Are you wondering what the 2025 shakeup in Special Education means for your child’s IEP—and how to protect the services and rights they desperately need? In this episode, Genie Dawkins breaks down the sweeping changes on the horizon, from federal policy shifts to state law surprises, and gives you the must-have strategies to keep your family ahead in the IEP fight.

From the threat of dismantling the Department of Special Education, block grants, and vouchers, to new state rules about discipline and attendance, Genie Dawkins unpacks what’s changing, what’s at risk, and—most importantly—where parents need to focus their advocacy. With real-life stories and actionable tips, she coaches parents on building airtight IEPs, documenting everything, and finding their power in the face of confusing regulations and new threats.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand the 2025 Shakeup: How the federal government’s proposed moves—including closing the Special Education Office and shifting IDEA to Health and Human Services—will affect special education oversight, funding, and student protections.
• What Block Grants and Vouchers Really Mean: Why losing federal rules and protections threatens equal access to needed services, especially for low-income and minority students.
• State-by-State Risks and Wins: Learn which states are strengthening student protections (like California’s early transition planning and restraint bans) and which are putting families at risk through stricter attendance and discipline reporting.
• Steps to Advocate NOW: The urgent action checklist to document services, update IEPs, push for rehabilitative/vocational goals, and shield your child from harmful discipline policies.
• Documentation is Your Power: Why keeping notes, sending confirmation emails, and getting everything on record is vital—especially when offices and laws are shifting under your feet.
• Build Your Advocacy Community: Where to find nonprofit and pro bono support, and how to ask for your own parent accommodations in meetings.

Links and Resources:

• Free Checklist Guide: 2025 IEP Advocacy Checklist
• Advocacy Organizations List – For legal support, IEP meeting assistance, and educational equity
• Template Letters for Attendance Accommodation – Sample email to request excused absences and attendance support
• Child Trends Report – For research on discipline disparities and school-to-prison pipeline risks

Speaker Biography:

Genie Dawkins

Host of The Parenting Cipher, Genie is an experienced parent advocate and IEP expert with decades of firsthand experience navigating public school special education systems, especially in urban and underserved communities. Genie combines professional research, personal victories, and battle-tested coaching to help parents demystify the IEP process, build confidence, and protect their children’s educational rights against shifting policies and school resistance. She’s committed to practical solutions, community-building, and empowering families to “fight the powers that be.”

🎙️ Stay connected with Genie Dawkins and The Parenting Cipher! Get expert support for special education, advocacy, and family success. Book a complimentary strategy session here, download your free guide “Top 10 Advocacy Mistakes to Avoid”, or inquire about podcast/media collaborations here. Follow on Instagram @geniedawkins and visit www.geniedawkins.com. Thanks for listening — let’s build powerful journeys together!

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