After nine years working as a Special Education teacher, Mercedes Lawson knew she wanted to make a bigger difference. She realized that not every student had access to an equitable education, so she started her own company to help parents and students find success on their own. In this episode, Mercedes talks to host Liz Durham about issues with government funding and how it is distributed in Tennessee, why staffing matters, and why teachers need to be advocates for their students. She shares her experience growing up with a sibling with disabilities and working alongside her mother to support their community. A.C.C.E.S.S, Advocacy & Consultation Center for Educational Student Supports, provides advocacy services, IEP consultation, tutoring, and homeschool support at an affordable rate. To learn more about Mercedes and A.C.C.E.S.S., check out the show notes. Mercedes Lawson Website | Facebook | Instagram - - - - - - - - - - - Liz Durham Instagram | Website Subscribe Apple Podcast | Spotify Being Different with Liz Durham is a Palm Tree Pod Co. production