Jennifer Dougherty joined Evanston CASE in 2020 as a Parent Partners volunteer and became an Associate Advocate in 2021.  Her background in special education and her experience as a parent of a child with disabilities provides her with extensive experience on both sides of the special education table. 

Jennifer received her B.S. in Journalism from Boston University and her M.S. in Education from Wheelock College in Boston, where she specialized in Early Childhood Special Education and Early Elementary Education.  She was a special education teacher and inclusion specialist in the Watertown, MA, public schools for seven years before moving to Evanston and teaching in District 65 for five years. 

After she left her teaching career to become a parent, Jennifer started connecting with parents who were unfamiliar with the special education system and guided them, often over a cup of coffee, about what to expect and what to ask for in their child’s meetings.  During this time of “quiet advocacy,” Jennifer realized that many parents felt lost and confused when faced with information the district gave them about their child(ren).  She realized then the importance of providing parents with the knowledge and understanding they need to advocate for their children as they go through school.