ADAC’s Advocates Answer the Call for Help: One Family’s Journey

ADAC Answers

Jun 14 2023 • 36 mins

ADAC is excited to bring you another episode of ADAC Answers, an #educationpodcast for all!
In our FREE 30-minute podcast, Kate McConnell and Jeff Groves provide an overview of their experiences as, respectively, a special education advocate and the father of a son with multiple special needs. In this episode, Ms. McConnell and Mr. Groves discuss their own experiences of

  • the struggles borne by families to find and secure for their students with special needs the essential services that these students require
  • the importance of engaging special education advocates to attain for students with disabilities services that are well calibrated to the particular needs of said students
  • and more!

Invest just 30 minutes with us to listen to “ADAC’s Advocates Answer the Call for Help: One Family’s Journey.” Then, armed with new insight, check out how ADAC can assist your school with its particular SEL needs and many other needs that your school may have. And also, be sure to check out and remain updated on the rest of our ADAC Answers podcast episodes.
If you have any topics that you would like addressed in a future episode or to share your

thoughts about today's episode, please do so by using the hashtag #ADACAnswers.

As follows are the bios of this episode’s guests, Kate McConnell & Jeff Groves:
Kate McConnell (Vice President for Student Advocacy & Family Engagement): With more than 20 years’ worth of experience in special education, Kate has served as a special education advocate, teacher, and program evaluator and developer. Her professional experience includes service as the Director of Inclusive Education at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy in Chicago and, later, as the Director of Inclusive Education for the Office of Catholic Schools at the Archdiocese of Chicago. Kate holds a bachelor’s degree from Towson University and master’s degrees from Loyola University Chicago and DePaul University.


Jeff Groves (Adjunct Consultant for Creative Direction & Brand Development): A veteran creative director with over 20 years of experience in print design, website design and development, digital communication, marketing, and advertising, Jeff has served the non-profit sector – including dozens of Catholic schools – and also the for-profit sector in the areas of healthcare, technology, and retail. Jeff holds a bachelor’s degree from Keene State College and graduate certificates from the University of Massachusetts at Boston and the New England Institute of Art.