The Affirming Village Podcast

What Children Can Access When Support, Demands, and Environments Change   The Affirming Village Podcast • Episode 3 When school ends, does a learner lose skills, or have the supports around them just shifted? ☀️ In this episode, Lisa Wright, IEP Coach, and Dr. Destiny Huff, LPC, explore what summer break reveals about access, support, and fluctuating capacity. Instead of focusing on skill loss, we...

☀️ Family gatherings and community events are major hallmarks of the summer season. But for parents of neurodivergent children, these spaces frequently introduce an unlisted layer of stress: managing the misconceptions, unsolicited advice, and expectations of the adults in the room. In this episode of our Summer Series, Lisa Wright and Dr. Destiny Huff provide a professional framework for navigati...

Episode 1: Summer Isn’t Always a Break: Rest, Regulation, and Redefining Fun ☀️ For many families, summer is a long-awaited vacation. But for neurodivergent families and special education parents, the transition into summer can bring a sudden, jarring loss of routine, predictability, and essential services. In this premier episode of our Summer Series, Lisa Wright (IEP Coach) and Dr. Destiny Huff...

"Something smells different this year." Before heading into the summer break, Dr. Destiny Huff and Lisa Wright sit down for a raw reflection on why this school year felt fundamentally different for parents, advocates, and neurodivergent learners. In this episode, they pull back the curtain on the "whiplash" of navigating school districts that seem to be throwing out the ruleboo...

"Sir, slow your roll." This week, Destiny and Lisa are getting honest about the "vibes" of the 2025-2026 school year. It hasn't been easy, and it certainly hasn't been quiet. We’re exploring the shift from collaborative innovation to rigid, black-and-white thinking at the IEP table. We break down why "independence" is often just a code word for compliance, the...

I knew there was nonsense going on, but I didn't realize it was  this  level of nonsense." In this raw and necessary episode, Dr. Destiny Huff and Lisa Wright pull back the curtain on the topics often whispered about but rarely confronted: seclusion, restraint, and the systemic lack of felt safety in our schools. We’re moving past the "compliance" narrative to discuss the long-term impact of traum...

In this episode, Dr. Destiny Huff and Lisa Wright tackle a major hurdle at the IEP table: the "gatekeeping" of student supports. Are accommodations something a learner has to earn through good behavior, or are they a fundamental right to access their education? We’re breaking down the "Support Spectrum," the confusion between accommodations and modifications, and why the human element of joy and a...

"We’re implementing this with fidelity." It’s a phrase that echoes through IEP meetings and evaluation reports, but in the world of special education, what does it actually look like? In this episode, Dr. Destiny Huff and Lisa Wright break down why this buzzword can sometimes be used to prioritize "the program" over "the learner." We’re getting real about the human side of advocacy—the frustration...

In this episode of the Affirming Village Podcast, Dr. Destiny and Lisa Wright take a deeper look at the fragility of the IEP table. Following our conversation on ego, we are exploring what happens when the collective wisdom of a team is silenced by a single individual—and why that "one voice" can be the biggest barrier to a learner’s success. The truth? Collaboration doesn't just &qu...

It’s centering credentials over curiosity. It’s protecting professional identity instead of protecting the learner. Have you ever walked out of an IEP meeting with a lingering “ick” feeling? You can’t always pinpoint exactly what was said, but the vibe was off. Often, what is blocking true collaboration isn’t a lack of funding or a policy—it’s  ego .  In this episode, Lisa and Destiny have a raw c...

"It’s easier to attack the vulnerable instead of the system because the system feels untouchable." In this episode of the  Affirming Village Podcast , Dr. Destiny and Lisa Wright dive into a conversation that is long overdue. Triggered by a viral "No to Inclusion" movement on social media, we are pulling back the curtain on why inclusion feels "impossible" for so many...

In the world of special education, these are some of the most frustrating words a parent can hear during an IEP meeting, especially when it involves a child who is non-speaking or has significant support needs. In this episode, Lisa Wright and Dr. Destiny Huff dive deep into the critical (and often overlooked) world of home-to-school communication. We’re moving beyond the basic daily sheets that t...

In this eye-opening episode of  The Affirming Village Podcast , Dr. Destiny Huff and Lisa Wright pull back the curtain on a phenomenon that leaves many families feeling disoriented and unheard:  gaslighting at the IEP table . If you’ve ever walked out of a school meeting feeling like you’re in the "Twilight Zone," questioning your own reality despite having clear evidence of your child's needs, th...

In this powerful episode of The Affirming Village Podcast, Dr. Destiny Huff and Lisa Wright challenge the compliance-first narrative that often traps neurodivergent learners. When a student is labeled as "non-compliant" or "defiant," we rarely stop to ask: What are the barriers to access in this moment?  Instead of viewing behavior as a character flaw, we unpack how it is often the first sign that...

"It’s not about ability—it’s about capacity." In this mid-season premiere of  The Affirming Village Podcast , Dr. Destiny Huff and Lisa Wright dive into the "January Slump." If the transition back into school routines has felt harder than expected for you, your students, or your children, this episode is a deep exhale. Instead of pushing to just "get back on track," Destiny and Lisa unpack the phy...

In this intimate episode of The Affirming Village Podcast , Dr. Destiny Huff and Lisa Baskin Wright get personal about their own neurodivergence and how it impacts the way they parent, advocate, communicate, and navigate daily life. Instead of hiding or minimizing their neurodivergent identities, Destiny and Lisa talk openly about the strengths, challenges, and patterns that show up in their paren...

In this episode of The Affirming Village Podcast , Dr. Destiny Huff, LPC, and IEP Coach Lisa Baskin Wright expand the conversation on self-advocacy by pushing beyond the basics of services, checkboxes, and compliance. Your learner deserves more than services — they deserve support, understanding, and environments that affirm who they are. Destiny and Lisa dive into what true support looks like for...

In this powerful new episode of The Affirming Village Podcast , Dr. Destiny Huff and Lisa Baskin Wright dig into the foundation of self-advocacy — what it really means, why it’s often misunderstood, and how to use it as a tool of empowerment inside systems that don’t always listen. Too often, parents, educators, and even neurodivergent adults are told to “speak up,” but not taught how to do it eff...

Welcome back to The Affirming Village Podcast with Dr. Destiny Huff, LPC, and IEP Coach Lisa Baskin Wright. This episode continues our powerful conversation on self-advocacy , this time going even deeper — from what self-advocacy means to how we actually support it in our neurodivergent children, students, clients, and even in ourselves. Inside Episode 10 (Part 2), we discuss: The difference betwe...

In this episode of The Affirming Village Podcast , Dr. Destiny Huff, LPC and Lisa Baskin Wright, IEP Coach, unpack what effective communication really looks like in IEP meetings, emails, and conversations with schools. Advocacy isn’t just about knowing your rights — it’s about knowing how to communicate your child’s needs clearly, calmly, and confidently , even when emotions are heavy or the envir...

In this episode of The Affirming Village Podcast , hosts Dr. Destiny Huff, LPC and Lisa Baskin-Wright hold an honest conversation about caregiver burnout , rest , and the emotional labor of advocating for neurodivergent children. So many caregivers are running on empty — juggling IEPs, school meetings, behavior notes, therapies, emotional support, and holding the household together. This episode i...

In this episode of The Affirming Village Podcast , hosts Dr. Destiny Huff, LPC and Lisa Baskin Wright explore one of the most underestimated tools in the IEP process — parent input . Your perspective as a parent is more than background information; it’s data that drives decisions . Destiny and Lisa break down how your words can change how educators see your child, shift IEP language from deficit t...

In this powerful episode of The Affirming Village Podcast , hosts Dr. Destiny Huff, LPC and Lisa Baskin Wright go beyond the surface to explore what it truly means to be neuroaffirming . This conversation dives deep into the uncomfortable truth: many modern attitudes toward neurodivergence still carry echoes of eugenics , the harmful belief that difference should be prevented or “cured.” Together,...

In this episode of The Affirming Village Podcast , hosts Dr. Destiny Huff, LPC and Lisa Baskin Wright break down why documentation and accessibility are some of the most powerful—and overlooked—tools in the IEP process. They explore: Why documentation isn’t just paperwork, but a roadmap for accountability How vague or inaccessible language creates confusion for parents, teachers, and students The...

In this episode of The Affirming Village Podcast , hosts Dr. Destiny Huff, LPC and Lisa Baskin Wright get real about what happens when bias enters the IEP room . They share powerful lived experiences as parents and advocates navigating a system where racism, ableism, and classism can shape outcomes for children. Together, they explore: How bias shows up in IEP meetings—sometimes obvious, sometimes...