Education Lowdown Podcast

What if supporting a child's behavior starts with listening instead of trying to change it?

In this episode of the Education Lowdown Podcast, host Dylcia Hernandez Dell’Era, MSW, PPSC, welcomes Shruti Rajalakshmi, BCBA, founder of Behavior and More, for a thoughtful conversation about understanding behavior, supporting neurodivergent children, and creating meaningful partnerships between families and schools.

Together, they explore Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBAs), Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs), and Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs)—including why a behavior plan needs to be more than a document sitting in a folder.

They also discuss the importance of culturally responsive practices, school avoidance, communication, autonomy, and helping children develop self-advocacy skills.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What FBAs and BIPs are and how they can support students

• Why effective behavior support starts with understanding the whole child

• How neuroaffirming practices can promote autonomy and communication

• Why cultural humility matters when working with families

• How parents can collaborate with schools and ask for additional support

The biggest takeaway? Before we develop strategies, make assumptions, or try to solve a problem, we need to listen.

Meet our guest:
Shruti Rajalakshmi, BCBA
Founder, Behavior and More
https://www.behaviorandmore.com

FREE PARENT RESOURCE

Not sure what kind of support your child needs at school? Download our free guide, My Child Needs Academic Support, to learn about IEPs, 504 Plans, assessments, and practical next steps.

https://educationlowdown.com/academic-support-guide

Connect with Education Lowdown:
https://educationlowdown.com

Real conversations. Practical guidance. Stronger advocates.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute individualized legal, medical, mental health, or other professional advice.

What happens when your child’s grades, test scores, or what the school sees don’t seem to tell the whole story?

In Episode 6, Dylcia sits down with Erin Crawford, LEP, founder of Crawford Educational Psychology, for a practical conversation about understanding the whole child behind the assessment data.

They explore psychoeducational assessments, Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs), twice-exceptional (2e) learners, masking, ADHD, autism, learning differences, and why a child who appears to be doing “fine” at school may still be struggling.

Erin also shares what she wants parents to understand about the assessment process: the goal isn't simply to get a score, diagnosis, eligibility category, or report. Good assessment should help families and educational teams better understand a child's strengths and needs—and develop a meaningful game plan for what comes next.

In this episode:
• Understanding psychoeducational assessments
• What an IEE is and why families request one
• Twice-exceptional learners
• When good grades don't tell the whole story
• Masking and differences between home and school
• ADHD, autism, anxiety, and learning differences
• Turning assessment results into practical next steps
• Building more collaborative relationships between families and schools

🎁 FREE PARENT GUIDE:
Not sure what kind of support your child needs? Download My Child Needs Academic Support at educationlowdown.com/academic-support-guide

Learn more about Erin: CrawfordPsychology.com

Learn more about Education Lowdown: educationlowdown.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Individual circumstances vary; consult an appropriate qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

A Parent’s Journey Through Diagnosis, IEPs & Advocacy

What happens when you know something is going on with your child—but the answers aren’t coming as quickly as you hoped?

In this episode of Education Lowdown, Dylcia Hernandez Dell’Era, MSW, PPSC, sits down with longtime preschool teacher and parent Zella Backleon for an honest conversation about trusting your instincts, navigating assessments, IEPs and 504 Plans, and raising neurodivergent children.

Zella shares her family’s journey through early speech concerns, autism, sensory needs, school services and accommodations—as well as her daughter’s very different experience with attention, mental health, and a 504 Plan.

They also talk about a part of advocacy that doesn’t get discussed enough: helping our children learn to advocate for themselves—and making sure parents don’t lose themselves in the process.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Trusting your instincts when you have concerns
• IEPs, 504 Plans and school accommodations
• Autism, ADHD and neurodivergence
• Why good grades don’t always tell the whole story
• Working collaboratively with school teams
• Sensory needs and practical accommodations
• Moving from parent advocacy to self-advocacy
• Caregiver burnout, asking for help and finding community
• Giving yourself the same grace you give your child

Not sure what kind of support your child needs?

Download our free My Child Needs Academic Support guide to learn more about IEPs, 504 Plans, assessments, and practical next steps:

👉 https://educationlowdown.com/free-guide-my-child-needs-academic-support-or-education-lowdown

Learn more about Education Lowdown and find additional parent resources at educationlowdown.com.

Real conversations. Practical guidance. Stronger advocates.

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Individual circumstances vary; consult an appropriate qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

What happens when the parenting model you grew up with doesn’t fit the child you’re raising?

In Episode 4, Dylcia sits down with Ashley Ayala, LMFT, founder of The Modern Parent, for a deeply relatable conversation about parenting, mental health, neurodivergence, family dynamics, and breaking generational patterns.

Ashley works with parents who are navigating two things at once: understanding the child in front of them while also unpacking how their own childhood shaped the parent they've become.

Dylcia and Ashley talk about parent burnout, supporting children after a diagnosis, finding the right mental health provider, sibling relationships, cultural differences, marriage under stress, and why parents need support too.

They also challenge the familiar phrase “kids are resilient.” Resilience doesn't mean children should navigate difficult experiences alone. They need supportive adults, connection, co-regulation, and help making sense of what they're experiencing.

This episode is a reminder that parenting isn't about following the perfect handbook.

It's about learning your child, learning yourself, and building a family dynamic that works for the people actually living in it.

Connect with Ashley:
The Modern Parent
https://www.themodernparent247.com/
https://www.instagram.com/the_modern_parent/

Learn more about Education Lowdown:
educationlowdown.com

https://www.instagram.com/educationlowdown_withdylcia/

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, medical, mental health, or other professional advice.

What if connection—not compliance—is one of the most important ingredients in helping a child learn, communicate, and grow?

In this episode of Education Lowdown, Dylcia sits down with Melissa McDonough, OTR/L, and Brittany Williams, SLP, co-founders of Nature Speakz Bay Area, to talk about their nature-based, neuroaffirming approach to occupational therapy, speech therapy, and social connection.

Melissa and Brittany explain why meaningful therapy doesn't have to happen sitting at a table or behind the closed door of a therapy room. Playgrounds, parks, movement, play, and everyday experiences can create natural opportunities for children to communicate, regulate, learn, and build relationships.

They also unpack what OT and speech-language pathology really encompass, why regulation matters before learning can happen, and why communication is about far more than spoken words. From gestures and facial expressions to sign language, communication boards, and AAC devices, all forms of communication deserve to be recognized and honored.

The conversation also tackles parent advocacy, choosing therapies that fit the individual child, listening to neurodivergent voices, and creating social experiences where children aren't taught to mask—but instead have opportunities to feel safe, accepted, connected, and joyful.

At the heart of the conversation is a message that applies far beyond therapy:

Connection is the intervention.

Learn more about Nature Speakz Bay Area:
https://www.instagram.com/naturespeakzbayarea/

Learn more about Education Lowdown:
EducationLowdown.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Individual circumstances vary; consult an appropriate qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

What does it really mean to support the way a child communicates, learns, and experiences the world?

In this episode of Education Lowdown, Dylcia sits down with longtime friend and bilingual speech-language pathologist Emily Vincent, SLP, for an honest and practical conversation about speech and language development, neurodivergence, bilingualism, and parent advocacy.

They tackle common myths about raising bilingual children, explore receptive and expressive language, AAC and alternative forms of communication, and discuss why behavior itself can be a form of communication. Emily also shares what speech therapy can actually look like and why culturally responsive care matters when evaluating and supporting children.

Dylcia and Emily also talk about navigating IEPs and school-based services, what parents can consider after receiving a new diagnosis, and why supporting a child sometimes means looking beyond the goal on paper to understand what that individual child actually needs.

Whether you're a parent, educator, advocate, or professional supporting disabled and neurodivergent learners, this episode is a reminder to ask questions, stay curious, and don't be afraid to be the squeaky door.

Learn more about Emily:
https://www.t-ctherapy.com/

Learn more about Education Lowdown:
EducationLowdown.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, medical, mental health, or other professional advice. Individual circumstances vary; consult an appropriate qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

In this episode, our founder, Dylcia Hernandez - Dell'Era is in the hotseat, and is interviewed by her husband, Dustin Dell'Era and they discuss Dylcias background in social work and education, and the goals for her new Business and podcast, Education Lowdown!