Marie Lewis is a Neuro-Developmental Disability Case Manager (NDDCM), Education Consultant (Board Certified Education Advocate- (BCEA)  & Behavior Specialist Consultant (BSC). She is a clinical consultant, trained in neurology, psychology and behavioral health. She has served as the Executive Director of the National Center for Autism Resources and Education and is the Clinical Director and on the faculty of the National Special Education Advocacy Institute*, since 2008, where she teaches parents and professional education advocates nationally. She is a nationally recognized expert in the areas of Education Advocacy best practices, Autism, Transitional Planning, and Inclusion and has lectured nationally for disability groups, school districts, parent support groups and at multiple CME and CLE and teacher CE programs. She has additionally testified in Due Process and  court cases.

 

Marie Lewis was a Registered Nurse on the Neurosurgical Unit and head nurse on the Piersol Rehabilitation Center at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital and was a hospital administrator. She has been a clinical disability case manager and behavior specialist for families for over 20 years with extensive ABA and VB experience. She has a Masters's degree in (Applied/ Spiritual) Psychology and a Ph.D. in Psychology. Her Field Study was a “Meta-Analysis of Intensive Behavioral Interventions for Children with Autism.”

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Why choose an Independent Case Manager?

Independent case managers are self-employed professionals dedicated to enhancing their clients' access to essential supports. They work tirelessly to address educational needs and coordinate physical and mental health care by liaising with various providers and with a multi-system approach. Their goal is to advocate for clients and implement effective intervention plans that integrate education, medical care, therapies, community, state, and federal supports, as well as funding.

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Unlike hospital or agency case managers, independent case managers are free from conflicts of interest, being directly employed by their clients or guardians. They also offer consultation services to professionals in schools, healthcare institutions, insurance agencies, and other organizations.

 

The Role of a Disability Case Manager

Marie has expertise as a Neuro-Developmental Disability Case Manager and empowers individuals with disabilities and their families to connect with comprehensive and appropriateservices, ensuring all needs are met for a fulfilling life. They provide support in several key areas:

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• Assessing Needs: Conducting holistic evaluations of clients' situations and requirements.

• Developing Action Plans: Collaborating with clients and families to create personalized service plans.

• Coordinating Care: Ensuring educational and physical care needs are fully addressed.

• Applying for Benefits: Assisting with Social Security, insurance claims as well as State and Federal Funding.

• Selecting Providers: Guiding clients in choosing appropriate healthcare, educational, and rehabilitation services.

• Managing Crises: Offering support during emergency situations.

• Reviewing Reports: Evaluating professional reports and preparing documentation.

• Facilitating Claims: Monitoring the status of clients' claims.

• Evaluating Environments: Identifying barriers and risks in living and educational settings.

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Choosing an independent case manager means having a dedicated advocate who prioritizes your unique needs and works to ensure seamless access to essential services across multiple systems. 

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Dr. Marie Lewis' experience includes:

• Adjunct Professor in Criminal Justice, at Kaplan University

        Teaching Psychology,  Juvenile Delinquency, and Career Development

        Course work also included criminal justice issues related to those with disabilities
• Testifying before the US Department of Education, and in State and Federal Courts related to a Free and Appropriate Public Education
• The Executive Director of the National Center for Autism Resources and Education, NCARE

• The Clinical Director, and on the faculty, of the National Special Education Advocacy Institute

         Provided hundreds of Teacher, Legal and Clinical Continuing Education units at programs as the facilitator. 

         NSEAI the only professional organization that nationally board certifies professional education advocates.

• Consultant to special education law programs in multiple states
• Inclusion Specialist and Behavioral Consultant to several special-needs private schools and public schools

• Served as a Certified Utilization Review and Quality Improvement Professional at Presbyterian, University of Pennsylvania Hospital

• Served as Acting Head Nurse at the Piersol Rehabilitation Center, University of Pennsylvania Hospital

• Serving on or served on the advisory boards and boards of national and regional disability-related organizations including:

o  Board of the National Center for Autism Resources and Education, NCARE
o The Board of the ARC of Chester County
o The Legislative Committee of the ARC of Chester County
o The ARC of PA Adult Committee
o The Board of Hope Springs Equestrian Therapy
o The Transition Council of Philadelphia (founding member)
o PA Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities Research and Epidemiology (CADDRE),

     at the University of Pennsylvania - An Advisory Board Member
o The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), Development Committee
o Grant Writer and Administrator for, The Arc of the United States and Walmart Foundation  School-To-Community Transition Grant,

    for the ARC of Philadelphia's Creating Environments For Ongoing Success Program.

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• She has been honored with:

• A Pennsylvania Senate Citation for her pro-bono work in educational advocacy for children in our community and her tireless work in training education advocates in PA and across the country.
• The prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Award by President Obama. She was recognized for her outstanding volunteer contributions in community service to the United States, and for volunteering  hundreds of hours per year helping and training others related to education advocacy.

• A U.S. House of Representatives Citation for her education advocacy work and training of advocates nationally.  “The success of this Commonwealth, the strength of our communities and the overall vitality of American society depend, in a great measure, upon the tenacity of individuals such as Dr. Lewis who use their considerable talents, energies, and resources to serve and assist others. She truly exemplifies the best qualities of the human experience, and her spirit of perseverance and compassion have greatly impacted the
lives of others.”

• The ARC of Chester County Volunteer of the Year Award.

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Marie Lewis has journeyed the special education maze personally as a parent and advocate with two sons with the diagnosis of autism (and an array of other diagnoses including sensory integration disorders, expressive, receptive and pragmatic language disorders, anxiety, ODD, depression, specific learning disabilities, obsessive-compulsive disorder, auditory processing disorders, executive functioning deficits, fine motor and gross motor deficits, dysgraphia, low tone, and post-traumatic stress disorders).  Her daughter was medically challenged and is gifted. As the mother, of three children with special education needs. She has learned how to improve communication between parents and school districts and facilitate the development of individualized child focused instruction, creating win. win win scenarios. The U.S. Congress and the courts have determined that children with disabilities are entitled to getting a “free and appropriate education” through child focused and data driven /functional outcome-focused IEPs not just "legally sufficient" ones.

 

Providing an appropriate education for a child with special needs often requires clear identification of their clinical needs and translating them into educational needs, so that child-specific- specially design instruction (SDI) (accommodations or modifications to curriculum, instructional setting) will be applied so they can access their education effectively.

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The true waste of taxpayer dollars is not in providing appropriate special education, but in failing to.

Many of these children can and do become taxpaying citizens when appropriately educated and transitioned to adulthood.

When not appropriately educated, they may require taxpayer assistance for rest of their lives.

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Marie Lewis is hired directly by parents and offers educational consulting services in preparation for IEP meetings, inter-agency meetings, manifestation determination meetings, insurance hearings, mediation, and juvenile court hearings. She is cross-trained in the education, clinical related services, behavioral consulting, and  procedural safeguards - all important aspects of disability case management advocacy.  She has specific skills and knowledge about documentation and identification of individualized educational needs, types of evaluations, how disabilities affect accessing education, research-based programming, IEPs, behavioral and educational specially designed instruction, procedural safeguards, educational and insurance negotiations, and non-adversarial dispute resolution methodologies.

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