Reston-area parents navigating special education services have a free, confidential resource at Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).

The district's Office of the Ombuds coaches families through Individualized Education Program (IEP) and Section 504 meetings. Staff help parents understand their rights and prepare to communicate with school teams. An FCPS profile published Monday, Oct. 5 spotlights Kathy Murphy, assistant ombuds for special education, who is now in her 34th year with the district.

Murphy spent 20 years as a school psychologist before becoming a special education and Section 504 specialist. All four of her sons graduated from FCPS. She joined the ombuds office five years ago.

"The very existence of our office and the services we provide should send a clear message to community members that they have a voice, and that their voice matters," Murphy said in the profile.

The ombuds office opened in 2018. After fielding heavy demand around special education in its first year, FCPS added Murphy's role in 2019, according to Dawn Clements, the FCPS ombuds, in a district podcast archived on the office's webpage. The office follows four principles set by the International Ombuds Association: confidentiality, independence, impartiality and informality.

Staff do not make decisions or set policy. Instead, they coach parents on communication strategies, walk them through meeting preparation and help them understand procedures. The office can also arrange an interpreter through FCPS language services. Meetings run up to an hour and can be held by phone, in person or virtually.

Murphy and her colleagues track patterns in the concerns they hear and share those trends with school leaders to improve systems districtwide.

Families can reach the ombuds office at 571-423-4014 or [email protected].

FCPS is also hosting its annual Special Education Family Conference on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hayfield Secondary School, 7630 Telegraph Road in Alexandria. The event, themed "Connected Communities, Thriving Students," is free and open to families, educators and community members. Registration is available through the FCPS special education newsletter.