Ashley Smith, M.T., O.C.T. (She/Her)

Meet Ashley, Flourish’s Educational Consultant. Navigating the school system when your child is neurodivergent, has learning differences, or requires significant support can be overwhelming. Meetings are full of acronyms. Processes can feel unclear. Families are often left trying to figure out what to ask for, what their child is entitled to, and how to advocate effectively without damaging the relationship with the school.

That’s where Ashley comes in.

Ashley is a former Ontario Certified Teacher with a decade of experience with the York Catholic District School Board, where she taught Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Queen’s University and a Master of Teaching from Griffith University, along with additional qualifications in Primary Education, Kindergarten, and Special Education.

But Ashley brings much more than professional experience to this role. She is also the mom of three exceptional kids, including a child with significant and complex needs. She understands the education system from both sides of the table: as an educator who knows how schools work, and as a parent who has had to navigate those systems herself. That combination is incredibly powerful.

Ashley works directly with families to help them understand their options, prepare for school meetings, advocate for appropriate accommodations and supports, navigate IEPs and IPRCs, explore special education placements, and make sense of what can otherwise feel like an incredibly complicated system.

She can help you figure out what to ask for, what questions you may not even know to ask, how to communicate your child’s needs clearly, and what next steps might make sense when the current plan simply isn’t working.

And because navigating all of this can be stressful enough, Ashley brings warmth, perspective, and a razor-sharp sense of humour to the process.

Families can book Ashley for a one-hour consultation to talk through a specific concern or upcoming meeting, or work with her on an ongoing basis for more comprehensive educational advocacy and support.

Whether you’re preparing for your first school meeting, trying to understand an IPRC, advocating for better accommodations, considering a specialized placement, or simply wondering, “What are our options here?” Ashley can help you walk into the conversation informed, prepared, and with someone firmly in your corner.