This work started from a simple but important question:
Why are school reports so hard for parents to understand?

As a Columbia University graduate student in speech-language pathology working closely with children and families, I saw how often parents felt overwhelmed by evaluation reports, IEPs, and school paperwork. These documents are often filled with technical language, acronyms, and vague wording that can make it difficult to understand what they actually say about a child.

Many parents shared that they did not feel confident asking questions. Others assumed the reports were “good enough” or trusted that everything was being handled, even when they did not fully understand what services their child qualified for, what goals were being addressed, or where their child stood.

As a result, families were often unsure about:

• What evaluation results really meant

• What supports their child had access to

• What questions they could ask

• How to participate meaningfully in meetings and decisions

Understand My Child was created to help parents feel informed, confident, and prepared without needing to become experts. We translate complex school documents into clear, parent-friendly language so families can understand what is being said, what it means, and why it matters.

Our role is not to provide legal advice, replace school teams, or make school-based decisions. Our role is to make information easier to understand so parents can participate more confidently and make informed decisions for their child.