Chinese parents who join support groups tend to have an easier time, Lo says, but convincing them to participate can be the biggest challenge. “If there’s a guest speaker offering important information at a meeting, there’s a better chance the parents will show up than if the only thing offered is to network with each other.”

 Yet the benefits are immeasurable, says Lo, who grew up in Hong Kong and came to this country as an undergraduate.

 “Some family members don’t understand what the parents of special ed students go through, especially if the child appears no physically different than others,” Lo explains. “One parent told me that a relative criticized her for attending school board meetings (because) she was stirring up trouble. So the support group reassured the woman, told her not to worry about her relative’s criticism.”

 A native Cantonese speaker, Lo assists Boston community groups in educating parents about their rights and those of their children in school. She often gives bilingual presentations explaining state and federal laws governing special ed and how parents can advocate for students.

 “In Asia, there was hardly any such thing as special ed. Here, the parents are so grateful for speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, transportation for a disabled child. They don’t realize that here, they are entitled to much more,” Lo says.

 Dr. Peter Kiang, a longtime professor of curriculum and instruction at the university, says Lo “contributes a much-needed reality check through her combination of educational expertise and linguistic and cultural competence.”

 Lo teaches courses to future educators such as Inclusive Interdisciplinary Curriculum Development Building and Collaborative Partnerships with Families of Children with Disabilities.