The DC Special Education Hub helps families understand special education in the District of Columbia. Our knowledgeable team connects families with tools, information, and 1:1 support so families can make informed decisions to guide their child’s learning.
What We Do
- We meet families with questions about special education where they are – including through our multilingual text and phone hotline, at in-person and virtual events, or on our website.
- We work with families and schools to incorporate family voice and build connections.
The DC Special Education Hub is an initiative of the DC Ombudsman for Public Education, an independent, impartial office, that helps students and families with questions, concerns, and complaints about DC public and public charter schools.
For direct inquiries about events, training requests, or other partnership opportunities related to the DC Special Education Hub, please contact the Hub’s Special Education Advisor, Jenifer Souza-Dodds, who manages the Hub at [email protected].
Our Team
Special Education Hub Advisor- Jenifer Souza-Dodds serves as the Special Education Advisor for the DC Special Education Hub within the DC Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education. In this role, she leads the Hub's strategic direction, oversees training and family support initiatives, develops accessible special education resources, and works collaboratively with schools, community organizations, and government partners to help families navigate special education and ensure students with disabilities receive the supports they need to thrive. Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Jenifer's commitment to special education is deeply personal, shaped by growing up alongside her sister, who was born with disabilities.
Before becoming Special Education Advisor, she served as both Assistant Ombudsman for Special Education and Program Support Specialist for the DC Special Education Hub, giving her firsthand experience supporting families while leading systems-level improvements. She earned her Master's degree in Educational Transformation, with a concentration in Advocacy & Policy, from Georgetown University. As a graduate fellow with the Office for Students in the Care of DC, she researched innovative approaches to supporting students with disabilities involved in the juvenile justice system. Her previous experience also includes serving as an educational assistant in a DCPS self-contained classroom and as a Kindergarten Capital Teaching Resident at KIPP DC. Jenifer is dedicated to making special education more understandable and accessible, helping families and schools work together to support every student's success.
Program Support Specialist - Cheyenne Glenn, a native Washingtonian, joined the Special Education Hub as a Program Support Specialist in December 2025. She is passionate about supporting the DC's intellectual and developmentally disabled population in their attainment of equity across all areas. Her dedication to the disabled community of Washington DC extends beyond the Special Education Hub to multiple local non-profits of which she is a member, including her own; Kapable, where she supports area families of disabled individuals through programming like their monthly Down Syndrome & Friends Playgroup with the DC Public Library. In her free time, Cheyenne enjoys going to concerts, traveling, experiencing new foods and cultures, and tending to her vegetable garden.
Program Suport Specialist - Julithza (Julie) Saravia joined the DC Special Education Hub as a Program Support Specialist for Special Education in December 2025. In this role, she assists families by providing information and support as they navigate special education processes and concerns. Julithza has a background in Psychology and brings experience from support-focused roles that guide her work with families. She is committed to helping families better understand and access the resources available to them within the special education system. Outside of work, Julithza enjoys reading and painting. She is also currently learning Korean.
Communications & Community Engagement Associate - Destiny Joesph-Bishop joined the Special Education Hub as a Communications and Community Engagement Associate in February 2026. She is committed to advancing educational equity and opportunity for youth in diverse communities and brings experience in program management, curriculum development, and student-centered intervention strategies. She previously served in a program management role at a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting first-generation college students through mentorship and academic advancement. Partnering with public schools across Wards 1, 4, and 7 in Washington, D.C., she oversaw program operations that cultivated impactful mentor-mentee relationships and strengthened college readiness outcomes. In addition to managing operations, she served as an interventionist, facilitating curriculum improvements, designing strategies to increase student engagement, and assessing elementary-aged students to inform targeted academic interventions. Both of these roles allowed her to influence both systemic program development and policy effectiveness. As an alumna of Clark Atlanta University, she developed a strong foundation in public service and a deep commitment to community-centered leadership and social impact. Outside of her professional work, she finds her greatest joy in creating meaningful moments with her family as a devoted wife and proud mother of two; whether through shared traditions, community involvement, or simply being present. She approaches both her career and family life with purpose, intention, and heart.