About
About Meet Me Where I Am
I've spent twelve years in rooms where a child's future gets decided — case conferences, behavior assessments, due process hearings, custody proceedings. I've watched families walk in with everything they needed and still leave without it, because nobody told them how the room works. Meet Me Where I Am is what I built so that stops happening.
Our Mission
I help Indiana families get schools to see their child clearly. That means IEP and 504 meetings, evaluation requests, functional behavioral assessments and behavior plans — and making sure what gets agreed to is written down and actually happens. Every family gets the same thing from me: preparation, plain language, and someone in the room who knows how the system works.
Our Vision
I'd like a version of Indiana where families don't need someone like me. Until then, I want every parent walking into a case conference to know what they are entitled to ask for, and to have someone beside them who can ask for it.
How It Works
How We Help
Support Programs
My support programs are for parents and siblings of individuals facing cognitive, emotional and physical challenges — a place to share experiences, find resources, and connect with people who understand the same journey.
Equal Opportunity Advocate
I advocate for equal opportunity for individuals facing unique challenges, and for policies and practices that make education, communities and social life genuinely inclusive.
Educational Initiatives
I run workshops, seminars and awareness sessions that help students and parents understand their rights, and that build empathy in the people around them.
Inclusive Community Building
I bring people together through events and collaborative projects, so families find each other and nobody has to navigate this alone.
Our Focus
Core Values
Support
I provide guidance, advocacy, and resources for individuals navigating cognitive, emotional, and physical challenges.
Inclusivity
I advocate for equitable access, work to dismantle systemic barriers, and promote understanding so every individual feels seen and valued.
Connection
I foster supportive relationships among individuals, families, and communities, rooted in understanding and collaboration.
Meet the Founder
About Me
Learn more about the person behind Meet Me Where I Am and the passion that drives our mission.
Carissa Rice, LCSW
Founder & Owner
I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with dual master's degrees in Social Work and Nonprofit Management. My background is in behavior therapy and trauma-informed practice, and I've spent twelve years supporting individuals through challenges at home, in the community and at school. I combine clinical assessment with advocacy that holds systems accountable, so that every student has real access to their education — not just on paper.
Ready to Get Started?
Let's Work Together
Whether you're looking for support for your child, exploring services, or you just have questions, I'm here.
“A person's a person, no matter how small.”
— Dr. Seuss