Meet Marci Serota | Special Education Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marci Serota and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Marci, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I am so lucky to live in a city that has so many choices in terms of private schools that cater to children with learning differences, special needs, and neurodiversity. That said, trying to figure out how they differ, and where your child is likely to thrive both sociallly and academically can be overwhelming. I have two boys who are neurodiverse and have learning differences, and have had to move schools a few times over the past 15 years as their needs changed. In doing so, I have toured most of the private schools in Dallas and Plano that serve that student population several times. My boys have attended three of them. As I made the rounds again this past year for my younger son, I was fascinated by the fact that each of these schools serves a slightly different student population. There are so many nuances that most parents do not see until their child actually attends the school. I thought to myself, “someone should start a business to help parents understand the differences and point them in the right direction!” In addition, I had been scouting transition skills programs for my older son, who just graduated high school, and realized that is also a niche that needs to be filled. Out-of -the-Box Child Consulting was born!
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I love love love working with special needs families. I am mother to a medically complex, neurodivergent son and to a teenager with multiple learning differences. I walk these parent’s shoes everyday, and can relate to them on a level that most people cannot understand. I find special needs families to be some of the most down-to-earth, amazing people. I also love the educators and therapists that work with these students. I enjoy helping from a place of deep understanding of both the challenges and joys that these families face. I make new friends along the way too! I am not an educator; I have a degree in Nutrition and worked as a Registered Dietitian for most of my career. My experience is this new arena is primarily as a “warrior mom” who has worked hard to find the right educational fit for both of my children many times over. As a special needs mom myself, I have a wide network of schools, therapists, healthcare professionals and other warrior moms, so it is easy to pick up the phone and gather more information and multiple perspectives for my clients. Many of these schools have been very receptive to working with me when I call or visit on behalf of a client. So I save my clients time and energy by narrowing down their list of potential schools to tour for their children. I am especially helpful to families who are relocating to Dallas and have no idea where to begin.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Hmmm. I am kind of a homebody so I don’t go out often. When I do, I can usually be found volunteering for Cody’s Friends Rescue, an all-breed 501(C)(3) nonprofit dog rescue in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. They have weekly adoption events at various local venues around the metroplex. Some of my favorites are Truck Yard, Rock and Brews and The Shacks in The Colony; Hop and Sting Brewing Co in Grapevine, and The Hub in Allen, Texas.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So many people have been supportive of my new business! Dr. Matthew Housson, Ph.D, of The Housson Center, Linda Wachel, Director of Admissions at Oak Hill Academy, Meghan Miller, Director of Admission at The Shelton School and Wendy Deppe, Assistant Director of Admission at The Shelton School, Amie Dougherty, PT, DPT, at Milestones at Play, and of course my clients all deserve a shout out for supporting me or sending me referrals!
Website: https://www.outoftheboxchild.com
Instagram: outoftheboxchild
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555469501027
Other: email: serotam@gmail.com