Matthew Collier taught public school special education for 10 years, working with countless families to provide legal, appropriate, and meaningful special education to their children with disabilities - while noting the entire time how much parents seem to be unaware of their rights and power in the decision-making process, as well as how much knowledgeable and engaged parents make a difference in their child’s outcomes. He moved into higher education and currently serves as an Associate Professor of Education (specializing in special education), as well as the current Vice President of the South Carolina Council of Exceptional Children and the Past-President of its South Carolina Teacher Education Division. He advocates for families of and students with disabilities to lawmakers.