The Curious Incident Podcast

In this episode of The Curious Incident Podcast , NYC Special Education Attorney Adam Dayan speaks with licensed social worker Regine Ashkenazi about helping children manage anxiety and OCD through evidence-based strategies. Regine explains why anxiety itself is a normal and necessary emotion, and how parents can best support their children by encouraging them to face fears rather than avoid them....

In this episode of The Curious Incident Podcast , NYC special education attorney Adam Dayan sits down with Joshua Rosenthal, psychologist, and founder of Manhattan Psychology Group (MPG), to discuss mental health, parenting, and the approaches used by the clinicians at MPG to help families navigate developmental and learning challenges. Drawing from both his professional expertise and personal exp...

In this episode of The Curious Incident Podcast , NYC special education attorney Adam Dayan steps into the guest seat for a candid, role-reversal conversation about the experiences that shaped him long before the law. Joined by his executive assistant Kristine Champagne as guest host, Adam shares his personal journey with OCD, and what it means to struggle quietly as a child who appears to be doin...

In this episode of The Curious Incident Podcast , NYC special education attorney Adam Dayan speaks with Lisa Candera attorney and founder of The Autism Mom Coach, about the realities of parenting a child with autism. Drawing on her experience raising a son with severe autism, OCD, and anxiety, Lisa explains why meaningful change often begins with a parent's own self-regulation. She discusses how c...

On this episode of the Curious Incident Podcast, NYC special education attorney Adam Dayan sits down with Lisa Abbrecht, clinical psychologist and founder of New Orleans Anxiety and OCD, LLC.  Together, they explore the everyday realities of living with anxiety and OCD, offering a clear, practical look at Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) deepen...

On this episode of The Curious Incident Podcast , NYC Special Education Attorney Adam Dayan speaks with TeachRock Executive Director Bill Carbone and Gina Machado, Director of Programs and Partnerships, about how their curriculum uses music to engage students in learning and combat school disengagement. Inspired by founder Stevie Van Zandt's own experience as a struggling student who found his pat...

In this episode of The Curious Incident Podcast , NYC special education attorney Adam Dayan sits down with educator and school founder Shirley Aninias —the visionary behind The Shirley Aninias School , a program for neurodiverse learners that blends academics, social–emotional learning, daily living skills, and naturalistic ABA. Shirley shares how a vibrant on-campus "town" fosters creativity, aut...

In this episode of The Curious Incident Podcast , NYC Special Education Attorney Adam Dayan sits down with Beth Rosenberg , educator, and founder of Tech Unlimited , empowering neurodiverse students to develop real-world technology and workplace skills. Beth shares how her experience as a parent of a neurodiverse child inspired her to create a program that now serves more than 500 students with au...

In this episode of The Curious Incident Podcast , Special Education Attorney Adam Dayan sits down with Janet Wolfe, Head of School at The IDEAL School of Manhattan - New York City's only K–12 independent inclusion school. Since joining IDEAL in 2016, Janet has led its transformation into a fully accredited program with a thriving high school including post-secondary initiative for students ages 18...

In this episode of The Curious Incident Podcast , Special Education Attorney Adam Dayan welcomes Jennifer Susser, Admissions Head at West End Day School in Manhattan. Drawing on nearly 30 years as a clinical social worker, Jennifer shares her path to West End Day and highlights the school's distinctive approach to creating a nurturing environment for children with diverse needs. Their conversation...

NYC Special Education Attorney Adam Dayan explores the critical role of Executive Functioning along with Social and Emotional Learning in a conversation with Randall Klein, education strategist and Director of Educational Services at Pediatric Assessment and Learning Support (PALS), on The Curious Incident Podcast . Randall shares her belief that every student can thrive when provided with the rig...

In this powerful and personal episode, NYC Special Education Attorney Adam Dayan speaks with his Executive Assistant, Kristine Champagne, about her lived experience with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). With years of professional experience and a deep passion for supporting children, Kristine opens up about the often-invisible struggles she's faced since childhood.  Together, they...

In this heartfelt episode, Special Education Attorney Adam Dayan speaks with Dani Amirian, a former media executive who became a dedicated advocate for her son with special needs. Dani shares her family's journey, beginning with her son James' early diagnosis of strabismus and evolving into a complex path of developmental delays, therapies, and special education planning. She opens up about naviga...

In this compelling episode, NYC Special Education Attorney Adam Dayan sits down with Gemma, the mother of "Penny," a longtime client of Law Offices of Adam Dayan. Gemma shares her personal journey navigating the often-overlooked challenges girls face in receiving an autism diagnosis. With symptoms that tend to present differently—often more masked—many girls, like Penny, are diagnosed later than b...

In this episode, NYC Special Education Lawyer Adam Dayan speaks with the inspiring Jessica Salonus, a mother of a child with cerebral palsy and a passionate special education lawyer for children with disabilities. Jessica opens up about her journey raising a child with special needs and her professional experience fighting for the rights of children who require special education services. The epis...

In this episode, NYC Special Education Attorney Adam Dayan engages in an insightful discussion with Selene Almazan, Special Education Attorney and Legal Director for the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA). Against the backdrop of today's political climate, they explore the current administration's push to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. Adam and Selene break down the pot...

NYC Special Education Attorney Adam Dayan is joined by fellow Special Education Attorney Arshi Pal as they delve into the crucial topic of early adulthood and transition planning for students with disabilities. Arshi brings a wealth of experience to the discussion, having spent 10 years working in an elementary school with children from diverse backgrounds who often lacked the support they needed...

NYC Special Education Attorney Adam Dayan is joined by Nelson Mar, Senior Staff Attorney at Bronx Legal Services, to discuss Healing Centered Practices and the importance of emphasizing the strengths of individuals recovering from trauma. Nelson, who served as the lead attorney in a landmark lawsuit challenging the NYC public school system's practice of sending students to hospital emergency rooms...

NYC Special Education Attorney Adam Dayan is joined by Dr. Eli Kraiem, Clinical Psychologist and Director of Guidance and Psychology at Sephardic Academy of Manhattan Elementary School. Together, they explore the benefits of mindfulness, discussing how it can help both children and adults recognize their emotions, manage stress and anxiety, and improve focus and self-awareness. Listeners will have...

NYC Special Education Attorney Adam Dayan is joined by Gabriela Ponce, a Certified Life Coach, mother, and wife. Gaby shares her journey with Adam, starting with her difficult childhood in a dysfunctional family in Quito, Ecuador, and her battles with eating disorders that began in her teenage years. Now in recovery, Gaby provides important insights for parents on how to recognize signs that their...

In this follow-up to our insightful episode with Heather Deutsch, a teacher, parenting coach, and founding member of Imagine Academy, Special Education Attorney Adam Dayan explores the complexities of raising a special needs child, particularly focusing on the emotional impact on siblings. Heather openly shares the challenges of balancing the needs of a special needs child with those of typical ch...

NYC Special Education Attorney Adam Dayan sits down with Yoni Schwab, Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Head of School at The Shefa School, to explore the impact of smartphones and social media on today's youth. They delve into how excessive screen time is displacing crucial activities for healthy child development, affecting attention spans, self-esteem, social skills, and even sleep patterns....

 NYC Special Education Lawyer Adam Dayan is joined by Repertorio Español's Robert Federico , Founder and Executive Producer Emeritus; Allison Astor-Vargas, Manager of Special Projects and Education; and Daniela Thome , Actor and Director. They will discuss the origins of Repertorio Español and explore the theater's programs and accessibility features designed to enhance the experience for attendee...

In this episode, Adam Dayan, NYC Special Education Attorney, engages in a discussion with Dana Jonson , a Civil Rights and Special Education Attorney, examining the profound impacts of COVID-19 on special education. They explore the evolving meaning of Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the post-pandemic era, highlighting challenges and legal implications for students with disabilities. T...

Adam Dayan, a Special Education Attorney based in NYC, engages in a dialogue with Dr. Jessica Meister to explore the impact of mental health on a child's educational path. They explore topics such as perfectionism, depression, anxiety, and more, uncovering how these factors can hinder a child's educational success. The conversation extends to discussing ways parents can assist their children durin...