Hello!

I found myself in the unexpected role of special needs parent almost overnight in 2012, when my otherwise healthy four-month-old son experienced a 45-minute seizure. After a hospitalization that included a spinal tap, CT scan, and an initial diagnosis of RSV, we returned home — unaware that our lives had changed forever.

More seizures followed over the next year, and by the time my son was two, his development had noticeably slowed. Genetic testing eventually brought answers: a diagnosis of Dravet Syndrome, a rare and severe form of epilepsy that is often resistant to medication. In 2021, he also received a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Like many parents raising children with complex needs, the past fourteen years have held profound challenges alongside deep love, growth, and resilience. I’ve experienced the fear, the grief, the overwhelm, the advocacy battles, and the emotional exhaustion — but I’ve also learned how powerful informed, supported parenting can be.

Carinne Mossa, Founder of It Takes a Village Special Needs Parent Coaching LLC

My background in Psychology and Elementary Education has been essential, not only in supporting my son but in helping my entire family navigate the complexities of special needs parenting. I’ve had the unique perspective of sitting on both sides of the IEP table — as a classroom teacher working in collaborative special education settings and as a parent advocating fiercely for my own child. I’ve worked closely with educators, administrators, physicians, attorneys, and support teams to ensure children receive the services they are legally and ethically entitled to. That dual perspective shaped the work I do today. Through my advocacy efforts, I’ve helped families:

Secure special education services for students whose IEPs had previously been denied or dismissed
Obtain district-funded private school placements when public settings were unable to meet a child’s needs
Recover compensatory education services for students who were denied mandated supports due to staffing shortages
Strengthen IEPs to reflect meaningful, appropriate goals and accommodations

In 2025, I was proud to secure a registered trademark for my signature coaching framework, The P.E.A.C.E. Protocol for Medically Complex Parenting® — a structured, research-informed, and experience-rooted approach designed to help parents move from survival mode to sustainable confidence and clarity. Knowing how many parents begin this journey without professional training, insider knowledge, or strong advocacy support is what drives my work. As a mother who has lived this life, an experienced educator, and an active member of C.O.P.A.A. (Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates), I am deeply committed to walking alongside families with compassion, honesty, and practical guidance.

You deserve support.
You deserve clarity.
You deserve someone in your corner.

And you don’t have to navigate this alone.

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