The budget to cut Medicaid was discussed last night at 1 am. Details, thoughts, and action items. 

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

📣 Exciting News! You can now preorder my book on Amazon, Books-A-Million, Bookshop.org or Barnes & Noble! 📣

📚 Bookshop.org has it on sale! 📚

More IEP help for you--at home or at school--

📊 Free IEP Data Collection Sheets (for school staff)

📒 Free IEP Binder for Parents

☑️ IEP Goal Tracking Sheets for Parents

🧰 IEP Toolkit for Parents

👩‍💻 Online Advocacy Training

🙋 Ask an Advocate your IEP Question

🧰 ...

Welcome to another episode of Don't IEP Alone with your host, Lisa Lightner. In today’s deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, Lisa reflects on a recent visit to Atlantic City and uses her experience walking its streets as a lens to examine larger issues surrounding disability, mental health, addiction, and the consequences of societal neglect. Drawing from her years of advocacy and firsthand stories from clients, Lisa explores the troubling connections between learning disabilities, lack of support, and the increased risks of addiction and incarceration. She poses a heartfelt question—"Who failed you?"—as she considers the people society often overlooks and urges listeners to recognize the critical importance of early intervention and meaningful support. With a blend of real-world observation and compassionate insight, Lisa calls on parents and advocates to fight harder for these vulnerable children, reminding us that we must refuse to accept bleak outcomes for kids with special needs. Tune in for a candid conversation that is sure to inspire action and empathy.

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

📣 Exciting News! You can now preorder my book on Amazon, Books-A-Million, Bookshop.org or Barnes & Noble! 📣

📚 Bookshop.org has it on sale! 📚

More IEP help for you--at home or at school--

📊 Free IEP Data Collection Sheets (for school staff)

📒 Free IEP Binder for Parents

☑️ IEP Goal Tracking Sheets for Parents

🧰 IEP Toolkit for Parents

👩‍💻 Online Advocacy Training

🙋 Ask an Advocate your IEP Question

🧰 ...

Get the book: https://adayinourshoes.com/book/

Welcome back to Don't IEP Alone with Lisa Lightner! As we approach the end of the school year, Lisa dives into the home stretch with timely advice for families navigating IEPs, particularly around Extended School Year (ESY) services. In this candid and heartfelt episode, Lisa shares her personal experiences as a special needs parent, reflecting on making choices about ESY programs, the emotional nuances of milestones like graduation, and the unique challenges faced by families with disabled or neurodiverse children.

Lisa also addresses some of the current divisions within the autism and disability communities, emphasizing the need for real advocacy over social media arguments, and shares updates on valuable resources like her free life skills virtual camp, upcoming webinars, and new toolkit mini-courses for both parents and teachers. Whether you’re figuring out summer plans or feeling the weight of this season, Lisa reminds us that you’re not alone, offering encouragement, practical tips, and a dose of solidarity for everyone in this space.

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

📣 Exciting News! You can now preorder my book on Amazon, Books-A-Million, Bookshop.org or Barnes & Noble! 📣

📚 Bookshop.org has it on sale! 📚

More IEP help for you--at home or at school--

📊 Free IEP Data Collection Sheets (for school staff)

📒 Free IEP Binder for Parents

☑️ IEP Goal Tracking Sheets for Parents

🧰 IEP Toolkit for Parents

👩‍💻 Online Advocacy Training

🙋 Ask an Advocate your IEP Question

🧰 ...

Don't miss: https://adayinourshoes.com/book/

Welcome back to “Don’t IEP Alone” with Lisa Lightner, your go-to podcast for all things IEPs and special education advocacy. In today’s episode, Lisa dives into a whirlwind week packed with high-profile statements, policy updates, and a Supreme Court case that could have far-reaching implications for families of children with disabilities.

Lisa breaks down the controversial comments made by RFK Jr. about autistic individuals, reacts to Dr. Oz’s take on public health, and explains what a new executive order on school discipline could mean for your child. She also sheds light on an important Supreme Court case involving IEP disputes, examining what’s really at stake for families seeking justice and effective support.

Tune in as Lisa untangles this busy week in advocacy, offers practical advice on taking action, and shares some personal updates—including exciting news about her book. As always, it’s the candid, straight-shooting conversation you can count on to help you navigate the often-complex world of special education.

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

📣 Exciting News! You can now preorder my book on Amazon, Books-A-Million, Bookshop.org or Barnes & Noble! 📣

📚 Bookshop.org has it on sale! 📚

More IEP help for you--at home or at school--

📊 Free IEP Data Collection Sheets (for school staff)

📒 Free IEP Binder for Parents

☑️ IEP Goal Tracking Sheets for Parents

🧰 IEP Toolkit for Parents

👩‍💻 Online Advocacy Training

🙋 Ask an Advocate your IEP Question

🧰 ...

Welcome back to Don’t IEP Alone, your go-to podcast for real talk about IEPs, advocacy, and navigating the world of special education. I’m your host, Lisa Lightner, and in today’s episode, I’m catching you up on some big updates—like the release of my very first book coming out this October (and yes, you can already pre-order it!). I dig into what it’s really like working as an advocate, juggling income streams, and balancing all the “have-tos” that come with parenting and supporting kids with disabilities.

This week, I’m sharing my thoughts on the heaviness of the world lately, from the challenges our kids face today to the problematic rhetoric coming from public figures like RFK Jr. We’ll talk about wealth, privilege, and why some people with power seem so intent on making life tougher for marginalized communities—especially families like ours. Plus, I’ll get personal about my Powerball daydreams, the realities of having a child with profound autism, and why community support matters so much more than ever.

If you’re ready for lived experience, unfiltered opinions, and concrete action items for making change, you’re in the right place.

More: https://adayinourshoes.com/stepping-up-for-disabled-kids/

And: https://adayinourshoes.com/book/

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

📣 Exciting News! You can now preorder my book on Amazon, Books-A-Million, Bookshop.org or Barnes & Noble! 📣

📚 Bookshop.org has it on sale! 📚

More IEP help for you--at home or at school--

📊 Free IEP Data Collection Sheets (for school staff)

📒 Free IEP Binder for Parents

☑️ IEP Goal Tracking Sheets for Parents

🧰 IEP Toolkit for Parents

👩‍💻 Online Advocacy Training

🙋 Ask an Advocate your IEP Question

🧰 ...

An unfortunate trend I see every spring as a Special Education Advocate--the school frequently calling parents to come pick up their child. Usually due to behaviors. So what can you do? Listen and find out.

Support the show

📣 Exciting News! You can now preorder my book on Amazon, Books-A-Million, Bookshop.org or Barnes & Noble! 📣

📚 Bookshop.org has it on sale! 📚

More IEP help for you--at home or at school--

📊 Free IEP Data Collection Sheets (for school staff)

📒 Free IEP Binder for Parents

☑️ IEP Goal Tracking Sheets for Parents

🧰 IEP Toolkit for Parents

👩‍💻 Online Advocacy Training

🙋 Ask an Advocate your IEP Question

🧰 ...

This happens so often this time of year and it makes me nuts. You cannot discriminate against any protected class, yet kids with IEPs are excluded from field trips all the time.

Support the show

📣 Exciting News! You can now preorder my book on Amazon, Books-A-Million, Bookshop.org or Barnes & Noble! 📣

📚 Bookshop.org has it on sale! 📚

More IEP help for you--at home or at school--

📊 Free IEP Data Collection Sheets (for school staff)

📒 Free IEP Binder for Parents

☑️ IEP Goal Tracking Sheets for Parents

🧰 IEP Toolkit for Parents

👩‍💻 Online Advocacy Training

🙋 Ask an Advocate your IEP Question

🧰 ...

Too many parents don't know what a PWN is, yet it is one of the most important parts of the IEP process.

I call it the "little known game changer" in the IEP process.

Listen to find out what it is and how to use it. 

Support the show

📣 Exciting News! You can now preorder my book on Amazon, Books-A-Million, Bookshop.org or Barnes & Noble! 📣

📚 Bookshop.org has it on sale! 📚

More IEP help for you--at home or at school--

📊 Free IEP Data Collection Sheets (for school staff)

📒 Free IEP Binder for Parents

☑️ IEP Goal Tracking Sheets for Parents

🧰 IEP Toolkit for Parents

👩‍💻 Online Advocacy Training

🙋 Ask an Advocate your IEP Question

🧰 ...

All of your rights as an IEP parent are listed in Procedural Safeguards. Here are a few of the important highlights.

IEP Procedural Safeguards

Support the show

📣 Exciting News! You can now preorder my book on Amazon, Books-A-Million, Bookshop.org or Barnes & Noble! 📣

📚 Bookshop.org has it on sale! 📚

More IEP help for you--at home or at school--

📊 Free IEP Data Collection Sheets (for school staff)

📒 Free IEP Binder for Parents

☑️ IEP Goal Tracking Sheets for Parents

🧰 IEP Toolkit for Parents

👩‍💻 Online Advocacy Training

🙋 Ask an Advocate your IEP Question

🧰 ...

Parents ask me all the time, "Can I ask for this?" or "What about this?" 

So what can you ask for on an IEP? What are the limits? 

Support the show

📣 Exciting News! You can now preorder my book on Amazon, Books-A-Million, Bookshop.org or Barnes & Noble! 📣

📚 Bookshop.org has it on sale! 📚

More IEP help for you--at home or at school--

📊 Free IEP Data Collection Sheets (for school staff)

📒 Free IEP Binder for Parents

☑️ IEP Goal Tracking Sheets for Parents

🧰 IEP Toolkit for Parents

👩‍💻 Online Advocacy Training

🙋 Ask an Advocate your IEP Question

🧰 ...