Creating Lasting Impact
About Us
About Jenn Choi, Founding Principal & Director of Training
A former publicist and youth services provider, Jenn was introduced to the world of special education in 2007. Having two sons with disabilities, she realized that she had to learn as much as she could in order to best advocate for them. By necessity and curiosity, Jenn studied many evidence-based methods proven to help children with learning disabilities overcome their challenges. Her journey led her to create an online toy and tool information resource which featured expert interviews from speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and special education teachers, as well as diligent product testing to help parents choose and use toys therapeutically and for fun. She became a regular education contributor to national publications. Toy testing gave her entry into the world of assistive and instructional technology, which Jenn found critical to the success of many students receiving special education services.
In addition to social cognition and executive function skills training, Jenn has trained in evidence based methods writing and reading instructions such as the The Writing Revolution (Hochman Method) and Orton Gillingham Methodology (30HR). She has received Advanced Advocate training in “Representing Parents at Impartial Hearings” through COPAA and participated in the Wrightslaw special education law and advocacy program. She also lectures to parents and professional communities on topics such as evaluation recommendations for IEP Team understanding, training students to active IEP meeting participation, and the high school admissions process for students with disabilities in New York City.
Collaboration & Leadership
Jenn works to advance the profession of special education consulting and advocacy by working with other professionals as a member of the ARISE Coalition and the Advocates for Children Transition Alliance. She is also the founder of the Association of Professional Special Education Advocates in New York City. Through her advocacy work, Jenn strives to maintain respectful and cordial relations with the special education leadership in the city school district.
Our Goal
At Jenn Choi Advocates, LLC, we aim to secure equity and access for our clients by providing expert advocacy and empowering parents and students to protect their rights throughout their school years and beyond. We believe in equipping families with the knowledge and skills they need for self-advocacy. Meet our team.
Our Origins - Peers as Advocates
Founder, Jenn Choi had once been a partner at Special Support Services, LLC, a special education consulting agency led by three parents of students with disabilities. Together, her colleagues Amber Decker and Rachel Ford were successful in not only serving parents of students with disabilities, but they also led community initiatives in surveying and publishing reports capturing unfair practices affecting students with disabilities across New York City. When Jenn joined her partners she was the least experienced and her colleagues provided her with tremendous training and mentorship. One of the most important things she learned during this time as not only an advocate but also as a parent of a student with an IEP is just how important it was for parents to attend their children’s IEP meetings with a trusted friend or advisor. Even for professional advocates, the IEP meeting process is still emotional. Thus, if the meeting becomes adversarial, it is absolutely understandable that these meetings are just too hard to handle alone.
Previous reports from Special Support Services, LLC include:
NYC School Refusal Survey
COVID-19 Special Education Teacher Shortage Survey
2eNYC Survey and Report