Stress-Free IEP®

Stress-Free IEP ® with Frances Shefter, Ep 74 In this enlightening episode of Stress-Free IEP ®, Frances Shefter speaks with Catina Franklin Sweedy, the visionary behind Embark Center for Self-Directed Education. Catina shares insights into the transformative approach of allowing students to guide their own learning journeys, driven by curiosity and personal interests, rather than a traditional cu...

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 73 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter, principal of Shefter Law, speaks with Laura Goldstein, LCMFT, founder of Montgomery County Counseling Center and Theracourses. Laura Goldstein earned her Bachelor's degree in neuroscience from Franklin and Marshall College and her Master's degree in family therapy from Thomas Jefferson Universit...

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 72 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, host Frances Shefter talks with Caitlin Garman, Director of Admissions and Outreach at BroadFutures. BroadFutures is a one-of-a-kind mentoring, training, and internship program for neurodivergent young people. Before coming to BroadFutures, Caitlin worked in a DC public charter school as a social worker and tran...

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 71 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Melissa Schulz, a Parenting Coach who helps you yell less and smile more! Melissa is a mom of three with a Master's in Counseling and over 20 years of experience. Meet Melissa Schulz: From Behavior Analyst to Parenting Coach Melissa Schulz brings a rich background as a Board-Certi...

Stress-Free IEP ® with Frances Shefter, Episode 70 Introduction to Kids Up Reading  Tutors (formerly Kids Up Reading Coaches) Navigating the realm of special education can be daunting for parents as they seek to ensure the best possible support for their children. This show draws insights from Daniela Feldhausen, founder and instructor at Kids Up Reading  Tutors , who transitioned from a legal car...

Stress-Free IEP ® with Frances Shefter, Ep 69 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Brendan Sheerin, founder of IEP Parenting Virginia. A retired teacher and principal, Brendan established his nonprofit to assist parents of children with IEPs, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and learning disabilities (LD) in navigating special education challenges. Learn more about Brand...

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 68 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Dr. David Palmiter, a licensed and board-certified clinical psychologist and the Clinical Director at the Chesapeake Center, one of the largest ADHD specialty clinics in the country. Dr. Palmiter is also on the Board of Directors for CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/H...

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 67 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Polly Mayer, Associate Professor of Education and Director of the Masters of Arts in Educational Therapy Program at Notre Dame de Namur University. Polly brings a wealth of experience, having spent 25 years as a classroom teacher and now dedicating her career to teaching educational t...

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 66 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Sara Gallagher, Founder of Rising Tides Educational Services. Sara has extensive experience as a learning specialist and reading expert, and has dedicated her career to providing personalized educational support to students, particularly those facing learning challenges like dyslexia....

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 65 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter is joined by Dr. Ken Stefano, Clinical Psychologist and Owner of Kenneth Stefano & Associates, a socio-educational testing and consultation practice based in Rockville. Dr. Stefano specializes in the psychological assessment of children and adolescents, offering insights into their educationa...

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 64 In a recent episode of Stress-Free IEP®, host Frances Shefter interviewed Jen Dryer, a parenting coach specializing in helping parents of neurodivergent children. Jen shared her personal journey and professional insights, providing valuable strategies for managing the challenges faced by parents of children with unique needs. Jen Dryer’s Background...

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 63 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Ivonne Rodriguez, Project Manager at GoGo Access and specialist in aging in place modifications. Ivonne shares insights on her role in customizing home modifications to enhance accessibility and safety for individuals with disabilities. Episode Summary: Welcome to the Stress-Free IEP®...

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 62 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Jane Singleton, the founder and executive coach at Launchpad for Life, LLC and specializes in helping clients understand their cognitive and emotional strengths and weaknesses, communicate more effectively, and build their self-awareness. She is an International Coaching Federation (I...

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 61 Introduction to Stress-Free IEP® Welcome to the Stress-Free IEP® podcast, hosted by Frances Shefter, CEO and attorney of Shefter Law. This episode features Dr. Tania Farran , an esteemed educational leader and author known for her expertise in educational leadership and parenting. Dr. Farran has over 27 years of experience in education, balancing h...

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 60 Introduction to Stress-Free IEP® Welcome to the Stress-Free IEP® podcast, hosted by Frances Shefter, CEO and attorney of Shefter Law. This podcast supports parents and educators dealing with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). More details and past episodes are available at Shefter Law. Meet Mary Shouse: Occupational Therapist Specializing in...

Stress-Free IEP ® with Frances Shefter, Episode 59 Introduction to Stress-Free IEP® Welcome to the Stress-Free IEP® podcast, hosted by Frances Shefter, Principal of Shefter Law. This podcast provides support and insights for parents and educators dealing with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). More details and past episodes are available at Shefter Law . Meet Dr. Kristin Meyer: Advocate and...

Stress-Free IEP ® with Frances Shefter, Ep 58 Introduction to Stress-Free IEP® Welcome to the Stress-Free IEP® podcast, hosted by Frances Shefter of Shefter Law. This podcast offers insights and support for parents and educators dealing with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). More episodes and details can be found at Shefter Law . Meet Ann Lawyer: Special Education Expert Today's guest...

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 57 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP® Frances Shefter speaks with Kitchie McBride, MHA, a health insurance broker and social security analyst. Kitchie delves into her personal journey of homeschooling her son, who has special needs, and shares insights into the challenges and decisions that led her to adopt homeschooling during his high school years....

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 56 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Sarah Bobal, a dyslexia specialist and owner of Right Start Reading, a virtual reading tutoring service that specializes in Orton-Gilingham tutoring and science-based reading instruction for students with and without dyslexia. Sarah is also an Associate member of the Orton-Gillingham...

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 55 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP® , Frances Shefter speaks with April Rehrig, Special education advocate, school psychologist and founder of Rise Educational Advocacy, a firm based in California offering affordable and accessible advocacy support to families and schools nationwide. With her extensive experience as a school psychologist and a moth...

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 54 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter interviews Kelly Nelson, Outreach and Communications Manager for Maryland ABLE. Kelly is passionate about promoting personal choice, independence, and economic stability for individuals with disabilities through ABLE accounts. Through her dedication and expertise, Kelly strives to empower individ...

In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Jennifer Strong, school psychologist for Cognitive Diagnostic Associates in Newport Beach, CA, a leading educational consulting firm. With over two decades of experience, Jennifer is dedicated to empowering students with diverse learning needs through personalized assessments and tailored interventions.   Tune in to the episode to he...

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 52 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Nicole Connell, an educator, mentor, and certified Educational Therapist in the Bay Area. Preferring the title "personal learning fairy godmother," Nicole specializes in designing personalized education for homeschoolers, unschoolers, and families transitioning away from tra...

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 51 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Nicole Rouleau, Founder of Igniting Your Mind Executive Function Coaching and Consulting, and a seasoned special education advocate with over 10 years of experience. Nicole provides personalized guidance to parents navigating the IEP process through. Tune in to the episode to hear abo...

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 50 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter interviews Sarah Kodinsky, CEO of Apex Social Group, which specializes in live-in developmental childcare for children with disabilities. Sarah's background in special education fuels her passion for supporting families, and Apex integrates a cultural exchange element with European caregivers...