Nicole Agado

Alvarado

Nicole Agado is a parent to two children on the autism spectrum. Agado received her bachelor of science in human resource development from Texas A&M University and worked as an HR professional in the public and private healthcare sectors for six years before attending law school. During law school, she had her two oldest children and began to navigate the complex world of parenting children with disabilities. After receiving her J.D. from Oklahoma City University School of Law, Agado quickly found that by combining her education, a love for outreach, and her personal and professional experiences with healthcare, employment, and education, she could often help parents of children with disabilities to advocate more effectively for their child’s education and to navigate the intimidating healthcare processes.

Agado has completed the Wrightslaw Special Education Law & Advocacy Training, is a member of The Society for Human Resource Management, The Autism Society of Texas, and The Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys. She has been a presenter for and sat on panel discussions at conferences for mothers of autistic children, with discussion topics such as special education resources, parent’s rights, IEPs, and parent advocacy strategies. Agado lives with her husband, Bryan, and their three children. Agado loves reading and has a passion for sharing knowledge with others and learning herself. In her spare time, you can find her playing with one of their five pets, watching college sports, spending time with her family, and enjoying activities in nature.

Project Title

Elevate Special Education – An Interview Podcast for Disability Champions.

Project Description

Agado’s short-series podcast, “Elevate Special Ed,” brings together voices of champions in special education to share insights, strategies, and lessons learned. The aim is to uncover what it takes for champions to create more inclusive, accessible learning environments by finding the data and personal stories that can influence accountability and transparency in special education services in Texas. Follow the podcast on Instagram @elevate.specialed to learn what’s new, and look for the podcast on Spotify or your platform of choice.

This project is a collaboration with Carrie Mamantov.