UNFILTERED IEPS

In this episode, Colleen Ashford goes solo to talk about one of the most underutilized tools in a child's IEP journey; their own self-knowledge. Colleen makes the case that when learners actually understand their diagnosis, can talk about their IEP goals, and know what their accommodations and services are for , something shifts. Their self-concept gets stronger. Their ability to advocate for...

In this episode, Colleen Ashford talks with Amber Moore, school psychologist of ten years and creator behind @TheRelatableSchoolPsych account on Instagram. They dig into the often misunderstood world of autism evaluations in schools — what the process actually looks like, why it differs from a medical diagnosis, and how school psychologists can make the whole experience less overwhelming for famil...

UREGNT!  IF YOU ARE A MISSOURI RESIDENT PLEASE SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM FOR THE BILLS AND CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES BY MAY 15, 2026. In this episode, Colleen sits down with Tracey Bloch — Executive Director of the Missouri Disability Empowerment Foundation (MoDE) — for an urgent and unflinching conversation about seclusion and restraint in Missouri schools. Tracey Bloch brings both lived experience...

In this episode, Colleen breaks down one of the most disorienting transitions families in the disability community face — the moment a child turns three and ages out of early intervention. If you've had therapists coming to your home and goals built around your family's life, and then suddenly found yourself sitting across a table from a school district team you've never met, this epis...

In the second of two episodes, Colleen speaks with Dr. Daniella Boyd— creator of the account @autism.conmigo that blends the professional with the personal while thoughtfully documenting her family’s experiences with homeschooling, community integration with sound advice for parenting Autistic children and advocacy for all marginalized peoples. Dr. Daniella brings a rare and powerful perspective....

In the first of two episodes, Colleen speaks with Dr. Daniella Boyd— creator of the account @autism.conmigo that blends the professional with the personal while thoughtfully documenting her family’s experiences with homeschooling, community integration with sound advice for parenting Autistic children and advocacy for all marginalized peoples. Dr. Daniella brings a rare and powerful perspective. A...

Ever wish you knew what an advocate was going to look for in your student’s IEP?  Are you curious about what makes an IEP strong and specific?  In this episode, advocate and former school speech-language pathologist, Colleen Ashford M.S. SLP, shares her basic 10-point checklist to evaluate the quality of IEPs, ensuring the document gives a complete and humanizing picture of the unique student in o...

In this episode, Colleen Ashford talks with Kaitlin Cruise, former special education teacher and current special education advocate and tutor in DFW, Texas. They dive into the uncomfortable realities of scheduling special education services, co-teaching as a new grad and losing your lunch hour. With vulnerability and honesty, Kaitlin shares the final event that led to her leaving the classroom and...

In this episode of the Unfiltered IEPs, host Colleen welcomes Dr. Angelyn Franks, SLPD, CCC-SLP, and founder of the Alignment Revolution, to discuss how educators and clinicians can address their burnout by rooting their careers authentic alignment with their core values. Drawing on over 15 years in healthcare and education,, Angelyn shares her journey from school-based SLP to burnout coach, offer...

In this episode of the Unfiltered IEPs, host Colleen welcomes Brittany Musholt, a pediatric SLP, business owner, mom and author, to discuss the realities of working in school-based speech therapy, including ethical tensions, staff burnout, contracting vs. direct hire, and innovative approaches to service delivery like telepractice. Brittany shares her insights on advocating for system change, supp...

In this episode of the Unfiltered IEPs podcast, host Colleen Ashford MS SLP, speaks with Nichole Carrasquillo-Stumpf M.S. CCC-SLP, a bilingual speech language pathologist, about her journey in the field, the challenges faced by bilingual SLPs in public schools, and the importance of cultural connection in therapy. They discuss equity issues in bilingual education, the difference between language d...

Welcome Back to Season 2 of Unfiltered IEPs! Follow or Subscribe to the Podcast so you never miss an episode! Find digital downloads like "The Guide to Becoming an Advocate on the Inside" here: https://theadvocateslp.myflodesk.com/linkinbio In this episode, Rachelle Ashford M.ED, Ed. S shares her extensive experience in special and general education, emphasizing the importance of personalized IEPs...

In this bonus episode, Colleen gets into the nitty gritty about 2 out of the 3 mindset shifts inside The Guide To Becoming an Advocate *On The Inside* 1. An IEP is an group project, NOT a presentation 2. We’re not picking off the menu, we’re writing the recipe 3. Treat every parent like they're "High Profile" To get the full breakdown of all three mindset shifts in hand-out form, hea...

In this episode, Colleen (@TheAdvocate. SLP) is joined by her friends, two passionate bilingual general education teachers, Melissa and Ivania, to discuss the intersection of bilingual education and special education. Each with over a decade of classroom experience, Melissa and Ivania share their firsthand perspectives on being part of IEP teams, supporting multilingual learners with disabilities,...

In this episode, Colleen and Phương Liên Palafox discuss the study she co-authored on the invisible workload of school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and what surprised her about the self-advocacy efforts of school based SLPs and what themes emerged within the qualitative data. Phương details what the systemic barriers SLPs face to real change within the school system and draws on her o...

In this episode of Unfiltered IEPs, Colleen Stern passionately discusses bilingual service delivery and the importance of cultural understanding within education and healthcare systems. She details 5 distinct places that the rights of non-English speaking parents in the IEP process are written out (freebie linked below) in IDEA, the Civil Rights Act and OCR Documentation. She emphasizes the need f...

In this episode of Unfiltered IEPs, host Colleen Stern speaks with Hallie Sherman, a seasoned speech-language pathologist, to discuss the intricacies of working with middle-grade students and developing their IEPs. They explore the importance of student empowerment, effective goal development, and the challenges faced by SLPs in advocating for their students' needs. Hallie shares her journey of cr...

Join Colleen, The Advocate SLP, as she sits down with Dr. Brandi Tanner Ph. D., NCSP to explore the intricacies of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Dr. Tanner shares her extensive experience and insights on the roles of school psychologists, the importance of collaboration, and the three Cs of student success. Listen to learn those three C's as well as Dr. Tanner's unfiltered opinion on w...

Join Colleen, the Advocate SLP, as she sits down with Jacob Johnson, a future special education teacher, to discuss his journey from music to education, his experiences teaching in China, and his insights into the world of special education from the perspective of a former para-professional (he was the elusive 1:1 supporting in general education). They discuss the challenges and triumphs of workin...

This episode is a "part 2" of Episode 8! Colleen is joined by Dr. Destiny Huff and Lisa Baskin Wright for a thought-provoking conversation that spans many topics and two episodes! In this episode they discuss the nuances of ABA therapy and why the choice to participate in ABA therapy, is a multi-layered decision for Black and Brown families. They talk about how not ALL behavior is in fact, communi...

In this episode, Colleen is joined by Dr. Destiny Huff and Lisa Baskin Wright for a thought-provoking conversation that spans many topics and two episodes! In this episode they discuss personal experiences with introducing neurodiversity affirming practices to IEP team members and Dr. Destiny Huff gives examples of how to find the "ins" through authentic curiosity and asking the thoughtful questio...

Join Colleen, The Advocate SLP, as she delves into the obvious but often unspoken barrier for students receiving special education. This episode uncovers the financial constraints and systemic issues that impact decision making at IEP meetings, highlighting the need parents and school team members to come together to support legislative and policy changes that will fulfill the promise of IDEA. Key...

Join host Colleen, the Advocate SLP, as she engages in a deep conversation with Dr. Diana Fannon, a seasoned special education leader. Dr. Fannon shares her journey from teacher to school psychologist to becoming a Director of Special Education. As a person with a disability and mother of a child with a disability, she has a unique perspective. This episode delves into the intricacies of inclusive...

Join host Colleen and guest Gisela A Burks as they delve into the intricacies of the IEP process from a parent's viewpoint. Gisela shares her journey navigating her son's autism diagnosis, the challenges of advocating for her child at the IEP table, and the importance of understanding and inclusion in education. Gisela A Burks is a dedicated mother and advocate for her autistic son, Jeremi...

In this episode, Colleen delves into the complexities of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and its impact on special education referrals. She discusses the challenges faced by educators, parents, and students in navigating the MTSS process. She highlights issues such as resource shortages that impact fidelity of intervention, the unspoken reasons behind gatekeeping special education services,...