The Whole Child Advocate

You don’t have to wait for the annual meeting just because the calendar says so. If your child’s current plan no longer seems to fit, progress is limited, supports aren’t being implemented consistently, or new concerns are emerging, it may be time to bring the team back together. In this episode of The Whole Child Advocate , Dominique walks parents through how to decide whether a concern can be ha...

You know something needs to be addressed. Maybe an accommodation doesn’t seem to be happening. Your child is coming home overwhelmed. Homework has suddenly become a struggle. Or what you’re hearing from school simply doesn’t match what you’re seeing at home. So you open an email... and then wonder: How do I say this without sounding confrontational? In this episode of The Whole Child Advocate , Do...

Your child’s IEP or 504 Plan may list accommodations like extended time, preferential seating, breaks, chunked assignments, or assistive technology. But what do those words actually look like during the school day? In this episode of The Whole Child Advocate , Dominique breaks accommodations down into plain English and helps parents move beyond the list on the page. You’ll learn: What an accommoda...

The school year is underway. Your child has an IEP or 504 Plan. The supports are written down. But now comes the important question: What does that plan actually look like during your child’s school day? In this episode of The Whole Child Advocate , Dominique walks parents through a practical first-30-day check-in using three important questions: Is the support available? Is it actually being deli...

Your child doesn't have to say, "I'm struggling," for you to know something isn't quite right. Sometimes the first signs appear in small, everyday moments—a child who suddenly dreads school, comes home completely exhausted, loses confidence, or experiences frequent meltdowns after the school day ends. In this episode of The Whole Child Advocate , we're talking about five...

How do you know if your child is truly making progress? Is it reflected in a report card... An IEP progress report... Or is there more to the story? In this episode of The Whole Child Advocate , we're exploring what meaningful progress really looks like for students with IEPs and 504 Plans—and why some of the most important growth may never appear as a letter grade. Together, we'll discuss...

What if the most important email you send this school year is the very first one? Many parents think advocacy begins when something goes wrong—but the strongest parent-school partnerships are built long before challenges arise. In this episode of The Whole Child Advocate , we're talking about how calm, confident, and collaborative communication can set the tone for an entire school year. You&#...

Have you pulled out your child's IEP or 504 Plan yet? If not...this episode is for you. Before the school year begins, there are seven key sections every parent should review—not to become an expert in special education law, but to better understand their child's educational story and walk into the school year with confidence. In this episode, we'll discuss: ✔️ Why Present Levels matte...

If you needed your child's most recent evaluation, IEP progress report, or accommodation plan right now...could you find it? You don't need the perfect advocacy binder. You just need one organized place for your child's educational story. In the Season 2 premiere of The Whole Child Advocate , we're getting practical and taking the very first step toward a more organized, confident...

As we wrap up Season One of The Whole Child Advocate , I'd like to begin with one simple message: Thank you. Whether you've been listening since Episode One or you've just discovered the podcast, thank you for allowing me to be part of your advocacy journey. Over the past year, we've talked about IEPs, 504 Plans, confidence, communication, inclusion, wellness, collaboration, and seeing the whole c...

☀️ Summer Series | The Whole Child Advocate Around this point in the summer, many parents begin asking the same question: "Am I doing enough?" Should we be reading more? Practicing math? Reviewing spelling words? Preparing for the new school year? In this week's episode, Dominique McLellan challenges us to rethink what growth really looks like. Because while schools often measure rea...

As we celebrate Independence Day, let's talk about a different kind of freedom. The freedom to celebrate in a way that works for your child. For many families raising children with ADHD, autism, anxiety, sensory differences, or other disabilities, the Fourth of July can bring mixed emotions. Fireworks, crowds, loud noises, disrupted routines, and unexpected changes can quickly turn a joyful ce...

☀️ Welcome to the Summer Series on The Whole Child Advocate . As the school year comes to a close, many parents of children with IEPs and 504 Plans find themselves carrying two competing emotions: Relief. And worry. Will my child lose skills? Should we be doing more? Do I need to spend the summer preparing for next school year? If you've ever felt this tension, you are not alone. In this episo...

Before we close the backpacks, put away the lunchboxes, and officially end another school year… let’s pause for a moment and reflect on how far we’ve come. In this heartfelt reflection episode of The Whole Child Advocate , Dominique McLellan encourages parents, educators, and advocates to look back on the year not just through the lens of grades or unfinished goals — but through the lens of growth...

Have we forgotten the child at the center of special education? This week on The Whole Child Advocate , Dominique McLellan takes a deeply personal and professional look at the growing cracks in special education systems — from Houston ISD’s proposed restructuring plans to growing concerns in Ontario, Canada, to an ARD meeting happening this very morning near The Woodlands, Texas involving a studen...

The recent announcement of my local district’s Homecoming Project has sparked important conversations across our community — especially for families navigating special education. In this episode of The Whole Child Advocate , Dominique McLellan takes a balanced look at the initiative — highlighting both the potential benefits and the important questions parents should be asking. This episode explor...

Have you ever walked into an ARD or IEP meeting and felt like the decision had already been made? You’re not alone. In this episode of The Whole Child Advocate , Dominique McLellan breaks down the critical difference between preparation and predetermination — and why that distinction matters for every parent navigating special education. Under IDEA, parents are not observers in the process. They a...

Every neurodivergent learner brings unique strengths — our job is to build systems that let them shine. In this episode of The Whole Child Advocate , Dominique McLellan shares practical strategies for supporting children with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, sensory differences, executive functioning challenges, and other neurodivergent profiles at both home and school. This episode explores: Why regulatio...

Moving schools with an IEP? Whether you’re moving: • across town• to a new state• or from another country There’s one thing that stays the same: 👉 Your child’s rights are protected under federal law (IDEA) But the process? That can feel very different. In this week’s episode, I break down: ✔ what stays the same ✔ what changes ✔ what to do before you move ✔ what to expect in the first 30 days Beca...

What if the most powerful thing you bring into an IEP meeting… isn’t data? It’s vision. In this episode, I share a personal story from years spent watching my son play hockey — and how a quote from Wayne Gretzky completely reframed the way I think about advocacy. “Skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been.” In special education, teams often focus on where a child is — their current d...

Extracurriculars aren’t just “extras” — they are where confidence, connection, and belonging are built. In this episode of The Whole Child Advocate , Dominique McLellan explores why inclusion must extend beyond core academics into clubs, sports, fine arts, and elective classes — and what the law actually says about access. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) , schools are...

March is Down Syndrome Awareness Month , and March 21st — World Down Syndrome Day — serves as a global reminder to celebrate ability, challenge assumptions, and expand how we support every child. In this episode of The Whole Child Advocate , Dominique McLellan explores Down syndrome through a whole child lens , connecting awareness to wellness, belonging, and the lasting impact of how we speak abo...

IEP progress reports are more than paperwork — they’re a critical part of understanding how your child is growing and whether their supports are working. In this episode of The Whole Child Advocate , Dominique McLellan explains how parents can read IEP progress reports through a growth mindset , focusing on patterns, direction, and meaningful progress rather than perfection. Dominique also explain...

Episode 22 | Promoting Wellness for Students with Special Needs Wellness is more than physical health — it’s emotional balance, connection, rest, and a sense of belonging. In this episode of The Whole Child Advocate , Dominique McLellan explores why student wellness must be viewed through a whole child lens . Academic success doesn’t happen in isolation. A child’s emotional regulation, social conn...

Students don’t learn from lesson plans first — they learn from nervous systems. In this reflective solo episode of The Whole Child Advocate , Dominique McLellan explores the connection between student wellness and adult support in schools. Before children can regulate, engage, or grow academically, they must feel emotionally safe. And that safety begins with the adults in the room. Dominique discu...