Don't IEP Alone.

When a child’s behavior increases, the usual response is often to revisit the FBA or behavior plan. But Lisa Lightner argues that teams should first step back and examine the IEP itself. Are all of the child’s needs being met? Are evaluations missing something? Is the IEP being implemented with fidelity?

Special Education Advocate Lisa Lightner explains why she now approaches behavior concerns differently. Many behaviors, she says, reflect lagging skills or unmet needs, and an FBA takes significant time and resources to complete. The focus should be on building and following a robust IEP that addresses the reason behind the behavior, not simply adding another plan after the behavior appears.

Related:

• Why So Many FBAs and Behavior Plans Fail

Don't IEP Alone with Lisa Lightner, Special Education Advocate

Thank you for listening to this episode of Don't IEP Alone. See you next time!

Support the show

Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 

• 📚 Order Your IEP Playbook (my book)
• Schedule a Consult or IEP Record Review
• Get on the Waitlist for Training

Related: What Can I Ask for on an IEP? And How do I Get the Team to Agree?

Schedule a consult for personalized assistance.

Don't IEP Alone with Lisa Lightner, Special Education Advocate

Thank you for listening to this episode of Don't IEP Alone. See you next time!

Support the show

Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 

• 📚 Order Your IEP Playbook (my book)
• Schedule a Consult or IEP Record Review
• Get on the Waitlist for Training

More on:

• How IEP Placement Works
• How to Get an Out of District Placement on your IEP

Today is last day for registration for Don't IEP Alone Academy.

Don't IEP Alone with Lisa Lightner, Special Education Advocate

Thank you for listening to this episode of Don't IEP Alone. See you next time!

Support the show

Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 

• 📚 Order Your IEP Playbook (my book)
• Schedule a Consult or IEP Record Review
• Get on the Waitlist for Training

More information about LRE and a graphic of the LRE continuum: Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) in IEPs: Placement Must Be Based on Progress, Not Labels.

Registration is OPEN NOW for  Don't IEP Alone Academy.

Don't IEP Alone with Lisa Lightner, Special Education Advocate

Thank you for listening to this episode of Don't IEP Alone. See you next time!

Support the show

Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 

• 📚 Order Your IEP Playbook (my book)
• Schedule a Consult or IEP Record Review
• Get on the Waitlist for Training

Registration is open now for a limited time.

More information here: Special Education Advocacy Training

Don't IEP Alone with Lisa Lightner, Special Education Advocate

Thank you for listening to this episode of Don't IEP Alone. See you next time!

Support the show

Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 

• 📚 Order Your IEP Playbook (my book)
• Schedule a Consult or IEP Record Review
• Get on the Waitlist for Training

Training Objections

In this episode, Lisa Lightner tackles the objections parents often have about advocacy training: “I already speak up,” “I can find information online,” and “I don’t have time.”

Her point is direct: knowing your child’s rights isn’t enough. Parents also need to know how to apply those rights, use documentation and data, and move an IEP team toward yes. 

At 03:25, Lisa Lightner explains why her four-step advocacy strategy focuses on applying the law, not simply learning it. She also addresses the difference between being assertive and being confrontational, and why speaking up at meetings may not change an IEP without the right paper trail.

For overwhelmed parents, the goal is less guessing and less busywork, with a defined process that can be used across disabilities.

Sign up today or learn more about Special Education Advocacy Training.

Don't IEP Alone with Lisa Lightner, Special Education Advocate

Thank you for listening to this episode of Don't IEP Alone. See you next time!

Support the show

Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 

• 📚 Order Your IEP Playbook (my book)
• Schedule a Consult or IEP Record Review
• Get on the Waitlist for Training

Back-to-school season brings a familiar reminder: don’t wait for an IEP crisis to start paying attention.

In this episode, the conversation explores why families shouldn’t wait until Thanksgiving to discover that services aren’t being delivered or progress isn’t happening 02:35.

A key theme that emerged is that advocacy doesn’t require one dramatic meeting or hours of research. It can look like following up on a disappointing test, documenting the support needed to finish homework, reading school updates, or sending one thoughtful email 04:31. 

These small actions build a record, create momentum, and make the IEP process easier to manage over time. As the episode puts it, advocacy is “a bunch of tiny little things,” things that add up 07:07.

Don't IEP Alone with Lisa Lightner, Special Education Advocate

Thank you for listening to this episode of Don't IEP Alone. See you next time!

Support the show

Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 

• 📚 Order Your IEP Playbook (my book)
• Schedule a Consult or IEP Record Review
• Get on the Waitlist for Training

Welcome to "Don't IEP Alone." I’m your host, Lisa Lightner, special education advocate. 

Get on the waitlist for my advocacy training.

In today’s episode, we’re tackling one of the toughest parts of advocating for your child in IEP meetings: how to respond when the team tells you "no." Lisa Lightner opens up about her early fears of rejection and how hearing "no" has become just another data point in her advocacy journey. 

She shares concrete strategies for handling those automatic refusals from school teams, including exactly what questions to ask, how to document responses, and ways to keep the conversation moving toward what's best for your child—no matter how many obstacles you face. Stay tuned for practical advice, scripts for your next meeting, and tips to challenge the "culture of no" so your child gets the services they deserve.

Don't IEP Alone with Lisa Lightner, Special Education Advocate

Thank you for listening to this episode of Don't IEP Alone. See you next time!

Support the show

Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 

• 📚 Order Your IEP Playbook (my book)
• Schedule a Consult or IEP Record Review
• Get on the Waitlist for Training

Welcome to "Don't IEP Alone" with Lisa Lightner, your go-to source for special education advocacy and support. In this episode, Lisa Lightner challenges a common belief among parents and advocates: the idea that IEP meetings are the most important part of the special education process. 

Drawing from her years of experience, Lisa Lightner explains why the real work—and true advocacy power—happens before and around the IEP meeting itself. With practical tips, honest insights, and a fresh perspective, she reveals how advance preparation, clear communication, and data-driven groundwork are what truly shape successful outcomes for your child. 

Whether you’re dreading your next IEP meeting or seeking to strengthen your advocacy skills, this episode offers valuable guidance to transform how you approach the IEP process.

00:00 Parents' anxiety about IEP meetings

03:07 Preparing for IEP meetings

07:37 Tips for Successful IEP Meetings

1. What Questions to Ask at an IEP Meeting (free PDF)
2. Should Parents Get the IEP or Evaluations Before the Meeting?
3. How to Not Cry at your IEP Meeting.

Don't IEP Alone with Lisa Lightner, Special Education Advocate

Thank you for listening to this episode of Don't IEP Alone. See you next time!

Support the show

Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 

• 📚 Order Your IEP Playbook (my book)
• Schedule a Consult or IEP Record Review
• Get on the Waitlist for Training

Welcome back to the Don't IEP Alone podcast! In this episode, Lisa Lightner dives into the realities of back-to-school season for parents navigating IEPs. She shares strategies to help you get organized before classes begin, including a game-changing new approach to reading and understanding your child’s IEP. 

Whether your summer break is winding down or you’re already prepping backpacks, Lisa Lightner offers practical advice to help ease your worries, focus on what you can control, and move into the new school year feeling confident and empowered. 

Plus, she tackles common concerns about related services and reminds you—you’re doing better than you think!

1. Introduction and Welcome

• Lisa Lightner greets new and returning listeners 00:01
• Brief mention of podcast hiatuses and evergreen episodes 00:13
• Reference to the "February freak out" experienced by parents and advocates 00:20

2. Back-to-School Transition for IEP Parents

• Personal anecdote about shopping for back-to-school with her son 01:29
• Discussion about not having the luxury to delay back-to-school planning as an IEP parent 02:29
• Emphasizing the need to prepare before school starts to avoid children being left behind 02:35

3. How to Read an IEP Effectively

• Announcement of a new "How to Read an IEP" PDF, blog post, and YouTube video available in show notes 02:59
• Explanation of the common mistake: reading IEPs cover to cover instead of by issue 03:32
• Introduction of a new method: track specific issues (e.g., executive functioning) throughout the IEP 04:00
• Encouragement to focus on 1 or 2 main concerns for the new school year 04:49
• Mention of IEP progress monitoring—caution not to wait until report cards (often as late as Thanksgiving) to check progress 05:11

4. Self-Assessment and Reassurance for Parents

• Encouragement to focus on progress, even small, rather than stress 05:52
• Reassurance that listening to the podcast means parents are ahead of the game 06:22
• Observation that most IEPs have bright spots, not just problems, based on Lisa Lightner's IEP record reviews 06:52
• Invitation to email Lisa Lightner for support if things feel dire 07:34
• Reminders for parents to take deep breaths and acknowledge their prior experience 07:38
• Welcoming both new and returning IEP parents 07:47

5. Patience with IEP Related Services at Start of School Year

• Encouragement not to panic about missed related services in the first weeks (e.g., OT, speech) 08:12
• Explanation that scheduling and caseloads are often still being settled in the first week or two 08:49
• Suggestion that IEPs are often written to account for start/end of year disruptions 09:05
• Importance of perspective: missing a couple of sessions likely won’t affect long-term success 09:33
• Practical advice for documentation and following up if no contact after two weeks 09:54

6. Closing Remarks

• Reminder to document ongoing issues for patterns 10:04
• Goodbye and encouragement to tune in again 10:15

Don't IEP Alone with Lisa Lightner, Special Education Advocate

Thank you for listening to this episode of Don't IEP Alone. See you next time!

Support the show

Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 

• 📚 Order Your IEP Playbook (my book)
• Schedule a Consult or IEP Record Review
• Get on the Waitlist for Training