Early in 1992, Ruth Heitin embarked upon her career as a private special education consultant. As a special education advocate, she serves as an independent specialist, offering a second opinion on educational issues. In general, this type of advocate works for parents, either directly or through a nonprofit group, but their real clients are always the children. In order to support the child, advocates should be able to support parents through every step of the special education process, from initial evaluation through graduation and beyond, from the initial identification of the child to, if necessary, due process. Their role is one of support for parents in understanding and addressing the issues related to their children's educational needs. Advocates go to meetings with parents, assist in writing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), help parents understand their child's educational records, clarify the child's educational needs, and help identify and locate appropriate educational services and programs. In this article, Heitin shares valuable insight from her years of experience working with school professionals and parents as as a private special education advocate.