Undivided Voices: Navigating Disability For Parents

In this episode, we hear from six leading voices on the topic: Dena Gassner, PhD, senior research scientist at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute; Lauren Kenworthy, PhD, pediatric neuropsychologist and director of the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Children’s National; Theresa Kidd, PhD, clinical psychologist and director of the Kidd Clinic; Devon Price, PhD, social psychologist and author...

For children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), getting ready for school can often mean extra planning. Does your child’s AAC device have the vocabulary they’ll need for a new classroom, teacher, or friends? Will new school staff know how to use it? And what happens when your child’s AAC therapist or school team changes? Speech-language pathologist Ali Steers, MA, CCC-SLP, A...

In this episode of Undivided Voices, Lindsay Crain, head of content and community at Undivided, brings together three perspectives on growing up with a sibling with a disability: Jessica Richards, LCSW, college student Avery Zemlack, who grew up with a brother with a disability, and Emily Holl, Director of the Sibling Support Project. Together, they explore the experience of “glass children,” sibl...

Lindsay Crain, head of content and community at Undivided, sits down with Jessica Patay, founder of We Are Brave Together, a community for moms raising children with disabilities and complex needs. They talk honestly about the exhaustion, overwhelm, and isolation that so many caregivers carry, and the grief that can come with an altered motherhood journey. In this episode: How to find people who t...

Season 3 of Undivided Voices is back and better than ever! We're kicking off with a big one as Lindsay Crain sits down with Dr. Diana Fannon, former special ed director and founder of Disability Ed Pros, to talk about standards-based IEPs. What are they? Why do they matter? And how can every kid get one, no matter their placement or support needs? Diana breaks it all down (and yes, she's the real...

Mealtimes can feel overwhelming when your child has a limited diet — but small shifts can make a big difference. In this episode, Undivided’s Head of Content and Community, Lindsay Crain , sits down with autism dietitian Brittyn Coleman to talk about picky eating in children with autism. Brittyn shares one of her most effective, practical tips to help expand your child’s food acceptance — without...

What does the law actually say about inclusive Extended School Year (ESY) — and how could it impact your child? In this episode, Lindsay Crain , Head of Content and Community at Undivided, introduces a candid and important conversation led by Undivided’s Karen Cull . Karen is joined by David German , Partner at Vanaman German, and Melinda Bird , Senior Litigation Counsel at Disability Rights Calif...

Mental health is a critical part of every child’s well-being — but for children with disabilities, it’s often overlooked or misunderstood. In this episode, Undivided’s Head of Content, Lindsay Crain, sits down with Dr. Lauren Stutman, Clinical Director and Founder of CARE-LA, to unpack the unique mental health challenges faced by children with disabilities. They explore why these needs are so ofte...

What does it actually take to make inclusion work — not just on paper, but in the classroom? Education and inclusion advocate Karen Ford Cull breaks down how families can move beyond placement and toward true participation in general education. From writing stronger, more inclusive IEP goals to using accommodations, behavior supports, and practical advocacy strategies, this conversation is packed...

Whether your child is attending camp and needs a 1:1 aide or they’re staying home while you’re working, Regional Center provides services that can help with your child’s summer programming. From social classes and swim lessons to specialized supervision and respite, we have you covered! For more information on Regional Center, go here: https://undivided.io/app/resources/947 Want help navigating pu...

What does FAPE really mean for your child? And how does the least restrictive environment (LRE) affect where and how they learn? In this Undivided conversation, Dr. Sarah Pelangka, BCBA-D, special education advocate and owner of KnowIEPs, breaks down key concepts every parent should understand about IEPs. She explains your child’s right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) , what LRE can...

Undivided Parent and Navigator duo Isabelle and Kelly talk about how they worked together to advocate for inclusion with supports, language immersion, and retention. Isabelle shares how her advocacy affected her daughter’s kindergarten experience. For further reading on the transition to kindergarten, check out our Making the Transition to Kindergarten with an IEP article: https://undivided.io/res...

What counts as a “related service” in an IEP — and how do you know if your child is getting the right support? In this episode, Dr. Sarah Pelangka, special education advocate and owner of KnowIEPs, breaks down services like speech therapy, OT, 1:1 aides, AAC, counseling, and more. She explains how these supports are determined and how they connect to your child’s goals and access to FAPE. Want a s...

California’s proposed 2026–27 budget is here — and the decisions made in the coming months could directly impact programs and services that children with disabilities rely on every day. Hosted by Lindsay Crain, this episode features Christofer Arroyo, Deputy Director of Policy and Public Affairs for the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, breaking down what’s in the proposed budget, what...

Eye gaze AAC is powerful technology — but understanding how it works is key to using it effectively. In this episode, experts break down how high-tech eye gaze systems use infrared lights, cameras, and specialized software to track eye movement and translate it into communication. We also discuss why eye gaze isn’t plug-and-play, why professional support and proper calibration are essential, and w...

In this episode of Undivided Voices , Dr. Sarah Pelangka , special education advocate and owner of KnowIEPs , breaks down one of the most important—and often overwhelming—parts of the special education process: assessments. Dr. Pelangka explains how assessments work, how they’re administered, how to read and understand results, and what families can do if they disagree with the findings. This conv...

Ever wonder what really happens behind closed doors in special education? 👀 IEP meetings are just the tip of the iceberg—and there’s a lot families don’t always hear. In this episode, we’re joined by Daphne Zacky Bold , a licensed educational psychologist, educational consultant, and longtime special education advocate with nearly 20 years of experience supporting students with diverse learning n...

Once you’ve done all your individualized education plan (IEP) prep work, how do you make sure the IEP meeting itself goes smoothly and covers all your concerns? We sat down with Undivided's Non-Attorney Education Advocate Lisa Carey to learn more about how to make sure our priorities get covered in an IEP meeting, red flags to watch out for, and other tips to help us advocate for our kids' needs i...

Leslie Lobel, Undivided's Director of Health Plan Advocacy, and Lisa Concoff Kronbeck, Undivided's Public Benefits Specialist, explain the funding resources available to parents and how to navigate them during this Undivided Live event. To learn about how to pay for medical and therapeutic needs that are sometimes harder to get approved through traditional means, check out our article: https://und...

Join Dr. Caitlin Solone, education advocate, teacher-educator, and academic administrator for the disability studies program at UCLA, about the questions parents should ask when it comes to alternate and modified curriculum. Here are the top takeaways from our discussion! For more information about Alternate Curriculums, check out our article: https://undivided.io/resources/536

IEPs evolve in high school, just like our kids do. We’re starting to focus on those vision statements and what comes after high school as our teens near adulthood, but how can we know all of the options and possibilities for support? Join Undivided Education Advocate Lisa Carey, as we covered major milestones and steps to take from age 14 to 21 so that you can feel confident you’re preparing your...

Parents often ask, “How can I afford it all?” From therapies to medical supplies, expenses add up quickly. Lisa Concoff Kronbeck and Leslie Lobel, Undivided’s experts in public benefits and insurance, share tips on maximizing private insurance and Medi-Cal to cover your child’s needs while saving money. To learn more about public benefits, check out our insurance decoder: https://undivided.io/reso...

In this episode, Undivided’s Education Advocate Lisa Carey unpacks some of the most common — and confusing — things said in IEP meetings. From “We don’t usually offer that” to “Let’s wait and see,” Lisa explains what these statements really mean and how you can respond with clarity and confidence. You’ll walk away with practical scripts, advocacy tips, and Lisa’s personal playbook for navigating I...

In this Undivided Voices episode, non-attorney education advocate Lisa Carey shares how to spot the signs, ask the right questions, and create a plan that truly supports your child’s needs. Whether you’re facing challenges with accommodations, progress, or just that gut feeling something’s off, Lisa offers practical, empowering steps to help you advocate with confidence and clarity. ✨ Learn more...

Worried about statewide district budget deficits and unknown federal cuts? Education attorney Dina Kaplan will answer questions about school when the stakes seem higher than ever. Although we’re always concerned with ensuring our kids’ rights to an education are protected, we know this isn’t a typical school year. Reality has set in and many parents are stressed about about how our kids’ education...