We promised you a Part 2 with Michael Hingson—and here it is! We don’t always get the opportunity to follow up a guest interview with a second part, and that’s why we are thrilled to bring you more of Michael’s inspiring story and his important work in the field of accessibility. Michael first joined us last May for an episode titled, “Approaching Life with an Unstoppable Mindset.” (Click here to listen!) Michael Hingson has a fascinating life story. With a master’s degree in physics, he is an e...
Jul 02, 2024•27 min•Ep. 320
Today’s episode is Part 2 of our conversation with Santanna Ficken, a mental health practitioner who proudly identifies as a disabled, autistic/ADHDer with multiple neurodivergencies. Santanna is a passionate advocate with MnNEAT (Minnesota Neurodivergent Education, Advocacy, and Therapy Services), which focuses on building trust and relationships in the neurodivergent community while advocating for social justice for all disabled people. Today’s episode is focused on how IEPs can be improved to...
Jun 25, 2024•31 min•Ep. 319
Today’s episode is Part 1 of our conversation with Santanna Ficken, a mental health practitioner who proudly identifies as a disabled, autistic/ADHDer with multiple neurodivergencies. Santanna is a passionate advocate with MnNEAT (Minnesota Neurodivergent Education, Advocacy, and Therapy Services), which focuses on building trust and relationships in the neurodivergent community while advocating for social justice for all disabled people. Join us to learn more! Show Highlights: Santanna’s backgr...
Jun 18, 2024•25 min•Ep. 318
June is here! That means many school districts are on summer break, and many more are in the last week or so of the school year. Wherever June finds you, we are glad you’re with us for this exciting episode. We have mentioned bullying on the show many times, but we’ve never dedicated an episode to it. We welcome Alain Pelletier, a professional youth speaker on the topic of bullying. He has been fully engrossed in this topic for several years, and he shares with us how he finds a connection with ...
Jun 11, 2024•26 min•Ep. 317
We are honored to visit again with Dr. Alexander Tan to discuss the integrity of evaluations and assessments of English-language learners. This topic aligns perfectly with our goal of helping all parents better understand the IEP process. Are we providing culturally- and linguistically-responsible evaluations? Do parents of different cultural backgrounds understand the numbers and data that we are using? Join us to learn more in today’s episode! Dr. Alexander Tan is a board-certified clinical ne...
Jun 04, 2024•24 min•Ep. 316
It’s a busy, busy time of year as schools are finishing up! We wanted to get this episode in before the end of May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month. Our guest today helps us understand the need for a more comprehensive and relevant curriculum focused on skill-building and emotional awareness instead of reacting to students’ mental health needs “after the fact.” Doesn’t it make more sense to support “mental wellness” than to simply address “mental illness”? That’s the idea behind Clayful !...
May 28, 2024•20 min•Ep. 315
We recently had the chance to speak at the BOOST Conference about our podcast, the IEP system, and special education in general. The BOOST Conference is an annual event to inspire youth, learning, and change. Many different educational professionals attend the conference in Palm Springs, California, to participate in classes, workshops, and networking events, and to explore the latest in technology and innovation related to education. Join us to hear this live presentation and the Q & A sess...
May 21, 2024•34 min•Ep. 314
We are pivoting from our normal education-centric topics today to take a broader view of the financial side of raising a child with a disability. We want to make sure that families, and people working with these families, have all the resources and tools for a well-rounded toolkit for supporting their kids. We welcome James Lange to the podcast to share his practical insights and expertise. James Lange is a CPA, a state attorney in Pennsylvania, and the author of nine best-selling financial book...
May 14, 2024•37 min•Ep. 313
We are joined today by a special guest, Michael Hingson, host of the Unstoppable Mindset podcast . We have shared a lot of time on each other’s podcasts and learned a lot from Michael’s perspective on special education, especially what he experienced in the very early days of special ed. Join us to learn more about Michael’s life and work! Michael Hingson has a unique story. With a master’s degree in physics, Mike is an educator, best-selling author, inspirational speaker, and disability advocat...
May 07, 2024•24 min•Ep. 312
It’s a very busy time of year for everyone involved in IEP meetings, for sure! In today’s episode, we are discussing IEP meetings and the roles of compassionate educators who want to look beyond strict compliance to genuinely meet the needs of students with disabilities and special needs. Join us for the conversation! Andrew Goff taught early childhood special education in five different least restrictive environments for 12 years. He took this unique insight into his doctoral program, from whic...
Apr 30, 2024•25 min•Ep. 311
Today’s episode is Part 2 to our recent solo episode about English language learners. We are focusing on the bigger picture of language as only one part of a child’s entire cultural context affecting performance on all educational and neuropsychological evaluations. Join us to learn more from today’s guest! Dr. Alexander Tan is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist and supervisor at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). His expertise is in the assessment of neurological and neurode...
Apr 23, 2024•25 min•Ep. 310
Are you paying attention to the calendar? As we find ourselves in the last few weeks of the school year, this is your friendly reminder to act fast for the annual transition IEP meetings that should be happening. In today’s episode, we are discussing the power of “stay put” as it applies to keeping things the same in IEP accommodations and services while being in disagreement with a proposed change. Join us for a closer look! Show Highlights: “Stay put” is not just for due process cases but is o...
Apr 16, 2024•21 min•Ep. 309
Today's show is a replay of a very popular and informative episode that we hope you'll enjoy. Today’s topic has popped up recently in some of our cases, and it’s an important one to cover because it is under-supported and often overlooked in the IEP world. We are discussing the ELL designation, which stands for “English Language Learner.” Join us to learn when a child should be designated as an ELL, how things should progress from there, and what the school district’s obligations are when that d...
Apr 09, 2024•19 min•Ep. 308
Welcome to a very special episode! Karen Odell-Barber with Neurologics was a recent guest on our show, so we returned the favor by appearing on her podcast, Tackling Brain Health . We are excited to share that episode today. You’ll learn more about our journeys, the origins of our law firm and podcast, and the important work that calls to us on behalf of students and families. Join us! Show Highlights: The varied paths that led Amanda and Vickie to be special education attorneys after meeting in...
Apr 02, 2024•41 min•Ep. 307
We are in the season of Spring Break and Easter, which means transition IEP meetings should be happening. If you have procrastinated, it’s not too late! If your child is transitioning from preschool to kindergarten, from sixth grade to middle school, from middle school to high school, or even beyond high school into a vocational program, you’ll learn valuable information in today’s episode. Join us! Show Highlights: Be proactive in scheduling transition IEPs and annual/triennial meetings. The im...
Mar 26, 2024•30 min•Ep. 306
We are learning more and more all the time about how our brains function and what it means to be neurodiverse. In this episode, we explore cutting-edge technologies in the field of brain optimization, which has huge implications in special education. Join us to learn more! We are joined by Karen Odell-Barber, the founder and CEO of Neurologics, a technology company that does brain mapping and optimization of the brain producing permanent cognitive repair. This optimization leads to an additional...
Mar 19, 2024•27 min•Ep. 305
Today’s topic has popped up recently in some of our cases, and it’s an important one to cover because it is under-supported and often overlooked in the IEP world. We are discussing the ELL designation, which stands for “English Language Learner.” Join us to learn when a child should be designated as an ELL, how things should progress from there, and what the school district’s obligations are when that designation is given. Show Highlights: A student’s ethnicity can prompt false assumptions that ...
Mar 12, 2024•19 min•Ep. 304
On our very first episode of 2024, we were joined by Dan Jordan to discuss the transition to college and accommodations for students with IEPs and 504 Plans. Dan joins us for Part 2 to that conversation to educate us on the student’s responsibility. We are taking a close look at the actual steps students need to take as they transition past high school and what we should realistically expect college freshmen to do on their own. Join us to learn more! Dan Jordan worked for ten years as a therapis...
Mar 05, 2024•27 min•Ep. 303
Today’s topic is interesting and timely as California joins 22 other states in requiring public schools to teach cursive writing. This has been a hotly debated issue, and today’s guest has a lot to share about the benefits of cursive writing. Dr. Christina Bretz is an Occupational Therapist from Lexington, KY, who is passionate about how handwriting skills help students across all academic areas. She is currently the Senior Internal Learning Manager at Learning Without Tears , where she has work...
Feb 27, 2024•22 min•Ep. 302
In this episode, we delve into the details of a landmark settlement in California, where a $2 billion fund has been allocated to address the learning loss experienced by students during the COVID-19 pandemic. This historic agreement, known as the Kala J. settlement, aims not only to recoup the losses suffered by students but also to narrow the opportunity gaps that existed even before the pandemic, particularly for Black and Latino communities. Led by the Public Council and other organizations, ...
Feb 20, 2024•13 min•Ep. 301
We are excited to celebrate this 300th episode! It’s been a long time coming! What a great time it is to reflect back on the start of this podcast and why we wanted to have this avenue to start—and change—the conversation about education, civil rights, and disability rights. Today’s guest is the epitome of someone who wants to change the way we approach education, taking how things have “always been” and seeing what’s possible for the future. She shares specific examples of inclusive education f...
Feb 13, 2024•37 min•Ep. 300
Today’s episode is a replay of Lynzy Coughlin’s podcast, Motherhood Meets Medicine, where Vickie recently appeared as a recent guest. She provided a lot of helpful information for parents about a 504 plan or when an IEP is in place. You will learn what rights parents have in these cases, along with what a parent can ask and advocate for in their child’s education. Join us! Show Highlights: What led Vickie into special education law Why Vickie and Amanda decided to provide pro bono and low bono r...
Jan 30, 2024•53 min•Ep. 299
Here we are, well into January and the second half of the school year. As we often do, we like to remind you not to let deadlines pass concerning transitions, charter school lotteries, special program enrollments, and IEP meetings. Don’t let the time get away from you if your child is ready for one of these changes. In today’s solo episode, we are focusing on some of the difficulties and roadblocks we encounter around the IEP process, specifically how open communication and a spirit of collabora...
Jan 23, 2024•24 min•Ep. 298
The New Year is always a great time for a fresh start, especially as we get back into the swing of the school year after the holiday break. It’s a time to set intentions and make a plan for the second half of the school year, and we are here to remind you to think about scheduling those transition meetings now before the second semester gets away. Today’s guest gives us a young person’s look at neurodiversity, advocacy, and inclusion. In championing the cause of neurodiversity, she gives us ways...
Jan 16, 2024•19 min•Ep. 297
There are so many misconceptions about special education that we hear frequently. In today’s show, we address those, along with understanding how behavioral tools are used in the classroom. Join us to learn more! We are joined by Hayley Montelongo, a Behavior Interventionist for a public school district with a career history in early childhood education. Hayley is a special ed teacher with a focus on behavioral analysis, and she is passionate about her role in helping students, parents, and educ...
Jan 09, 2024•20 min•Ep. 296
Happy New Year! Whether your kiddos are already back to school or they have a few more days of Christmas Break, we all need to get ready for the second half of the school year. If you have a junior, senior, or even a student in junior high, it is never too early to start planning for the transition to college. Today’s guest knows the ins and outs of this transition to college and how accommodations work, specifically for students with IEPs and 504 Plans. Join us to learn more! Dan Jordan worked ...
Jan 02, 2024•26 min•Ep. 295
During our winter break during the month of December, we are featuring a few of our most popular episodes that you might have missed during the busy 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 inspired to see that children with disabilities and special needs see themselves mirrored in the books they rea...
Dec 26, 2023•21 min•Ep. 294
During our winter break during the month of December, we are featuring a few of our most popular episodes that you might have missed during the busy school year. 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!...
Dec 19, 2023•20 min•Ep. 293
During our winter break during the month of December, we are featuring a few of our most popular episodes that you might have missed during the busy school year. 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...
Dec 12, 2023•24 min•Ep. 292
During our winter break during the month of December, we are featuring a few of our most popular episodes that you might have missed during the busy school year. Today’s encore edition covers important information for parents who are gearing up for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. Join us as we break down some of those little details that are most often overlooked in IEP meetings. Show Highlights: What to consider in state testing accommodations, both typical assessments and modified/alternat...
Dec 05, 2023•23 min•Ep. 291
