Laurie H. Warner

Advocacy. Transition. Empowerment.

I am the founder and lead advocate of Beyond the Gray Area, LLC, an educational consulting service dedicated to supporting children and young adults with special needs. My passion for advocacy began in college, where I earned my Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Arizona. Over the past 27 years, I have served as a special education teacher, collaborating closely with families to develop Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), 504 Accommodation Plans, and participating in hundreds of IEP and 504 meetings.

A turning point in both my personal and professional life came when my son acquired a brain injury at the age of three. I suddenly found myself on both sides of the table—advocating as a parent and as an educator. That dual perspective deepened my understanding of the challenges families face. Navigating the special education system is difficult enough as an educator; as a parent, it can be overwhelming. I am intimately familiar with both the tremendous joys and the painful realities that come with supporting a child with special needs.

When my son aged out of the school system, I found myself asking, What now? That question led me to a new calling—helping families plan for life beyond high school. As a transition consultant, I work closely with young adults and their families to explore the next steps after graduation. Whether through one-on-one meetings, college visits, employment planning, or vocational counseling, I support families as they navigate this next chapter with confidence and clarity.

One challenge I’ve observed time and again is the social isolation that many young adults with special needs face. Too often, they miss out on the rich social lives their peers enjoy. At Beyond the Gray Area, we believe this is a solvable problem. We work alongside young adults who live in the “gray area”—those who may not qualify for extensive support but still need guidance—to develop social, emotional, and community engagement plans that help them thrive.

Our Mission
At Beyond the Gray Area, LLC, we are committed to providing advocacy services for school-aged children and transition planning and social-emotional support for young adults. Our mission is to move each of them beyond the gray area—into a brighter, more empowered future.