ABOUT ALAN
Alan Kerzin has a long and distinguished career in disability rights and advocacy, providing direct representation to families in the North Bay for over 30 years. He has helped countless families and individuals with disabilities obtain necessary services and supports needed from Special Education, and or the Regional Center. Most importantly, Alan has a strong track record of working effectively with local school districts and the regional center resolving disputes through effective communication and listening. His strong advocacy skills and in-depth knowledge of special education law has consistently led to positive outcomes for children and families. The focus of “Alan’s Advocacy Works, ” is to ensure that all clients receive the advice, support and information they need to successfully navigate special education and regional center laws and regulations.
Throughout his career, Alan has worked in various leadership capacities at the Area 4 Board/State Council Office, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities in Sacramento, Mental Health Advocacy in Los Angeles, the Children’s Network of Solano County, and the Disability Law Center in Boston. In addition, he has advocated for and given voice to vulnerable populations, including children, youth, and adults with disabilities, foster youth, and low-income families. Alan’s work also includes facilitating inter-agency working groups focused on disability policy initiatives at the local, state, and federal levels.
In addition to assisting and representing families, Alan has trained parents to develop the confidence they need to make a difference in the lives of their own children and in their communities. He understands how crucial it is to make special education and regional center laws and regulations accessible, so parents feel confident and empowered to interface with school and regional center personnel and legislators in order to influence public policy.
When not working, Alan enjoys watching UCLA basketball, walking, listening to music, traveling and spending time with his wife and kids. He also continues to work on social justice issues, and currently serves on local and national boards.
SERVICES
FREE CONSULTATIONS
FREE 45 minute consultation to discuss special education concerns about your child’s Individualized Education Program, (IEP) and/ or Individual Program Plan (IPP) with the Regional center.
SUPPORT FOR PARENTS
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Assistance for parents
to navigate special education and regional center systems.
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Training in parent empowerment and advocacy, special education and/or regional center rights and responsibilities.
PROVIDE DIRECT REPRESENTATION FOR PARENTS
Direct representation, advocacy and support for parents at IEP or IPP meetings.
SELF ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
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Education and training know and understand rights and responsibilities
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Training in self-advocacy to get the services and supports needed.
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Making disability laws and regulations accessible for all populations.
MEDIATION/DUE PROCESS
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Providing parent representation at Regional Center informal hearings, mediation, and/or fair hearings.
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Representing parents to resolve local school district disputes at mediation.
TIPS
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Review your child’s Individual Program Plan or Individual Education Program prior to your meeting with the Regional Center or your local school team.
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Review relevant laws and regulations that pertain to your child’s individual plan meeting.
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Seek help from an advocate.
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Invite a friend to provide support during the meeting.
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Establish a positive professional working relationship with your child’s teacher and other team members.
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Determine what you hope to achieve and accomplish at your regional center and/or local school district meeting to ensure positive outcomes for your child.
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Create a “game plan” prior to the meeting that includes questions to address with the regional center or school district team.
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Communicate regularly with your child’s teacher and/or regional center program coordinator.
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If communication breaks down, file for a more formal process to resolve differences among parents, schools, and regional centers.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
I worked with Alan for more than 20 years and saw him advocating with many families on both regional center and special education issues. Not only is Alan very knowledgeable about regional center and special education laws but just as importantly, he is skilled at negotiating positive outcomes and empowering families. Alan supports families to learn their rights, resolve their issues, and create effective working relationships with service providers and administrators. Because of his skills and knowledge, Alan is a very effective advocate.
CINDY RUDER
Self Advocacy Coordinator
If you need an advocate in your corner, that advocate should be Alan Kerzin. I have had the pleasure of working with Alan on multiple county and state-wide issues over the past 20 years and have found him to be an honest, dedicated and knowledgeable leader on behalf of the special needs community. And children issues are his specialty! Alan’s kindness and compassion, mixed with his policy issue expertise and warm relationship with stakeholders, are a winning combination when you need support.
JENNIFER BARTON
CA State Government Policy Leader
