Dr. Therese Ajtum-Roberts Ed.D
AR Advocacy & Educational Consulting
It matters to them — it matters to us.
About AR Advocacy & Educational Consulting
Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here.
I created AR Advocacy & Educational Consulting because I believe every child deserves to feel seen, understood, and included — and every family deserves an advocate they can trust. Here you’ll learn a little more about my story, my family, and why I’m so passionate about standing alongside families like yours
Get to Know Me
My name is Therese Ajtum-Roberts. I’m a passionate educator, advocate, and proud mother of two young girls, ages 7 and 11, and a 16-year-old stepson. My husband, who is originally from Guatemala, and I live with our family in Framingham, Massachusetts, where our daughters attend a Spanish-English dual-language program. Our children are growing up multilingual, and I deeply understand how language shapes learning and identity — especially for students who learn differently.
Having spent my own educational journey in special education from age four until I graduated high school, I know firsthand the ups and downs of the system. From a learner’s perspective, I understand the emotional toll it can take when a child struggles to learn in a system designed for their neurotypical peers and not with them in mind. These experiences fuel my commitment as an educator and as a parent to help my own children understand how they learn, build on their strengths, and grow into confident self-advocates.
Outside of my work, you’ll often find me cheering on or volunteering with my kids at their soccer, softball, or swimming; enjoying watching them sing and dance at drama and hip hop classes; or helping our youngest’s Girl Scout troop earn their latest badge. In my free time, I also enjoy taking outdoor walks while listening to an audiobook. I’m proud to serve our community and volunteer on our local SEPAC Board, working to ensure that every child — especially my own — has a positive, inclusive educational experience where they feel truly seen, supported, and empowered.
A Letter from
Dr. Therese Ajtum-Roberts Ed.D.
Dear Families,
From the time I was a young child who couldn’t speak, to being an eighth grader who struggled to write, my goal has always been clear: I want to help families and students who learn like me. I know, deep in my heart, how confusing, exhausting, and at times isolating this journey can be — for children and for the families who love them.
When I was four and a half, Boston Children’s Hospital labeled me “unintelligible” because no one could understand me when I tried to communicate. By eighth grade, I had the reading comprehension of a college sophomore but the spelling skills of a third grader. It wasn’t until then that I was diagnosed with a language-based learning disability — and much later, as an adult, I learned I also have ADHD.
None of this has ever defined my intelligence or my worth — but it did shape my path. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the educators and advocates who stood beside my family when we didn’t have the words or tools to stand alone. Their support changed my life — and it showed my family that they didn’t have to do it all by themselves.
That’s why, for more than 30 years now, I’ve dedicated my life to doing the same for others. I’ve been an educator, a mentor, an advocate, and a mother to a daughter with dyslexia and dyscalculia. I’ve seen this journey from every angle, and I know the vital role families play in making real, meaningful inclusion possible.
I want you to know: you are your child’s most important advocate. Your voice matters. It is completely normal — and appropriate — to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or even angry when you see your child struggling or facing barriers to being truly included in their learning environment. These feelings come from the deep love and hope you hold for your child’s future.Please know this: you are not alone.
Through AR Advocacy & Educational Consulting, I partner with families, mentor students, and train educators because I believe every learner deserves to be seen, understood, and supported — and every family deserves an ally who will stand with them every step of the way.
It is an honor to walk this path with you.
Therese Ajtum-Roberts, Ed.D
Founder, AR Advocacy & Educational Consulting