education and can achieve meaningful progress.
IEP San Diego was founded in January 2020 by Karla Maldonado after she had worked for several years at a well-respected Special Education Advocacy firm based in San Diego, California. IEP San Diego’s office is conveniently located in the heart of Liberty Station, in Point Loma, San Diego, California.
IEP San Diego’s Special Education advocate is Karla Maldonado.
About Karla Maldonado
Karla has specialized training in many areas related to her client’s Special Education diagnoses including Social Emotional Learning, Social Thinking, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dyslexia, Early Intervention, Behavioral Therapy, Mental Health Services and ADHD, among others.
Karla obtained a certificate of completion for the Special Education Advocates Training (SEAT) program by the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) and from the Special Education Law and Advocacy Series (SELAS) program of the University of San Diego’s School of Law.
She has experience in advocating during IEP and 504 Plan meetings; reviewing special education assessments, identifying areas of need, consulting with parents, school district staff and professionals regarding students’ special needs; the organization and maintenance of Special Education files; and the preparation for cases that may need to move to Due Process.
She is fluent in both spoken and written Spanish and English. She is a uniquely qualified Consultant and Advocate because of her experience working with families facing a wide range of challenges.
She understands the day to day struggles of caring for a child who has a handicapping condition while trying to obtain the right services from school districts and community providers for that child. And she also understands the impact that an inappropriate school program has on the child and his or her family and how it can hurt the student and waste their time. Karla and her husband are parents to a child with special needs who has an IEP.
Karla is passionate about supporting San Diego families during their child's educational journey.
Karla’s Special Education Advocacy related training
70th Annual Conference International Dyslexia Association in Portland, OR (November 2019)
LRP’s National Institute on Legal Issues on Educating Individuals with Disabilities 39th Annual Conference in Dallas, TX (April 2018)
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates Annual Conference in Monterey, CA (March 2018)
Special Education Law and Advocacy Series - University of San Diego School of Law (2018 - 2019)
Reading Methodologies - International Dyslexia Association (2018)
Special Education Advocacy Training - Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (2017-2018)
Problem Solving with Students: Two Different Sets of Strategies. (Dr. Ross Greene 2017)
Using Collaborative & Proactive Solutions in Tandem with Social Thinking to Solve Problems and Teach New Skills - Michelle Garcia Winner & Dr. Ross Greene (2017)
Teaching Social Thinking to Early Learners; Training in Informal Dynamic Social Thinking - Michelle Garcia Winner (2016)
Assessment and Core Treatment Strategies for Home and School - Dr. Pamela Crooke (2016)
Implementing Social Thinking Concepts and Vocabulary - Michelle Garcia Winner & Dr. Pamela Crooke (2015)
Social Detective, Superflex®, and Friends Take on Social Emotional Learning -Michelle Garcia Winner (2014)
Exploring Key Social Communication Concepts-(Michelle Garcia Winner 2013)
44th National Autism Society Conference (2012)
B.A. Communication Science (ITESM 2001)
Karla’s Memberships
International Dyslexia Association (IDA)
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)
San Diego Autism Society
National Association for Parents and Special Education Advocates (NAPSEA)
Council for Exceptional Children
Get started
The first step is contacting us so we can schedule a consultation with you.