Inclusive Education Project (IEP) Podcast

We made it through the super-long month of January, and we are officially into the second month of 2023. Whew! We have certainly had some crazy IEP meetings already, and we are seeing a disturbing new trend regarding eligibility for IEPs in which children who need services are being denied. Our February series that begins today will address this issue, and we will be going through the eligibility...

Here we are, still in January. It’s the month that seems to go on forever! Students, parents, and teachers are well into the second semester of the school year, and we are getting lots of calls from anxious parents for many reasons. What can you do for your kid who is struggling? Let’s discuss it with today’s guest!    Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge is on a mission to change the way we view a...

We are diving deep into today’s conversation around learning differences and special educational needs. Even though we are doing so many things right in this field, there are still many changes that need to be made. Join us to learn more from today’s guest! Dr. Bibi Pirayesh is an educational therapist in the Los Angeles area. Her work includes one-on-one remediation with families and helping them...

Our focus in recent shows has been on solutions for an inclusive educational environment, and today’s show follows that theme. Today’s guest is in the thick of it with her pilot program for graduate students in speech and language.  Julie Curless is a speech-language pathologist who worked for nine years in a school system in Illinois. In working with students and their families, Julie develo...

Today’s episode is a treat as we are joined by a returning guest, Olivier Bernier. He previously appeared in Episode 183 (September 2021) with his wife. They were here to discuss their documentary film, Forget Me Not: Inclusion in the Classroom , which showcased their struggles with NYC’s school system for inclusive education for their son, Emilio. We are checking on the feedback they have receive...

Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe it’s 2023 already. We hope you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday season and are gearing up for the new year. In today’s show, we are breaking down some little details most often overlooked in IEPs. Join us to learn more! Show Highlights: What to consider in state testing accommodations, both typical assessments, and modified/alternative assessments Why assessment...

Today's episode is a replay of one of our most requested episodes. Enjoy! The end of the school year is happening over the next few weeks all around the country. Like us, many parents, teachers, and professionals are involved in IEP meetings galore. We believe that parents need to be empowered to take an active role in the IEP process. Join us to learn more from our expert guest! Beth Liesenfeld i...

Today's episode is a replay of one of our most requested episodes. Enjoy! We are here at the beginning of another school year, and after the chaos of the past 2-3 school years, none of us knows what to really expect for 2022-2023! One thing we are noticing is that a lot of parents want IEPs for their students. In today’s episode, we go back to basics with a refresher about what you should expect,...

Today's episode is a replay of one of our most requested episodes. Enjoy! Did you know there are at least 7 different people who need to be in attendance of an IEP meeting? Today we will discuss your IEP team, who the team members are and what are their roles. In 2004, the IDEA was revised regarding the IEP team members. There are now 7 different types of people that are a part of an IEP team. Tun...

Today's episode is a replay of one of our most requested episodes. Enjoy! We were recently featured on Dr. Karen Wilson’s Diverse Thinking Different Learning podcast. Today’s episode is a replay of that conversation where we discuss what parents can do over the summer to help prepare their child for a successful upcoming school year. Whether your child has been in a summer school program or on a m...

We are in that crazy time when the first half of the school year is almost over. Our focus in today’s show is on what parents should be doing right now to prepare for the next semester. Progress reports are essential to update parents about how their student is doing with the accommodations in place, and you should be receiving these from the school. Let’s take a closer look! Show Highlights: Why...

Hello! We are always thrilled when Dr. Karen Wilson takes the time to visit with us on the podcast. This is a collaboration episode that will also air on her podcast, Diverse Thinking - Different Learning . Together with Dr. Karen, we are addressing some of the most common IEP-related questions in an effort to inform and educate parents. Join us to learn more! Dr. Karen Wilson is a clinical neurop...

Welcome! We are always excited to have expert guests on the show because we like to learn from them just like our listeners. Our conversation today is with Michael Murray and Laura Balogh, co-authors of The Therapeutic Inclusion Program: Establishment and Maintenance in Public Schools . Join us to learn more! Michael Murray has worked in therapeutic education for 20 years. He started as a paraprof...

Welcome! Today’s show focuses on the controversial topic of cannabis use, specifically for those with autism. The proven health and behavior benefits are mind-boggling! Join us to learn more and have your eyes opened to a new perspective! Janna Champagne is a special needs parent of a daughter who is 20. Janna’s journey with her daughter included a lot of misinterpretation by the school system abo...

Today's show is a special encore episode of our interview with Kara Ryska. It has been one of our top downloaded episodes and you will understand why when you listen. Enjoy! We’re so happy to have Kara Ryska with us today! Kara is local to SoCal and has her own podcast that we think you will find very helpful. In this episode, Kara shares how her journey propelled her to become a life coach to spe...

We are in a new era regarding the perception of private schools, mostly due to the new perspective we have because of the COVID implications on learning. For most students, distance learning is NOT the best answer for optimum learning. We have seen an increasing trend of many students going to private schools, but questions remain about IEPs, reimbursements, and how it all works. Let’s take a clos...

Welcome! Neurodiversity is always an important topic for us. So many people, kids AND adults, have different ways of doing things, and all those ways should be included and accepted. Today’s show features two guests who are enlightening us on ways to create an environment that celebrates neurodiversity and implements the best inclusion practices. Join us! Tamara Wanink is a mom and the director of...

Today’s show explores the idea that we have it all wrong when it comes to behavioral disorders. From the intersection of neuroscience and music comes the theory that what we have classified as behavior issues are really movement disorders. The body’s response to music and rhythm holds the key. Join us for a look at this fascinating work! Peggy Schaefer is a board-certified Neurological Music Thera...

Extracurricular activities, especially sports programs, are excellent learning opportunities for students of all levels. There are many lessons learned and transferable skills that make a huge impact in enriching and enhancing life experiences. In today’s show, we learn more about Spirit League, a unique sports organization for those with special needs. Join us to learn more! Melissa Cory is an oc...

The new school year is off and running for 2022-2023. We have had many discussions about IEPs and initial assessments in previous episodes, and now we take a closer look at the different types of IEPs, along with our best tips for parents to know. Join us to learn more! Show Highlights:  The addendum (or amendment) IEP: to make changes to the IEP goals, usually at the parent’s request The annual...

Today’s show is an information session about our new IEP Learning Center. Feel free to share our presentation with anyone who might be interested in this new resource. With all of our endeavors, the goal is to increase access to the needed resources for quality education and learning for every student, especially those with disabilities. The IEP Learning Center becomes another outlet to assist in...

We are here at the beginning of another school year, and after the chaos of the past 2-3 school years, none of us knows what to really expect for 2022-2023! One thing we are noticing is that a lot of parents want IEPs for their students. In today’s episode, we go back to basics with a refresher about what you should expect, what the law requires, and how you can be empowered to help your child. Jo...

Most students across the country are back in school already, and some will begin within the next week or two. It’s a busy time! Our best reminders for parents are to check in with teachers about your child’s progress and request an IEP meeting for your child. We have been excited about what’s happening with teacher-centered classrooms changing to inclusive and learner-centered classrooms, so that’...

Happy Back-to-School Season! Whether you have already stepped boldly into the new school year or are frantically preparing for those upcoming first few days, all of us in the education world are hoping that 2022-2023 will be the best one yet! An important topic for any new school year is inclusivity; we should be asking ourselves how we can look for more inclusivity and make students’ lives better...

Hi everyone! We are excited to officially announce here on the podcast the opening of the IEP Learning Center, a virtual learning center for students across the country and the world. We are partnering with Barbara Arrowsmith and using the Arrowsmith Program, which can bring remarkable improvement to many students in the classroom and in their daily functional skills. In today’s solo episode, we a...