We all know the idea of "that special education classroom" that seems to be the last resort for a child who is struggling to find their place within the school.

That's exactly why I brought Sam to the Inner Circle podcast, so we can tackle the tough topics of "that" classroom. Sam P., is a...

Teachers, you can see it: the finish line!  There are 101 things to do before the school year is over - grades, meetings, class parties, and events- but are you prepared to end the school year on a positive note?  As a previous special education teacher and now school administrator,...

Have you ever felt frustrated, anxiety-ridden, or just plain angry when walking away from the IEP table?  When working as an IEP team, it is assumed that the team includes all parties and their input. Does this meeting you just attended seem like all voices were heard?  Where did the...

There's a lot of talk about compliance during the school day for students who have an IEP.

What should your child be doing? What guidelines do they need to follow? What needs to happen? And is this compliance or connection? All of these things get wrapped up into a bigger emotional conversation....

Save a seat for kindness at the IEP table.

When I attended my first planning meeting for my son to be evaluated for special education services, a few months shy of his third birthday, I was overwhelmed, feeling like the professionals and I were sitting on opposing sides of the IEP table.

We often...

AAC, also known as augmentative and alternative communication, is key part of so many IEPs!

You might remember our episode from a few months ago with Lucy from @thealternativewaytoprek all about AAC for early learners. (It's definitely one you need to check out if you missed it.) She also did a...

Advocating for my son and the children of the clients I represent has shown me that kindness is a very important part of working collaboratively at the IEP table.

In my advocacy journey, I have completely transformed the way I practice. I used to be the person using very strong words almost like...

You are more than a teacher. You are more than a parent. You are MORE!

That's exactly why I brought Amanda DeLuca and Kate Swenson on the show to talk about a topic that's quite often seen as taboo. We're going to hit some of those tough questions and give you some bigger solutions, too.

Amanda...

Imagine being on an important phone call with your boss while getting dinner started. Your child is yelling your name for help on homework, the television is blaring, and the dog is running in circles around the kitchen barking because the postman is delivering the mail.  Where does your...

We just added another AMAZING speaker to our Master IEP Coach VIP Weekend in Milwaukee!

And this new speaker has me thinking about all the things I've thought about a lot as a special needs sibling, as a former Special Education teacher in the classroom, as the founder of Master IEP Coach and...

For years, parents have shared concerns about how the education system has focused heavily on academics while leaving little space for play, social activities, and building friendships. If you talk to anyone working at your child’s school, it is likely they will have a similar concern. No...