Hi, I’m Meredith, an educational counselor who has worked first hand with children since 1999.
I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelors degree in Child and Family Studies and from the University of Chicago with a Masters degree in Social Work with a specialization in School Social Work.
I have worked in public and private schools in Illinois and the DC Metro area. While working at a private school for elementary-aged children with learning disabilities in Washington DC, I developed close relationships with the families of my students. Over and over, I heard parents tell stories of their heartache and worry while they worked to understand their child's unique needs and identify the best possible services.
Parents talked of navigating the process alone, doing their very best but still struggling to cobble together support from other parents, friends and service providers. I believe we can and should do better for parents and children.
I launched Meredith Jaeckel Consulting with that goal in mind. I bring my education and experience together to offer parents and children a trusted counselor with knowledge of child development, the school system, the special education process and related services to act as a guide and single point of reference for the sometimes dizzying maze of evaluations and services.
I have presented at annual conferences of the Learning Disabilities Association of America on topics relating to behavior, classroom management, and social skills development for children with special needs.
I live in Arlington, Virginia with my husband, two children, and Hattie the dog. My husband and I are proud to be raising two dedicated Badger fans.