For students with “Special Education needs” as determined by criteria put forth in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the IEP (Individualized Education Program) is a critical contract. With back-to-school season upon us, Chelsea revisits her own children’s IEP meetings with Brittany Freund. 

Brittany is a dedicated Special Education Teacher, beginning her 11th year supporting students in kindergarten through third grade. She works in a cross-categorical setting, meeting the diverse needs of her learners with patience, creativity, and compassion. Outside the classroom, Brittany is a devoted wife to her husband, Tanner, and a loving mother to two children, Wren (4) and Rori (1). Their family also includes a beloved dog, Angus. Brittany enjoys spending time outdoors, especially going on bike rides, and she loves gathering with friends and family for board games. Her passion for teaching and family shines through in everything she does. 

In this episode, Brittany and Chelsea discuss what makes a “good” IEP, how to create a supportive home-school partnership, and what Chelsea thinks Minnie Driver has to do with it.

The following topics and terms, in order of their appearance in the podcast, might evoke some curiosity:

• “Speechless”
• An Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are both plans designed to support children with disabilities, but they differ in their focus and the age groups they serve. An IFSP focuses on infants and toddlers from birth to age three, emphasizing the family's role and needs in supporting the child's development. An IEP, on the other hand, is for children ages 3 to 21 and focuses on the child's educational needs and goals within a school setting.
• Early Childhood Special Education (Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction)
• Transition planning under IDEA is a process that helps students with disabilities prepare for life after high school. The process begins at age 14 per Wisconsin DPI guidelines and by age 16 per IDEA.
• Episode 13: Puberty & Autism
• Episode 14: College Considerations
• Educational designations on an IEP refer to the disability categories outlined by IDEA, which include autism, emotional disturbance, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, other health impairment, specific learning disability, and speech or language impairment, among others. 
• Receptive-expressive language delay includes difficulties both understanding and using language. It encompasses issues with both understanding what others say (receptive language) and expressing oneself through language (expressive language).
• See this article on executive function. (Psychology Today)
• Social Stories

Podcast includes an introduction for episodes 6 and following at the beginning. Transition music, "Taking a Vocation", by Noey Budde.

Closing narration for episodes 6 and following.