Lipson Advocacy: Educational, Legal and Strategy Specialist

04/15/2026

For 17 years, Gwinnett STOPP has been doing the kind of work people point to, not just in Georgia but nationally, when they’re trying to understand what real parent advocacy can look like.
The fact that it’s sunsetting is a real loss.
I’m incredibly grateful to Marlyn Tillman. Watching what she built, alongside so many families, has shaped how I think about advocacy in a very real way.
They’re hosting a screening this Saturday of a documentary about Gwinnett STOPP's work and impact. I’m so sorry to miss it; we have a family conflict.
If you’re able to go, you should. Truly. And if not, at least watch the trailer; I have a quick cameo in it. But more importantly, it captures something difficult to put into words about what this community made happen.

This work mattered. It still does. Register and see the trailer here: https://bit.ly/4cjbf0w https://bit.ly/3QIbWcA

26 likes. "POWER TO THE PARENTS Trailer"

04/10/2026

I keep seeing headlines about a “surge” in special education disputes in Georgia, and it’s just not telling the truth. There are more than 200,000 students with disabilities in Georgia public schools, and only a tiny fraction of families ever file complaints, and even fewer go to due process. That’s not a flood of litigation
That’s a system most families never access—and when they do
It’s hard and exhausting, and families usually don’t win in any meaningful way. So no, this isn’t about overly litigious parents
It’s about families trying to use the only tools they have after everything else hasn’t worked. If anything, the real question is why it takes legal action at all to get basic support. Until that changes, this “surge” narrative is missing the point entirely!

More parents are taking legal action against Georgia school districts over special education disputes.

03/31/2026

We spend a lot of time talking about systems, policies, and rights, but real change also happens in conversation.
GCEE is excited to share an upcoming opportunity in Macon to sit down, connect, and engage in a more meaningful way.
On April 12 from 2:00–4:30 PM, a small, guided dinner conversation will take place at the Tubman Museum. The focus is on equity, belonging, and lived experience, with a structure designed to help people actually listen to one another across perspectives.
If you’ve been looking for something more thoughtful than a webinar or a comment thread, this is worth your time.
Spots are limited, and the conversation is intentionally small.
You can learn more and sign up here:
https://app.inclusivv.co/equitable-dinners/conversations/6937

03/22/2026

Quick update on Section 504 so people understand the current situation- Georgia is NO LONGER part of the federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Section 504. That is a big deal.
I believe it is a result of the incredible pushback from families and advocates across Georgia who spoke up.
What I keep coming back to is this:
Local advocacy can shape what happens at the federal level.
The lawsuit is still moving forward in other states, so this isn’t over. What happens next could still affect protections here.
Our advocacy power is a reminder that when people pay attention, share their experiences, and raise their voices, it can lead to real movement!
If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s worth speaking up, it is.

02/06/2026

I’m so proud to have been a consultant involved in the creation and the presentation of inclusive futures!

12/08/2025

Starting in 20 minutes. Free webinar with the Learning Disabilities Association of Georgia (LDAG)tonight at 6:00 PM EST. If you care about students with learning disabilities, this is worth your time.

We will talk real-world advocacy, IEPs, leadership, and how families, educators, and allies can create stronger schools and better outcomes. Practical, clear, and immediately useful.
applicable
Featuring Leslie Lipson, JD, attorney, advocate, and parent with decades of experience supporting families across Georgia and nationally.

Register right now and jump in: https://bit.ly/LipsonLDAG

12/07/2025

Register now🎯. This free webinar with Learning Disabilities Association of Georgia (LDAG) is tomorrow, Monday, December 8 at 6:00 PM EST.

Advocacy is not one size fits all. Join us for a practical conversation about how advocacy shows up for students with learning disabilities, from IEPs and 504 plans to leadership and community change. You will leave with ideas you can use right away.

Featuring Leslie Lipson (ME!), JD, attorney, advocate, parent, Director of the Georgia Coalition for Equity in Education, and founder of Lipson Advocacy, with decades of experience supporting families and educators and lived experience as an adult with learning disabilities.

Register here: https://bit.ly/LipsonLDAG

11/18/2025

𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞!! Free webinar from Learning Disabilities Association of Georgia (LDAG) Monday December 8th at 6:00 PM EST.

Advocacy isn’t one-size-fits-all. For students with learning disabilities, it can mean speaking up for themselves, parents navigating IEPs or 504 plans, teachers stepping in to support, or communities working for broader change. In this session, we’ll discuss the various ways advocacy is present in the learning disabilities community, its connection to leadership, and its significance. You’ll come away with practical ideas about what type of advocacy fits your situation and how families, educators, and allies can work together to make schools and communities stronger.

Join us with featured speaker (me!) Leslie Lipson, JD, who is an 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲, 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞. As Director of the Georgia Coalition for Equity in Education and founder of Lipson Advocacy, she has worked with thousands of families and educators navigating IEPs, 504 plans, discipline, and access to inclusive education. Leslie has also led systemic advocacy efforts, including policy reforms that strengthened protections for students with disabilities in public schools. In addition to her professional expertise, Leslie brings a personal perspective as an adult with learning disabilities and as a parent. Her work bridges law, policy, and lived experience, helping families, educators, and allies better understand the many ways advocacy and leadership can create meaningful change.

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤: https://bit.ly/LipsonLDAG

11/16/2025

GCEE has joined a broad national coalition of disability, civil rights, and education organizations calling on the Administration and Congress to reverse the sweeping layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education. These cuts have weakened the federal offices that protect the rights of students with disabilities, including IDEA and Section 504, and risk undoing decades of progress.

Federal oversight is not optional. It is a legal and moral responsibility to ensure every child receives a free and appropriate public education.

You can read the full statement here: https://bit.ly/4oNoo7o

10/18/2025

It’s a tough time for those of us who care about disability rights.
The civil rights of people with disabilities are being challenged in ways that can feel heavy and discouraging.

When I start to feel that weight, I come back to this: we each have a role to play.

My role is supporting quality advocacy 🥰whether that’s with families, organizations, or professionals. That’s what I can give, and giving it fully keeps me grounded.

If you’re following this page, you probably care about disability civil rights too, especially making sure every student gets a fair, quality education.

So here’s my small invitation:
Think about what you have to offer - something focused, steady, and uniquely yours.

Then give that gift back to the community you care about.

10/16/2025

Nearly all staff at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) received termination notices recently.

OSEP provides federal oversight, technical assistance, and support to help states implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These aren’t just staff cuts, they dismantle the national infrastructure that ensures children with disabilities have access to education, services, and rights under the law.

You wrote to your representatives, raised your voice, and now you’re wondering: What else can I do?

Here are four meaningful next steps to keep the momentum going:
1. Email the White House- [email protected] Ask the Administration to reverse the terminations at OSEP and OSERS and reaffirm its commitment to enforcing IDEA. Just a few personal, respectful lines make a difference.

2. Reach out locally- Your members of Congress have district offices. A quick call or meeting with their local staff can help keep this issue visible and urgent.

3. Speak up publicly- A simple post, a story, or tagging your elected officials helps others understand what’s at stake- public attention matters.

4. Invite others to act- People care but may not know where to start. Send an action alert, share a script, or ask a friend to write or call with you.

This is a moment for a broad and bipartisan response.

IDEA has been the law for 50 years. Without federal guidance and oversight, rights are harder to protect, and access becomes unequal. We need to keep showing up.

https://bit.ly/OSERS2025