Lisa Lightner

Don't IEP Alone.

Inspired by her own son with disabilities, Lisa Lightner is an award-winning blogger and advocate. She has previously worked for her county's Arc and has served on the Boards of Directors for several disability organizations.  Currently, she is her county's chairperson for the Right to Education Task Force, a federally decreed group set up in 1971 to ensure that all children in Pennsylvania had the opportunity to an education.  When not attending IEP meetings with families or lobbying in Harrisburg and DC for disability rights, she can be found on the web at her IEP advice blog, A Day in our S...

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: adayinourshoes.com

Author

Lisa Lightner

Category

Education

Podcast website

adayinourshoes.com

Latest episode

Oct 21, 2026

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Episodes

Navigating the IEP Evaluation Process: Part 2 - Permission to Evaluate Form Explained 25.10.2023

 Navigating the IEP Evaluation Process: Part 2 - Permission to Evaluate Form Explained Relevant Links: https://adayinourshoes.com/iep-evaluations-iee-timeline/ https://adayinourshoes.com/iep-re-evaluations-what-parents-need-to-know-timelines/ Welcome back to another episode of Don't IEP Alone with Lisa Leitner! In today's episode, we are diving into part two of our series on IEP evaluati...

Understanding the IEP Evaluation Process: Part 1 18.10.2023

Welcome back to another episode of "Don't IEP Alone." I'm your host, Lisa Lightner, a special education advocate based near Philadelphia.  In this episode, we delve into a topic that many parents encounter when navigating the world of IEPs: evaluations. We often find that parents reach out to advocates when things aren't going well with their child's IEP, and sometime...

Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA): A Closer Look with Dr. Jessica Myszak 11.10.2023

Dr. Jessica Myszak is a Chicago-area psychologist who specializes in autism assessment. Doing both in-person and telehealth evaluations in many states across the US, she has developed a niche in less-typical presentations of autism--autism in AFAB children and adults, high-masking children and adults, and pathological demand avoidance (PDA). Website— https://helpandhealingcenter.com/ Tik Tok-- htt...

Finding Practical Solutions for Disabled Professionals: A Discussion with Ariadne Wolf 11.10.2023

Ariadne Wolf is a dedicated advocate for disabled and neurodivergent women writers who have faced trauma. Having worked closely with this community, Ariadne discovered their struggle to share their pain stories and connect with audiences in a meaningful and authentic way. This realization led her to establish an editorial consulting business, focusing on empowering and supporting her disabled comm...

Uncovering the Hidden Link: How Speech and Language Disorders Connect to Juvenile Confinement with Dr. Shameka Stewart, Juvenile Forensic SLP 04.10.2023

00:02:30 Youth facing adult charges, reviewing records and assessing language and cognition to align with charges. Discussing impact of disorder on ability to meet elements. 00:05:19 Parents should familiarize themselves with special education laws and their rights to ensure their child receives appropriate services and not agree to anything they feel is wrong. 00:07:34 The term "school to pr...

Nurturing Executive Functioning Skills: A Deep Dive with Tera Sumpter, SLP 28.09.2023

Welcome back to another episode of "Don't IEP Alone"! In today's episode, we dive into the fascinating topic of executive functioning with the incredibly knowledgeable Tera Sumpter, SLP. Tera, who likes to think of things in terms of growth and planting, shares her insights and strategies for developing and supporting executive functioning skills in children.  She categorizes t...

Conversations with Child Psychologist Elliott Jaffa: Navigating Teen Behavior and Building People Skills 27.09.2023

Elliott Jaffa Dr. Elliott B. Jaffa Associates Arlington, VA ejaffa316@gmail.com 703-931-0040 00:02:15 The goal is to catch kids being good. Ask what they learned instead of "how was school?" Praise observable behaviors, not physical appearance. Parents struggle with the language of positivity. 00:06:18 The speaker asks an easy question, but with language restrictions. They then ask if th...

The Impact of Socialization in the Digital Age: FaceTime vs. In-Person Interaction, Dr. Stephanie Fields 13.09.2023

The Impact of Socialization in the Digital Age: FaceTime vs. In-Person Interaction 00:02:07 Growing concern over children's socialization and anxiety. 00:03:50 Video games can count as socialization, but face-to-face interaction is also important. 00:07:33 Families need to focus on mental health. 00:13:18 Parents must be vigilant with IEPs. Specialty design instruction must match child's...

We're back with Back to School Tips for 2023 06.09.2023

Welcome back to the Don't IEP Alone podcast with your host, Lisa Lightner! After a long hiatus, we are thrilled to be back and ready to provide you with valuable content. In this episode titled "Back to School 2023, is your IEP ready?", Lisa dives into the current state of education, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic. She discusses the challenges parents and educators ar...

IEPs in the Post Covid Era 08.03.2022

IEP considerations for parents in the post covid era. Read more here: https://adayinourshoes.com/comp-ed-compensatory-education/ Support the show Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 📚 Order my book

Talking with Kids about Race 03.06.2020

My chat with Kyle Boyer about how to talk with our kids about race. To get the list of resources, watch the video or read the transcript: Talking with Kids about Race Support the show Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 📚 Order my book

OT Skills and Distance Learning 02.06.2020

I'm chatting with OT Jaime Bassman about easy ways to practice OT skills during distance learning . You can click that hyperlink above to watch the video or read the transcript. Support the show Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 📚 Order my book

Attorney-Advocate chat about Distance Learning and IEPs 01.06.2020

I'm chatting with 2 special education attorneys about all things. To watch the video or read the transcript: https://adayinourshoes.com/attorney-advocate-distance-learning-ieps/ Support the show Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 📚 Order my book

Q&A about Distance Learning with an IEP 29.05.2020

I'm taking parent questions about distance learning during the pandemic. This is the audio from a Facebook Live event. To watch the video or read the transcript:  COVID-19, FAPE and Distance Learning Support the show Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 📚 Order my book

Understanding PWN 23.04.2020

A review of PWN and its importance. THis is a Facebook live event that I did a few months ago, but I uploaded the video file to here as a podcast. Read more about the PWN:  Prior Written Notice PWN: The little known game-changer in the IEP process. Support the show Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 📚 Order my book

Working on Social Skills at Home 22.04.2020

Recap of my chat with Ashley Rose from Mission Cognition; she shared some ideas on how to work on social skills while we're stuck at home. You can read the list of ideas or watch the video here: 18 Tips to work on Social Skills/SEL while you’re stuck at home (from a BCBA!) Support the show Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 📚 Order my book

PWNs, Assessments and FAPE during school shutdown 20.04.2020

I hosted a Facebook Live event about schools issuing PWNs during the shutdown. IF you wish to read more about this or watch the video instead, you can do so here: Extended School Closings | Some schools issuing PWNs as a Placement Change. Support the show Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 📚 Order my book

Unpopular Opinions-I'm not expecting FAPE. 16.03.2020

Choosing my battles in this time of crisis. Coronavirus and School Closings | Will your child still receive IEP services? Support the show Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 📚 Order my book

Inadequate 504 Plans and IEPs with Attorney Steve Jacobson 05.03.2020

Part 2 of my discussion with Steve Jacobson from Jacobson and John, LLP. We covered so much! We talked about AT equipment out of school, before and after care programs, section 504, some hallmarks of bad IEPs and 504s and so much more. If you'd like to contact Jacobson and John, a special education law firm near Philadelphia , you can do so through that hyperlink. Support the show Other ways...

The Brain Recovery Project 03.03.2020

I'm talking IEPs, seizures, research and more with Monika Jones from the Brain Recovery Project. To learn more about: The Brain Recovery Project Our mission is simple: We help children reach their full potential after brain surgery to stop seizures The Brain Recovery Project: Childhood Epilepsy Surgery Foundation 969 Colorado Blvd. | Suite 101 | Los Angeles, CA 90041 We help kids reach their...

I'll be the wet blanket 11.02.2020

I hate being the bearer of bad news. I really do. Support the show Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 📚 Order my book

Talking about the Good Things in Life 06.02.2020

Join me as I chat with Genia from GoodThingsInLife.org . We're talking about our kids' social roles , ableism, inclusion, tokenism, inspiration porn , chronic grief and so much more. Please note: This is much longer than most of my podcast episodes. I decided to leave it as one for those who are able to listen in one sitting. Here is the Power of Roles event she mentions in the podcast....

Part 2 of Advocate Chat with Jackie Waldie 04.02.2020

Part 2 of my chat with Advocate Jackie Waldie from South Dakota. Jackie Waldie has been an advocate for 2 years. Prior to advocacy she was a 5th grade teacher for 12 years and obtained her Master's Degree in Education. Upon leaving teaching, she specialized in tutoring the Barton Method through Rapid City Dyslexic Care. She lives in Rapid City, South Dakota with her two wonderful children and...

Advocate Chat with Jackie Waldie 30.01.2020

I'm chatting with IEP Advocate Jackie Waldie about all things IEP, and what it's like to sit on both sides of the table. Jackie Waldie has been an advocate for 2 years. Prior to advocacy she was a 5th grade teacher for 12 years and obtained her Master's Degree in Education. Upon leaving teaching, she specialized in tutoring the Barton Method through Rapid City Dyslexic Care. She liv...

Top College Consultants, Part 2 28.01.2020

Part two of my discussion of post-secondary opportunities for kids with IEPs. Guest today is Eric Endlich, Ph. D., psychologist and founder of Top College Consultants ®, helps teens with special needs transition to college. He works with students worldwide. Colleges and Programs for Students with Learning Differences (video) Autism-Friendly College List Eric Endlich, Ph. D. (617) 515-3568 (cell) |...

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