If you are anything like us, you are feeling the chaos of the mad scramble to the end of the school year. We always know that May feels like this, but April seems like a blur that zoomed by, and now we find ourselves trying to get those IEP meetings and transition meetings done. Our guest knows exactly what IEP chaos looks and feels like as the mom of a special needs child. She is on a mission to help other parents and families deal with diagnoses and advocate for inclusion. Join us to learn mor...
May 09, 2023•21 min•Ep. 260
As a much-needed tangent from our eligibility series, today’s topic is manifestation determination meetings. We have mentioned it in previous episodes in passing, but we will take a closer look in today’s episode. We will discuss what it is, how it relates to eligibility, and what it means for schools and parents. Join us to learn more! Show Highlights: What the law says about misbehavior and manifestation determination of a student with an IEP Why a manifestation determination meeting is essent...
May 02, 2023•20 min•Ep. 259
As we fight and advocate daily for equity and inclusivity in education for ALL children, we can’t overlook the needs of those with physical disabilities. What could be more important than making disability-competent healthcare accessible to everyone? Our guest, Chanda Hinton, joins us today to discuss the importance of medical rights and how ONE person can make a difference and effect change. Join us to learn more! Chanda Hinton is a disability advocate and the founder of the Chanda Center for H...
Apr 25, 2023•20 min•Ep. 258
This is your friendly reminder (again) that the school year is winding down, so make those appointments for IEP meetings and such before the time passes. In today’s show, we are joined by AJ Crabill to discuss why school boards exist and what their purpose is. He has written a book about school boards and how we can make them better. This is a fundamental topic that affects the education of our children. Join us to learn more! AJ Crabill works with schools across the country to help deploy stude...
Apr 18, 2023•24 min•Ep. 257
We are in the final stretch of the 2022-2023 school year as most schools have had Spring Break at this point and are on the final push to the end. If there are things you need to cover with your IEP team, our advice is to get it done now! Don’t wait! In today’s episode, we are returning to our series on IEP eligibility categories; this topic is more extensive and is taking more episodes than we originally thought, but we want to take the time to cover the 13 categories with proper attention and ...
Apr 11, 2023•22 min•Ep. 256
Innovation in school districts comes from leadership. We often see school districts, administrators, and teachers who are hesitant to embrace change and innovation. Just because it’s always been done a certain way doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for new ideas and techniques. Today’s guest has served in various capacities in special education, and he’s here to share his experience with us. Join us to learn more! Jaime Sowers is the Advisory Team Director at BlazerWorks, an organization that he...
Apr 04, 2023•31 min•Ep. 255
You may have seen our “tease” for this topic on Instagram last week. We are breaking it down today and discussing the new California pathway to high school graduation. It’s a new law that was signed last year, and we began discussing this topic last year (April 21, 2022) in Episode 211, titled Transitions from High School and Beyond, Part 2. You may want to go back and listen to that episode as a preview of today’s conversation. Join us now to learn more! Show Highlights: How the new law provide...
Mar 28, 2023•15 min•Ep. 254
For many, the intricacies of IEPs can be overwhelming, and often, important details in the plan may be crucial to a child’s educational success. In today’s show, we are breaking down some of those little details that are most often overlooked in IEPs. Join us to learn more! Show Highlights: What to consider in state testing accommodations, both typical assessments and modified/alternative assessments Why assessments and accommodations should be discussed at every IEP meeting Why it might be bene...
Mar 21, 2023•22 min•Ep. 253
Could there ever be a podcast guest with more experience in special education than 60+ years? We don’t think so! We are thrilled to be joined by Dr. Turner for a discussion about her career, the evolution of “special education,” and why we are still missing the mark in meeting the needs of our children. Join us to learn more! Dr. Ruth McLean Turner has had a long career in education that spanned more than sixty years. Most of those years were in service to students with disabilities as a teacher...
Mar 14, 2023•31 min•Ep. 252
As Spring Break season approaches, we always like to remind you to schedule any assessments that might be needed before the end of the school year. Don’t let the timeline sneak up on you! Check-in with your school now so you don’t get pushed to the next school year. Our series on eligibility continues as we are joined by Melissa Brady Petrillo, who came up with a unique idea for children with special needs. She is a teacher in New Jersey who is passionate about books and inclusion and was inspir...
Mar 07, 2023•21 min•Ep. 251
Welcome! Our eligibility series continues in today’s show as we take a look at one of the most misunderstood eligibility categories: Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD). Although the federal law (IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) trumps state laws, state laws can go further but not limit the IDEA provisions. In California, most state laws are similar to the IDEA, but this may not be the case in your state. It’s worth checking how your state laws compare with the IDEA provisions...
Feb 28, 2023•35 min•Ep. 250
We are continuing our series of episodes on the subject of eligibility, which will carry over into March. There is SO much to cover! We are joined today by a returning guest, who discusses what she is seeing in the trend of school districts denying IEPs to children who clearly meet eligibility requirements and trying to exit students out when they have needs and disabilities that are impacting their education. Join us for a closer look! Peggy Schaefer is a board-certified Neurological Music Ther...
Feb 21, 2023•27 min•Ep. 249
Our February series on IEP eligibility continues in this episode. Today’s focus is on the “other health impairments” category. As an explanation, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) sets forth 13 eligibility categories, and each state is allowed to expand on those categories but not shrink them in their implementation. Join us for a closer look. Show Highlights: What is covered by the OHI (Other Health Impairments) category of the IDEA How the IDEA code mentions “educational p...
Feb 14, 2023•16 min•Ep. 248
We made it through the super-long month of January, and we are officially into the second month of 2023. Whew! We have certainly had some crazy IEP meetings already, and we are seeing a disturbing new trend regarding eligibility for IEPs in which children who need services are being denied. Our February series that begins today will address this issue, and we will be going through the eligibility categories in these episodes, along with explaining what the law says about eligibility. We are star...
Feb 07, 2023•21 min•Ep. 247
Here we are, still in January. It’s the month that seems to go on forever! Students, parents, and teachers are well into the second semester of the school year, and we are getting lots of calls from anxious parents for many reasons. What can you do for your kid who is struggling? Let’s discuss it with today’s guest! Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge is on a mission to change the way we view and treat children’s mental health and show parents how to use science-backed solutions that are natural. She is a...
Jan 31, 2023•29 min•Ep. 246
We are diving deep into today’s conversation around learning differences and special educational needs. Even though we are doing so many things right in this field, there are still many changes that need to be made. Join us to learn more from today’s guest! Dr. Bibi Pirayesh is an educational therapist in the Los Angeles area. Her work includes one-on-one remediation with families and helping them navigate the school system when a child is diagnosed. She believes in the uniqueness of every child...
Jan 24, 2023•28 min•Ep. 245
Our focus in recent shows has been on solutions for an inclusive educational environment, and today’s show follows that theme. Today’s guest is in the thick of it with her pilot program for graduate students in speech and language. Julie Curless is a speech-language pathologist who worked for nine years in a school system in Illinois. In working with students and their families, Julie developed a passion for meaningful inclusion, and she has been a presenter, consultant, and instructor to help t...
Jan 17, 2023•23 min•Ep. 244
Today’s episode is a treat as we are joined by a returning guest, Olivier Bernier. He previously appeared in Episode 183 (September 2021) with his wife. They were here to discuss their documentary film, Forget Me Not: Inclusion in the Classroom , which showcased their struggles with NYC’s school system for inclusive education for their son, Emilio. We are checking on the feedback they have received from the project and how their son is doing today. Join us! Show Highlights: How Emilio is doing t...
Jan 10, 2023•20 min•Ep. 243
Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe it’s 2023 already. We hope you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday season and are gearing up for the new year. In today’s show, we are breaking down some little details most often overlooked in IEPs. Join us to learn more! Show Highlights: What to consider in state testing accommodations, both typical assessments, and modified/alternative assessments Why assessments and accommodations should be discussed at every IEP meeting Why it might be beneficial at times to...
Jan 03, 2023•23 min•Ep. 242
Today's episode is a replay of one of our most requested episodes. Enjoy! The end of the school year is happening over the next few weeks all around the country. Like us, many parents, teachers, and professionals are involved in IEP meetings galore. We believe that parents need to be empowered to take an active role in the IEP process. Join us to learn more from our expert guest! Beth Liesenfeld is the host of the Elevate Your Advocacy podcast and the founder of Parent Friendly OT. After learnin...
Dec 27, 2022•22 min•Ep. 241
Today's episode is a replay of one of our most requested episodes. Enjoy! We are here at the beginning of another school year, and after the chaos of the past 2-3 school years, none of us knows what to really expect for 2022-2023! One thing we are noticing is that a lot of parents want IEPs for their students. In today’s episode, we go back to basics with a refresher about what you should expect, what the law requires, and how you can be empowered to help your child. Join us to learn more! Show ...
Dec 20, 2022•34 min•Ep. 240
Today's episode is a replay of one of our most requested episodes. Enjoy! Did you know there are at least 7 different people who need to be in attendance of an IEP meeting? Today we will discuss your IEP team, who the team members are and what are their roles. In 2004, the IDEA was revised regarding the IEP team members. There are now 7 different types of people that are a part of an IEP team. Tune in and learn how the IEP team is structured, who should be a part of the team and what each of the...
Dec 13, 2022•32 min•Ep. 239
Today's episode is a replay of one of our most requested episodes. Enjoy! We were recently featured on Dr. Karen Wilson’s Diverse Thinking Different Learning podcast. Today’s episode is a replay of that conversation where we discuss what parents can do over the summer to help prepare their child for a successful upcoming school year. Whether your child has been in a summer school program or on a mental health break over the summer, there are specific things you can do to ensure that your child’s...
Dec 06, 2022•46 min•Ep. 238
We are in that crazy time when the first half of the school year is almost over. Our focus in today’s show is on what parents should be doing right now to prepare for the next semester. Progress reports are essential to update parents about how their student is doing with the accommodations in place, and you should be receiving these from the school. Let’s take a closer look! Show Highlights: Why parents should be getting progress reports on IEP goals since their last meeting How a progress repo...
Nov 29, 2022•18 min•Ep. 237
Hello! We are always thrilled when Dr. Karen Wilson takes the time to visit with us on the podcast. This is a collaboration episode that will also air on her podcast, Diverse Thinking - Different Learning . Together with Dr. Karen, we are addressing some of the most common IEP-related questions in an effort to inform and educate parents. Join us to learn more! Dr. Karen Wilson is a clinical neuropsychologist who specializes in pediatric assessments. She evaluates kids from age 4 through early ad...
Nov 15, 2022•35 min•Ep. 236
Welcome! We are always excited to have expert guests on the show because we like to learn from them just like our listeners. Our conversation today is with Michael Murray and Laura Balogh, co-authors of The Therapeutic Inclusion Program: Establishment and Maintenance in Public Schools . Join us to learn more! Michael Murray has worked in therapeutic education for 20 years. He started as a paraprofessional and transitioned to being a teacher and therapist working with kids with significant social...
Nov 08, 2022•30 min•Ep. 235
Welcome! Today’s show focuses on the controversial topic of cannabis use, specifically for those with autism. The proven health and behavior benefits are mind-boggling! Join us to learn more and have your eyes opened to a new perspective! Janna Champagne is a special needs parent of a daughter who is 20. Janna’s journey with her daughter included a lot of misinterpretation by the school system about her daughter’s academic abilities, mainly because she didn’t speak until age 10. Janna began home...
Nov 01, 2022•25 min•Ep. 234
Today's show is a special encore episode of our interview with Kara Ryska. It has been one of our top downloaded episodes and you will understand why when you listen. Enjoy! We’re so happy to have Kara Ryska with us today! Kara is local to SoCal and has her own podcast that we think you will find very helpful. In this episode, Kara shares how her journey propelled her to become a life coach to specifically help other special needs moms. We’re sure you’ll find encouragement and inspiration as you...
Oct 25, 2022•20 min•Ep. 233
We are in a new era regarding the perception of private schools, mostly due to the new perspective we have because of the COVID implications on learning. For most students, distance learning is NOT the best answer for optimum learning. We have seen an increasing trend of many students going to private schools, but questions remain about IEPs, reimbursements, and how it all works. Let’s take a closer look! Show Highlights: Understanding the terminology: private schools and non-public schools (NPS...
Oct 18, 2022•24 min•Ep. 232
Welcome! Neurodiversity is always an important topic for us. So many people, kids AND adults, have different ways of doing things, and all those ways should be included and accepted. Today’s show features two guests who are enlightening us on ways to create an environment that celebrates neurodiversity and implements the best inclusion practices. Join us! Tamara Wanink is a mom and the director of Chico Christian Preschool in northern California. Prior to this position, Tamara was a behavioral t...
Oct 11, 2022•17 min•Ep. 231
