Education-A-Must Inc. provides advocate services for the child or youth with physical, emotional, behavioral, or learning disabilities. Our goal is to assist parents and caregivers in finding help for the child with special needs.

We supply coaching, counseling, direct advocacy and referrals for you and your child and will help you find the special services from schools, community, local, state and federal agencies that you need.

Education-A-Must receives thousands of inquiries each year from families, regarding special education and related services, vocational education, transition, and civil rights. Often they have become frustrated with the system and we help them sort things out and empower them to get the services that their children so well deserve. We will work with school districts and local, state & federal agencies to secure the necessary services and education for all who qualify. We work for you and your child alone and with drive and determination, and with the ability to stick with it, we make things happen for those who need it. In the State of New Hampshire, Massachusetts and other states we can work as an Educational Consultant Advocate as an objective third party on your behalf. We can help with your special child's educational needs of appropriate schooling, accommodations and placement for individuals and children with:

• Educational Issues
• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
• Learning Disabilities
• Physical Disabilities
• Emotional Issues
• Behavioral Issues
• Health Impairments (Visual, Hearing)
• Bipolar Disorder
• Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Education-A-Must also goes into the courts with you so that we can inform and empower your child's attorney and the judge on the issues of your child. Working with an Educational Consultant/Advocate is often the first step towards the power of knowledge. This investment can stop the struggle in school as well as making school a place for your child to go and be happy. Let us teach you how to become an effective advocate for your child. A primary goal of every advocate is to strengthen the advocacy skills of parents in order to empower them to be more effective, knowledgeable team members. Informed, supportive parents are better able to make rational decisions for their child and the child's individualized education plan, or accommodation, remediation, services, and delivery models to comprehensively address your child's unique needs.

Mission Statement

Education-A-Must Inc. is a nonprofit corporation providing advocate services for the child or youth with physical, emotional, behavioral, or learning disabilities. Our goal is to assist parents and caregivers in finding help for the child with special needs. EAM works with local, state and federal agencies to secure the necessary services and education for all who qualify.

Biographies

Dorothy French
Dot French fought the battle against breast cancer in 2002 and won. Dorothy French, Senior Advocate, Executive Director and Founder of Education-A-Must, was trained as an Advocate through the Federation for Children with Special Needs and has also received training in Professional Coaching. She is a member of COPAA (Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates) and IDA, (International Dyslexia Society).

Dot struggled with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and Dyslexia as a child. She also has a son with ADHD, Learning Disabilities, and Speech and Language Disabilities. Because of her valiant efforts as the parent of a son with ADHD and other learning disabilities over the past twenty years, Dot French has gained both the experience and the empathy necessary to be an effective advocate for not only her own child, but also for the children of over 900 families since Education-A-Must, Inc. was founded in 1996.

In 2001, Dot received the Jefferson Award from the American Institute of Public Service for her outstanding contribution to the New Hampshire community. In 2004, Dot received the Richard S. Lockhart Memorial Award from the Greater Seacoast United Way for her extraordinary contributions to improve the quality of life on New Hampshire's Seacoast.

All of Education-A-Must's Advocates have specific training and experience in Educational Advocacy. Several of our Advocates are also parents of children with Special Needs.