The Collaborative IEP

In today’s episode, I discuss 3 topics/ issues that have arisen frequently in my special education law practice and that advocates and attorneys across the country are discussing more this school year.  We’ll talk about the issues, as well as solutions and strategies for each one!   

If you can’t beat them, join them!  I set an alarm to record early one morning over Memorial Day weekend, but my sweet guy had other plans… Jack woke up, too!  He interrupted my first ten attempts at recording, sooooo this week’s guest is the most special of all—- The Jackman!!!!  Jack and I talk all things special education - LRE, evaluations, MDRs…. Just Kidding!  This is an...

You’re not going to want to miss this episode. It’s so full of great information and advocacy tips – not just for people exploring eligibility but also for people considering private evaluations, working with outside clinicians, and for anyone that writes an IEP goal. Yes, yes, that’s YOU!!!! In today’s episode, I talk to psychologist Dr. Brandi Tanner, about evaluations – the difference between w...

Sorry. It’s May.  Graduations, Sports, Awards Ceremonies, Gardening, … You know the To Do list of Craziness that the month of May brings!  Now I’m adding to the list!  Buuuuuuuttttt – Can you think ahead to August and September for just a moment?  Remember how it’s nutty, too?!  I have just a few ideas – just a few things- that you could do NOW to make the Fall less stress...

One of the negotiation strategies I use most frequently is a Demand Letter.  In today’s super quick episode I introduce you to the Demand Letter and talk a little bit about how to write them. Once you master the Demand Letter, your advocacy will undoubtedly skyrocket with results!  Today I share with you the little “ditty” I normally give clients when I recommend that they or I write a D...

Join me for this week’s podcast, a discussion with Sasha Long, BCBA, MA, the Autism Helper.  Sasha works as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, a consultant, and a writer.  She founded @theautismhelper, where she manages a blog and lots of great content here on social media.  Join us as we discuss how parents can collaborate with their IEP teams, support their children behaviorally,...

It started with an idea for a Freebie for you.  It turned into a stream of consciousness!!!  Today I share a little Behind the Scenes insight into things attorneys and advocates say often – and the reason we say them!  Episode #47, “The #1 Reasons I Turn Away Clients” has yielded a lot of conversations with listeners, and when I had this podcast subject enter my head, I figured you...

Our Birth Stories. The Missed Milestones. The Comparison Game. Finding and Maintaining Child Care. Worries about Siblings. Our Jobs as Lifeguards, Therapists, Doctors, Researchers, Teachers, and General Contractors. Navigating Social Situations.  Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes!!!  Can you relate to one or EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. of these issues that caretakers experience?  In today’s podca...

Before I outlined today’s podcast episode, I triple checked that I hadn’t done this topic before,  because it’s nearly impossible that we’re 85 episodes in, and I haven’t talked about this IEP meeting tip… The Future Planning Statement and/or Parent Interest Statement!  When people hire me for a one-time consult, they almost always hear about the FPS/PIS.  I recommend it almost univ...

I’ve had a lot of perspective-shifting experiences in my life.  I was seriously injured as a kid and have chronic pain and PTSD as a result, my son has Down syndrome, my husband has had cancer, and we’ve had enough family drama to write a book (who hasn’t?).  Those experiences have taught me so many things, and in today’s podcast I dive a little deeper into three lessons that I’ve learne...

I have been talking to a few friends and lots of clients about inclusion recently. I feel like this is super practical strategy helps everybody so much. I can really be a game changer at the IEP table. In today’s episode I talk about power including the students schedule and your advocacy can make a big difference.

I bet you’ve gone to a billion presentations on the Parts of the IEP, but this episode approaches that from a different aspect.  Are you ready?  In today’s episode, I do indeed describe the different parts of the IEP, but also how they relate to one another.  The important information should help you immensely in your meetings and with your advocacy.

You know when you and your bestie speak the same language? That’s how it is when Traci Brewer and I get together, especially if Parent Involvement is the topic of conversation! Traci, the executive director of the Down Syndrome Association of Central Kentucky, joins me on this week’s podcast episode to talk about Parent Involvement - why it’s important and HOW to actually get involved in your chil...

“If we really want to practice compassion, we have to start by setting boundaries and holding people accountable for their behavior.” -Brene Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection.  Surely you’d agree that compassion plays a big role in special education advocacy.  We want school teams to be compassionate and equitable to our children, right?  Have you ever considered how to evoke compass...

You’ve asked, and here’s our answer: Of course I’ll do an episode on goal writing.  In today’s episode I give you my “whole picture” assessment of a well written goal, but I also narrow in for those of you who like the specifics and provide a description of the elements of a well written goal.  We’ll also take a bit of time at the beginning and end of the episode to talk about the import...

In today’s episode a talk about one factor that IEP teams should consider which may strengthen your advocacy for extended school year services. We are talking critical life skills. This one is short and sweet but might be just what you need today.

It Doesn’t Have to Be This Hard, friends.  That’s the name of my friend, Michelle Morgan’s, new e- book about dyslexia advocacy, and it’s also a very true statement.  In today’s episode we give you a little preview of Michelle’s book, which walks parents of dyslexic children through evaluations, eligibility, development of the IEP, and progress monitoring.  Michelle gives lots and l...

Ready, Set, Goals!!!  Special Education puns.  That’s how low I am willing to sink for a podcast title.  Sorry, not sorry.  In today’s episode I’m giving you the ten-minute ditty on why we have goals in special education.  We won’t spend a ton of time talking about how to write goals, elements of a good goal, progress monitoring, or other nitty gritty goal topics.  Ra...

Big celebrations happening over here at ABCo! The Cincinnati Bengals are going to the Super Bowl, our podcast has been downloaded 25,000 times, AND we’re publishing Podcast #75!!!! To celebrate, I’m bringing you a biggie: Everything You Need to Know about Special Education… Say what? In today’s episode I’m telling you the three concepts you’ll need to master (or at least familiarize yourself with)...

I call it “relentless optimism.”  It is an attitude that serves me well in IEP meeting after IEP meeting. In today's episode I will share with you how this one simple mindset shift can make a huge difference in your advocacy. This tip has never been as important with teachers completely exhausted and overworked. You must BELIEVE that everyone on the table wants to help. You must BELIEVE that...

We talk about community a lot over here at ABCo.  In this bonus episode, I chat with Angela Tyszka, advocate and speaker at this year’s SEA Conference.  Angela has worked in universities, elementary, middle, and high schools; and she has extensive experience in participating in and organizing parent support organizations.  We chat about the importance of this groups, as well as how...

I’ve seen this a million times.  A student’s evaluation report shows average scores - maybe with a few relative weaknesses- but the student’s performance in school is mediocre or worse.  Missing assignments, disciplinary actions, and bad grades demonstrate that the student isn’t meeting his or her apparent potential in school.  Confidence wanes as the student becomes frustrated. &nb...

What do you want from me?!!!!  That’s what my clients sometimes want to ask of their child’s teachers.  Parents struggle with special education communication.  What do I say?  When do I communicate?  Why does the teacher need some information and not need others?  And do the school people talk themselves?!  In today’s conversation I sit down with my friend, Rebec...

Stars: They’re just like us.  Special Education: It’s just like your every day life. For many reasons, advocating for a child with in special education is intimidating, but in today’s episode, I’m making a real life analogy for you.  I started running in April 2020, and over the past few months, I’d had a lot of time to think about how my improvement in running- and the tracking of it-&n...

Now that we got your all organized last week, it's time to dive into your child's profile. Remember that the "I" in "IEP" is "individualized." I see so many IEPs that do not address the specific needs and strengths of the child. What's more - the meat of the IEP is "specially designed instruction." That's right, the IEP has to be specially tailored to meet the unique needs of the child. In this we...