In a world where educational systems often fall short in supporting children with disabilities, Leanndra Yates, CEO of Exclusive Insights, found her calling. Much like most groundbreakers, her journey into entrepreneurship was fueled by a deep-seated passion for change. But there's more to her story than just passion.

Leanndra's inspiration for Exclusive Insights began with a stark realization – "our education system, especially in supporting children with disabilities, is seriously flawed." She has been in the trenches for over a decade, serving, protecting, and educating parents about their rights within a system that sometimes feels like it's working against them.

"Caregivers are doing their best, wanting the best for their children," Leanndra remarks. "But unfortunately, the school system doesn't always empower parents to push back when injustice occurs at the expense of their child with a disability."

Her background in special education acquainted her with advocacy and sparked the idea of creating deep connections with students, families, and colleagues in public education. "My former students, now adults, taught me so much about my profession and schooling experiences," she reflects. "Families often face negativity and rigid thinking about their children, and teachers and administrators sometimes have fixed mindsets due to minimal understanding of key aspects."

Leanndra has always believed in the concept of collaboration and steered it forward through powerful collaborations with school districts, families, and organizations. She considers education as a collaborative effort and something that should positively impact children's educational experiences. And, so her company aims to create this change by educating IEP team members and schools on federal and state requirements and best practices for instructing children with disabilities.

"I hold training and consultations with parents to educate, empower, and activate their ability to advocate for their children independently," Leanndra adds, emphasizing the importance of equipping parents with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the complex educational system.

As an expert in the field, Leanndra recognizes the unique needs of each organization and conducts a thorough needs assessment. This allows her to tailor training and workshops to meet the specific requirements of staff and parents utilizing their services.

Recently, Florida passed a groundbreaking bill offering scholarship money for families to withdraw their children from public schools and enroll them in private schools. Yates is inclined to bag this opportunity to expand her impact. "I plan to market myself to private schools so that they can utilize my expertise, and together, we can build sound intervention practices and special education services for children with disabilities who may be enrolling in their schools," she reveals, demonstrating her strategic approach to creating change on multiple fronts.

At the heart of her company is the Family and Community Learning program, offering tailored training and workshops to schools, organizations, PTOs, parent groups, and any relevant audience seeking to enhance support for children with disabilities.

She draws from her experience presenting at Parent University in Dublin, Ohio, where she witnessed firsthand the positive impact of informed parents and schools taking responsibility for vulnerable children. "Special Education 101 is a favorite," she shares, "it highlights what parents and caregivers need to know." Teacher trainings focus on the intricacies of IEPs, while administrator training delves into data collection and supporting teachers working with children with IEPs and intervention plans.

Well, that's not all - the company goes beyond traditional advocacy by supporting and empowering adults advocating for vulnerable students in the community where students can enjoy tailored training and workshops for families, organizations, PTOs, and private parent groups.

"Some trainings focus on families dealing with children who have experienced extensive trauma," Leanndra explains. "We emphasize how trauma affects the learning process and encourage parents to share enough information with the school team for empathy without exploiting the child's experiences."

While she makes a continuous impact in the education system, one thing is pretty clear- her approach is both innovative and practical as things seem to be working really well!

In this grand narrative of education, she has become that one change-maker, who brings hope for a lasting change!