The Collaborative IEP

Do you struggle to find the right balance this time of year?  Avid pool patrons, we try to squeeze out EVERY bit of fun in the sun; but we also all enjoy the routine and structure that comes with the Back to School season.  So, today we’re talking about how to find that balance – special education style.  I’ve got 5 simple tips to help you find structure AND fun in the couple of wee...

Kayla Schadegg uses her platform at Mrs. Kansas International to advocate for people with Down syndrome. Do I have your attention?!  Yes, that’s right! I have a real live beauty queen on the podcast today, and we aren’t talking swimsuit fashion! Kayla will share her own birth story experience till drive her passion for teaching doctors and medical professionals about delivering disability dia...

Happy 100th Episode, ABC friends!!!  If we were in a school, we’d likely be dressing as 100-year-olds, complete with walkers and bushy eyebrows!  In today’s milestone episode, I’m sharing with you 5 lessons that I’ve learned over the last two years as we’ve shared experiences here at Ashley Barlow Co and on the podcast.  I share the story of how ABCo was conceptualized (during a riv...

The turning of the calendar page to August is a good reminder to start working on that Back to School Communication!  Have you updated your All About Me Book?  In today’s episode I give three super easy tips to help you advocate as effectively as possible with an All About Me Book!  Need a template?  Download one HERE!  https://ashleybarlowco.podia.com/all-about-me-books&n...

I can’t wait to share with you Holly’s story.  Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, or already an advocate, you’ll find some way to connect with Holly Johnson, today’s guest, and her sunny outlook!  Holly is an elementary school special education teacher, who learned a lot about life during the COVID-19 pandemic, took the ABC Course and is on her way to becoming a special education advoca...

In today’s short, sweet episode we look at 34 CFR 300.116, a regulation that teases out inclusion really nicely and gives us a LOT of help in arguing for inclusion.  When I faced my own inclusion “discussion” with Jack’s IEP team, I first read the LAW (what’s in IDEA), but it didn’t help much.  The REGULATIONS “tease out,” or explain, the law.  This reg contains many factors that th...

You know when your intuition just tells you something is right, but you have a hard time advocating? It’s like you know something is right, but you cannot really articulate it, so you say a lot of words but never really get to the point. I have clients come in with this issue often, and there is one strategy I always give them. In today’s podcast we will talk about this problem, as well as the str...

Have you ever wondered if you should get tutoring for your child that is on an IEP or 504 Plan?  How do you find a tutor?  How do you know if they’re a good fit?  What kinds of tutoring models are out there?  We’ll answer all of your tutoring question in today’s episode… yes, even that one.  My guest, Kelsey Frobeen, and I will even talk about the risk that tutoring will t...

Visual Schedules Made Easy?!  Yes please!  If anyone has ever told you that your child would benefit from visuals, this episode is for you!  Right?  This episode is for EVERYone… because we can ALL benefit from visuals (hello, grocery list)!  Today I’m talking to the one and only Tara Tuchel of Autism Little Learners, creator of the online course called “Visuals Made Easy”...

In today’s episode, I discuss 3 topics/ issues that have arisen frequently in my special education law practice and that advocates and attorneys across the country are discussing more this school year.  We’ll talk about the issues, as well as solutions and strategies for each one!   

If you can’t beat them, join them!  I set an alarm to record early one morning over Memorial Day weekend, but my sweet guy had other plans… Jack woke up, too!  He interrupted my first ten attempts at recording, sooooo this week’s guest is the most special of all—- The Jackman!!!!  Jack and I talk all things special education - LRE, evaluations, MDRs…. Just Kidding!  This is an...

You’re not going to want to miss this episode. It’s so full of great information and advocacy tips – not just for people exploring eligibility but also for people considering private evaluations, working with outside clinicians, and for anyone that writes an IEP goal. Yes, yes, that’s YOU!!!! In today’s episode, I talk to psychologist Dr. Brandi Tanner, about evaluations – the difference between w...

Sorry. It’s May.  Graduations, Sports, Awards Ceremonies, Gardening, … You know the To Do list of Craziness that the month of May brings!  Now I’m adding to the list!  Buuuuuuuttttt – Can you think ahead to August and September for just a moment?  Remember how it’s nutty, too?!  I have just a few ideas – just a few things- that you could do NOW to make the Fall less stress...

One of the negotiation strategies I use most frequently is a Demand Letter.  In today’s super quick episode I introduce you to the Demand Letter and talk a little bit about how to write them. Once you master the Demand Letter, your advocacy will undoubtedly skyrocket with results!  Today I share with you the little “ditty” I normally give clients when I recommend that they or I write a D...

Join me for this week’s podcast, a discussion with Sasha Long, BCBA, MA, the Autism Helper.  Sasha works as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, a consultant, and a writer.  She founded @theautismhelper, where she manages a blog and lots of great content here on social media.  Join us as we discuss how parents can collaborate with their IEP teams, support their children behaviorally,...

It started with an idea for a Freebie for you.  It turned into a stream of consciousness!!!  Today I share a little Behind the Scenes insight into things attorneys and advocates say often – and the reason we say them!  Episode #47, “The #1 Reasons I Turn Away Clients” has yielded a lot of conversations with listeners, and when I had this podcast subject enter my head, I figured you...

Our Birth Stories. The Missed Milestones. The Comparison Game. Finding and Maintaining Child Care. Worries about Siblings. Our Jobs as Lifeguards, Therapists, Doctors, Researchers, Teachers, and General Contractors. Navigating Social Situations.  Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes!!!  Can you relate to one or EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. of these issues that caretakers experience?  In today’s podca...

Before I outlined today’s podcast episode, I triple checked that I hadn’t done this topic before,  because it’s nearly impossible that we’re 85 episodes in, and I haven’t talked about this IEP meeting tip… The Future Planning Statement and/or Parent Interest Statement!  When people hire me for a one-time consult, they almost always hear about the FPS/PIS.  I recommend it almost univ...

I’ve had a lot of perspective-shifting experiences in my life.  I was seriously injured as a kid and have chronic pain and PTSD as a result, my son has Down syndrome, my husband has had cancer, and we’ve had enough family drama to write a book (who hasn’t?).  Those experiences have taught me so many things, and in today’s podcast I dive a little deeper into three lessons that I’ve learne...

I have been talking to a few friends and lots of clients about inclusion recently. I feel like this is super practical strategy helps everybody so much. I can really be a game changer at the IEP table. In today’s episode I talk about power including the students schedule and your advocacy can make a big difference.

I bet you’ve gone to a billion presentations on the Parts of the IEP, but this episode approaches that from a different aspect.  Are you ready?  In today’s episode, I do indeed describe the different parts of the IEP, but also how they relate to one another.  The important information should help you immensely in your meetings and with your advocacy.

You know when you and your bestie speak the same language? That’s how it is when Traci Brewer and I get together, especially if Parent Involvement is the topic of conversation! Traci, the executive director of the Down Syndrome Association of Central Kentucky, joins me on this week’s podcast episode to talk about Parent Involvement - why it’s important and HOW to actually get involved in your chil...

“If we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior.” -Brene Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection.  Surely you’d agree that compassion plays a big role in special education advocacy.  We want school teams to be compassionate and equitable to our children, right?  Have you ever considered how to evoke compass...

You’ve asked, and here’s our answer: Of course I’ll do an episode on goal writing.  In today’s episode I give you my “whole picture” assessment of a well written goal, but I also narrow in for those of you who like the specifics and provide a description of the elements of a well written goal.  We’ll also take a bit of time at the beginning and end of the episode to talk about the import...

In today’s episode a talk about one factor that IEP teams should consider which may strengthen your advocacy for extended school year services. We are talking critical life skills. This one is short and sweet but might be just what you need today.