Alicia has worked in the public school system for 28 years, working primarily with students with special needs. She has served as Special Education Team Leader and as Special Education Department Chairperson.
In addition, she is a recognized expert in the field of special education and has been a featured speaker on numerous webinars, including one that was hosted by The Houston Chronicle, which focused on how to get a 504 or IEP for your child.
Looking for an experienced ARD meeting advocate in Arlington? We provide knowledgeable, compassionate support for families navigating special education services. As a trusted special needs advocate in Arlington, we attend ARD meetings, review records, and help ensure your child receives appropriate support, services, and protections under special education law.
Services
Autism, a neurological condition, is characterized by differences in social communication and interaction, alongside restricted interests and repetitive behaviors.
Intellectual disability is a condition characterized by limitations in cognitive functioning and adaptive behaviors, impacting an individual's everyday life and learning abilities.
Emotional disturbance refers to a condition in which an individual exhibits inappropriate behaviors, emotions, or both, leading to difficulties in social interactions and academic performance.
Children with ODD often exhibit stubbornness, argumentativeness, and a tendency to deliberately provoke others, leading to significant impairment in social, academic, and familial functioning.
Advocates emphasize the importance of understanding ADHD as a unique neurological variation rather than a flaw, promoting acceptance, support, and accommodations for individuals with ADHD to thrive.
OHI is an engaging platform offering insightful content tailored to advocate interests, fostering community and empowerment through knowledge sharing.
A specific learning disability is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting the brain's ability to receive, process, analyze, or store information. It can manifest in difficulties with reading, writing, math, or other cognitive processes despite average or above-average intelligence
A speech impairment refers to any condition that affects a person's ability to produce sounds correctly or fluently, or to use their vocal cords, tongue, lips, or other speech-related structures effectively.
A few topics Alicia can present include: “How to help de-escalate a child with intense behaviors”, “How to utilize a Safe Place within the classroom”, “Using visuals effectively”, “Documentation and collecting data on IEP goals and behaviors” and “Building rapport with sensitive and students with challenging behaviors”. She can also tailor presentations to address specific needs of the staff
Autism advocacy in Arlington focuses on supporting families as they navigate special education services, evaluations, and ARD/IEP meetings. Advocates work closely with parents to ensure students with autism receive appropriate accommodations, goals, and services tailored to their unique needs. From reviewing evaluations to attending school meetings, advocacy helps families feel informed and confident throughout the process. In addition to autism support, many families also seek Dyslexia advocacy in Arlington to address reading, writing, and language-based learning challenges. Strong advocacy ensures schools follow best practices, provide appropriate interventions, and create meaningful educational plans that help students thrive academically and socially.
A 504 Plan in Arlington helps students with disabilities access their education by providing necessary accommodations and supports in the general education setting. These plans address medical, physical, emotional, or learning needs that impact a student’s ability to learn. Families often benefit from guidance when navigating eligibility, accommodations, and school meetings. Working with an experienced IEP advocate in Arlington can help ensure the school properly identifies needs, documents appropriate supports, and follows federal guidelines. Whether your child requires classroom accommodations, testing supports, or behavioral interventions, strong advocacy helps protect student rights and promotes equal access to educational opportunities.
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Testimonials
Kathy Struck2026-08-31Alicia was amazing! Her response time was excellent, and she went above and beyond to make sure we were prepared. In our ARD, she was professional, kind, and assertive. We received our main objectives, and were able to help set up our son for success. The advocate presence encourages all involved to come prepared to give their best. Thanks again!
Kayla Graves2026-05-22Working with Ms. Gina is the best decision I could have made. She is knowledgeable, efficient, and truly goes to bat for her clients. I felt supported and well-represented throughout the entire process. Thank you, Ms. Gina, for your outstanding service!
Neya Ambalathunkal2026-05-22I cannot say enough great things about the support I received from Gina. Despite having very little notice before our meeting, she came fully prepared — she clearly put in extra time after hours to make sure we were ready. She presented herself with such calm and professionalism, and that made a huge difference for me going into a stressful situation. She advocated strongly for my daughter and helped guide the meeting toward the outcome we were hoping for. I felt supported every step of the way. If you’re a parent navigating the special education process, I highly recommend her services. We are so happy with the experience and grateful for everything she did for our family. Tucker Special Education Advocates are true to their word and have fair pricing as well. We are happy with our experience with them.
Ayana Hutchinson2026-05-21We used Alicia Tucker Special Education Advocates to help us navigate the often confusing special education system, and the experience was outstanding. Prior to working with them, we felt like we were being given the runaround by the school district and were making little to no progress advocating for our child. Working with this advocacy company made a huge difference. They simplified the process and ensured we fully understood our child’s rights every step of the way. Our advocate, Gina, was exceptional! She attended our ARD meeting and brought a level of knowledge and professionalism that truly elevated the conversation. She helped guide the meeting, ensured our concerns were addressed, and advocated effectively for our child’s needs. Most importantly, she helped us achieve the outcomes our child is entitled to. Having someone knowledgeable and confident in our corner made all the difference. We are incredibly grateful for their support and are happy to continue our journey with them as we move forward. We highly recommend their services — 10/10 experience.
Dimitria King2026-05-20I cannot thank Gina Schmidt and the entire Tucker Education Advocates team enough for their support during this process for my son. Candace immediately reached out to schedule a consultation and Alicia personally contacted me to gather additional information to better support my son’s educational needs. The team moved quickly, reviewed records, communicated with the district, and prepared for my son’s ARD meeting right away. Throughout this stressful process, I felt heard, supported, and reassured every step of the way. Gina and her team have been professional, responsive, compassionate, and extremely knowledgeable. Their guidance helped me better understand my rights and advocate confidently for my son’s education and future. I am truly grateful and blessed to have Tucker Education Advocates supporting my family, and I would absolutely recommend them to any parent seeking an advocate for their child.
Wes Machalica2026-04-30I've had a great experience with Tucker Advocacy. I really appreciate the knowledge and professionalism that Ms. Tucker and her team bring to the table and it's encouraging to know that my student is receiving the best representation in her accommodation process. Huge thanks to Ms. Tucker and her team for all the support and for helping us through the ARDs!
Claudia Gonzalez Chavira2026-04-24I don’t know what I would have done without them ! More then a service they offer you a sincere concern for your needs! Gave me peace of mind the most important is there knowledge if the laws that protect our children! I don’t feel alone with the issues regarding my son’s rights!
Jeff Smith2026-04-23Very knowledgeable and very professional. Highly recommended!
kristen Padgett2026-03-03We are so incredibly grateful for Gina with Tucker Advocates. She went above and beyond advocating for our daughter and made us feel supported every step of the way. Gina is knowledgeable, professional, and truly understands special education. She came prepared, explained everything clearly, and made sure our concerns were heard and addressed. Because of her, we felt confident walking into meetings instead of overwhelmed. What stood out most was how much she genuinely cares. She fought for what was appropriate for our child and didn’t back down when things got tough. Having her on our side made all the difference. I highly recommend Gina and Tucker Advocates to any parent who needs strong, compassionate advocacy for their child. We couldn’t have done this without her!
In Texas, once a school receives written parental consent, it has 45 school days to complete a full and individual initial evaluation (FIE). After the evaluation is completed, the ARD/IEP meeting must be held within 30 calendar days to review the results and determine eligibility and services.
Timelines can be confusing, and delays do happen. Working with an experienced IEP advocate in Arlington can help ensure the school follows required deadlines and that evaluations are completed thoroughly and on time.
Parents have the right to bring an advocate, consultant, or attorney to an ARD meeting and should always. Schools cannot deny participation simply because a parent chooses to bring support. An advocate can help parents understand evaluation data, ensure legal requirements are followed, and support meaningful discussion about services and goals. Many families choose to work with an ARD meeting advocate in Arlington to help level the playing field, clarify options, and ensure their child’s educational needs are clearly addressed and documented during the meeting.
Dyslexia support and special education are related but not the same. Dyslexia support often falls under general education and includes targeted reading instruction, accommodations, and intervention programs. Special education, on the other hand, involves eligibility under IDEA, an IEP, and specialized instruction based on a disability that significantly impacts learning.
Some students receive dyslexia services without qualifying for special education, while others need both. Understanding the difference can be confusing. Working with Dyslexia advocacy in Arlington helps families determine the right path, ensure appropriate services are provided, and advocate for effective instruction and accommodations tailored to their child’s needs.
Yes, ADHD can significantly impact a student’s social skills at school. Difficulties with impulse control, attention, emotional regulation, and interpreting social cues can affect peer relationships, classroom interactions, and behavior. Students with ADHD may struggle with turn-taking, maintaining friendships, or responding appropriately in social situations.
Support such as social skills instruction, counseling, and classroom accommodations can help. Working with a special needs advocate in Arlington can ensure these social and behavioral needs are recognized and addressed through appropriate supports, accommodations, or an IEP or 504 Plan.
Yes, advocacy can help with services outside of school. Advocates often assist families in understanding evaluations, coordinating with medical or therapeutic providers, and identifying community-based supports such as therapy programs, social skills groups, and transition services. They can also help families use school data to support access to outside services. Families seeking Autism Advocacy in Arlington often benefit from guidance that connects school supports with outside resources, helping create a more comprehensive plan to support a child’s development across home, school, and community settings.
Steps to connect with Us
We offer a complimentary 30-minute consultation. During this time, we will address your concerns regarding the current situation and explore potential options for the next steps.
If we both agree to move forward at the end of our conversation, We will provide you with a Consent to Authorize Advocacy and Release of Educational Information to sign and send along with a letter to the school notifying them that you have engaged our services.
We will send you a questionnaire to write all of your concerns regarding the current situation, your goals and reasons for seeking our services, as well as your experiences with your child and the district.
Review of Records involves a comprehensive review of all documents, including past and current evaluations, IEPs, and relevant academic and medical records as well as the questionnaire detailing your concerns.
The advocacy plan will be tailored to your student and specific situation and may include the following:
We require a $250 retainer fee and a completed Client Intake Form before work can begin.
We can also attend meetings with you for a flat rate of $600 which includes travel time.
Please note: If you need to file for due process, there will be an additional fee of $300 required before we can submit the paperwork on your behalf.
