When we launched Highlighter in January 2024, we had a clear mission: to empower families navigating the special education journey. As we look back on our first year, we're amazed by how far we've come and touched by the families we've helped. Here are our top 10 moments from 2024:
The Evolution of a VisionÂ
Highlighter is officially turning 1, but the idea for it has been baking for four years. What started with a basic chatbot I made in a day became an advanced AI-powered platform empowering families in 5 states as they navigate the murky waters of special education.
A Company Is Born (January 2024)
What started as a shared vision between two parents who understood the challenges of special education firsthand became a reality. Highlighter was officially born, ready to support families in their advocacy journey.
Founding Families
When we invited our community to become Founding Family members and get a lifetime subscription for $500, we weren't sure what to expect. We knew the price was steep, but we wanted to provide families with ongoing support while helping our scrappy start-up manage increasing costs. Three amazing families stepped up – and in a beautiful twist, they donated their subscriptions to families needing a hand. This helped fund our expansion into new states and gave personalized special education support to some caregivers who really needed it. Talk about paying it forward!
Finding Our VoiceÂ
We believe that being a mission-driven company means having a perspective worth sharing. Through countless articles and resources, we've sparked important conversations about special education advocacy and family empowerment. I haven't written this much since grad school, but I love writing each word. It’s been an even greater joy reading every email and Facebook comment from our community of families and practitioners.
The Paper Trail RevolutionÂ
Based on feedback we received on the day of our launch, we redefined how our families can manage their special education documents. New features like custom labels, improved file naming, and document tracking have made it easier than ever to stay organized. Upload IEPs, evaluations, progress reports, and even emails from the school. Need a clean list of your documents, details, and the gist of each one? Guess what? Highlighter can do that!
The Big Launch (October 2024)
Launching in DC, MD, and VA was both thrilling and nerve-wracking. Within hours, we were getting valuable feedback from users and implementing improvements with lightning speed – our "2-day shipping" goal for fixes kept us on our toes! After two months, it still feels a little surreal.
Expanding Horizons (Late 2024)
When families and educators from Tennessee and Alabama reached out asking for Highlighter, we listened. Our expansion wasn't driven by market research or wild guesses, but by real families who needed support, heard about Highlighter, and directly reached out. If you want Highlighter aligned with your state’s laws and policies, just let us know.
Partnership with Caregiver's DREAMÂ
Our exciting collaboration with this amazing DC non-profit has opened new doors. Together, we're sponsoring subscriptions for 10 families and creating a micro-documentary series showcasing real special education journeys. This partnership perfectly embodies our mission of making special education support accessible to all families.
Community InvestmentÂ
Instead of spending our marketing budget on ads, we invested $5,000 in Dorothy I. Height Elementary School in DC through our Back-to-School Challenge. They had nearly twice as many votes as any other school in Maryland, Virigina or Washington D.C., giving their community a huge win. The back-to-school campaign engaged over 7,000 people across DC, MD, and VA, proving that doing good is good business.
Our First Success StoriesÂ
Three families successfully navigated the IEP eligibility process with Highlighter by their side. What touched us most? Hearing how Highlighter helped reduce their anxiety and built their confidence in advocating for their children. These families went from feeling overwhelmed to feeling empowered, proving that with the right support, the special education journey doesn't have to be a solitary one. No more procrastination or feeling overwhelmed by school meetings – just parents confidently advocating for their children's needs.
Looking Ahead
As we head into 2025, we're more committed than ever to supporting families on their special education journey. Thank you for being part of our story. The best is yet to come!
Your Highlighter Team
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