Inclusive Education Project (IEP) Podcast

Most of the country is off and running into another school year, and it’s a great time to reflect on where we can improve and how we can be more knowledgeable in supporting students and addressing their needs. This episode focuses on training for school staff, district staff, and parents. Today, we share part two of our interview with Andrew Goff. Part one aired at the end of the last school year and share his perspective as an early childhood teacher advocating for students at IEP meetings. If you missed part one, listen to Episode 311 here. Join us to learn more about ongoing trends in teacher training. 

Andrew Goff taught early childhood special education in five different least restrictive environments spanning 12 years. He is currently the lead instructor at Colorado Northwestern Community College, not far from Steamboat Springs. He wrote a memoir, Love is a Classroom, and is a fierce advocate for “inclusion–early, everywhere, and always.”

Show Highlights:

• Andrew’s role at community colleges training in the virtual space
• The importance of collaboration in developing and implementing accommodations
• Teacher experiences and three components of curricula: indirect, direct, and temporal
• Thoughts about co-teaching
• A big root of the problem is that we aren’t educating all teachers on all the varieties of ways kids learn.
• All children deserve to learn equally and have their needs met.
• Barriers to learning—and how they show up
• Relationships and connections allow students to learn better!
• Teaching teachers to create cultures in a classroom
• Teachers with biases find it difficult to show up and give a child what they need.

Links/Resources:

Connect with Andrew Goff: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Love is a Classroom Podcast, and Love is a Classroom book

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org   

Thank you for listening! 

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or Google Play. It helps other listeners find this show.

Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions/concerns:

Facebook

Instagram–We are doing videos on Instagram, so connect with us here and send us your questions!

Twitter

IEP website

Email us: [email protected]

Today’s episode is a replay of our session at the BOOST Conference from a few months ago. It relates specifically to next week’s conversation, which is the reason we want to air it again. This episode was also featured as an encore episode over the summer. Enjoy!

We loved having the opportunity to speak at the BOOST Conference about our podcast, the IEP system, and special education in general. The BOOST Conference is an annual event to inspire youth, learning, and change. Many different educational professionals attend the conference in Palm Springs, California, to participate in classes, workshops, networking events, and to explore the latest in technology and innovation related to education. Join us to hear this live presentation and the Q & A session!

Show Highlights:

• An overview of the IEP podcast
• What is an IEP? What are IEP meetings?
• The importance of collaboration in the entire IEP process
• Individualization, not comparison, is most helpful in the IEP process.
• The vital need for parents to talk to the teachers before the IEP meeting
• 95% of the conflict in IEP meetings is due to a breakdown in communication.
• Vickie and Amanda field questions from the audience about IDEA provisions for school-sponsored events, supporting students with extreme behaviors, and expanded learning programs in the IEP process. 

Links/Resources:

Find out more about the BOOST Conference: Website

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org   

Thank you for listening! 

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, then please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or Google Play. It helps other listeners find this show.

Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions/concerns:

Facebook

Instagram–We are doing videos on Instagram, so connect with us there and send us your questions!

Twitter

IEP website

Email us: [email protected]

Last week’s episode was about central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) and its impacts on a student’s ability to learn. For this episode, we are excited to welcome Dr. Stephanie Meyer to the show. She is an audiologist in the Rio Rancho public schools who will share her perspective about how instructional audio can be more inclusive. Her career as an audiologist in public school systems spans almost 30 years!

Show Highlights:

• Dr. Stephanie’s journey into audiology and working with kids in impactful ways
• The difference it makes for students when the proper audio systems are in place in the classrooms
• Common audio systems that teachers can use in classrooms to be inclusive for every learner
• Dr. Stephanie’s insights about the benefits of proper audio technology in the classroom–(and how she conveys her message to teachers/administrators)
• Success stories of helping students with CAPD and hearing loss
• The benefits of instructional audio as an accepted learning tool–for students AND teachers
• Dr. Stephanie’s advice for teachers and audiologists
• The need for equipment specifically designed for educational spaces instead of the cheaper alternatives on Amazon

Links/Resources:

Connect with Dr. Stephanie Meyer:

Email

Link to the instructional audio Dr. Meyer uses in her district: https://lightspeed-tek.com/

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org   

Thank you for listening! 

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or Google Play. It helps other listeners find this show.

Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions/concerns:

Facebook

Instagram–We are doing videos on Instagram, so connect with us there and send us your questions!

Twitter

IEP website

Email us: [email protected]

Today’s show expands on our previous episode with Dr. Connie McReynolds in which we discussed central auditory processing deficits in kids with autism or ADHD. Even though many experts would argue that this is a medical disorder, it has profound impacts on education and certainly qualifies as an area of unique need for many children. Join us to learn more!

Show Highlights:

• Common pushbacks from school districts and characteristics of CAPD (central auditory processing disorder)
• Children with CAPD will typically “hear” with no difficulty, but information processing is deficient.
• Digging into the underlying root causes of processing issues requires proper assessments and evaluations.
• The dangers of an early misdiagnosis
• Typical signs that a child should see an audiologist
• Strategies that are helpful for kids with CAPD
• IEPs, accommodations, and services may not bring improvement if they don’t target the specific issues with CAPD.

Links/Resources:

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org   

Thank you for listening! 

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or Google Play. It helps other listeners find this show.

Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions/concerns:

Facebook

Instagram–We are doing videos on Instagram, so connect with us there and send us your questions!

Twitter

IEP website

Email us: [email protected]

It’s the beginning of another school year, and we are coming to you with many informative episodes to prepare and support you in whatever challenges this new school year may bring. Today’s episode focuses on a better way to assess, intervene, and support kids with ADHD by identifying and addressing the root causes. 

We welcome today’s guest, Dr. Connie McReynolds, a licensed psychologist and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with well over 30 years of experience working with children and adults with ADHD and anxiety. She is the author of Solving the ADHD Riddle and hosts the Roadmap to the Brain podcast. 

Show Highlights:

• Dr. Connie’s background and work as a rehabilitation psychologist and clinic founder
• Understanding the evolution of a deeper and broader perspective of the root causes of ADHD and how it affects people
• Common problems in the current IEP process that Dr. Connie encounters regularly
• The outdated picture of current assessments—and how we can do better
• An overview of Dr. Connie’s assessment process of 37 different areas
• Ideas to improve the assessment and intervention process with a brief, 20-30 minute evaluation
• Dr. Connie’s work within school districts to effectively address the root causes of ADHD–and keep more kids in general ed classrooms
• Dr. Connie’s book, Solving the ADHD Riddle, and how it helps people understand neuroplasticity and neurofeedback

Links/Resources:

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org   

Thank you for listening! 

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, then please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or Google Play. It helps other listeners find this show.

Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions/concerns:

Facebook

Instagram–We are doing videos on Instagram, so connect with us here and send us your questions!

Twitter

IEP website

Email us: [email protected]

Connect with Dr. Connie McReynolds

Website  (Find a free assessment, tips, and resources!)

Solving the ADHD Riddle book, and the Roadmap to the Brain podcast. 

Remote Neurofeedback and Telehealth Now Available! (909) 435-7189

Welcome! Today’s episode takes a big-picture view of what’s going on in education with our taxpayer dollars and how we can educate more parents about their general rights in advocating for their children. We use a recent California case as an example of how things can go so wrong–and cost millions of dollars–in special education law. 

Tim Adams has been in law practice for over 23 years after working as a lay advocate in the special education legal clinic at the Pepperdine Law School. As president and CEO of the disability rights law firm Adams & Associates, Tim has worked with numerous families to help them advocate for their children and has firsthand experience in this role because of his younger brother with special needs. He sees his career as a special education attorney as a unique opportunity to help and support families.

Show Highlights:

• Tim’s recent high-profile case: Irvine Unified School District V. Landers and Gagliano
• The money side of this case (what the school district spent on litigation—over $1.1 million)
• The point of the recent Wall Street Journal article highlighting this case
• The facts: what parents and their attorneys are asking for in intervention and services is a drop in the bucket compared to what is spent in litigation
• Tim’s perspective on how often school districts are appealing court decisions
• Why this case has been a “win at all costs” endeavor for the school district
• Digging deeper into the argument that this case was a pushback attempt at anything jeopardizing the school district’s control, such as school choice, privatization, charter schools, etc. 
• Tim’s decision-making process on which cases to appeal
• Why there will be many COVID cases in litigation for years to come
• The toll that a litigation process takes on families

Links/Resources:

Connect with Tim Adams: Website, LinkedIn, and Facebook

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org   

Thank you for listening! 

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, then please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or Google Play. It helps other listeners find this show.

Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions/concerns:

Facebook

Instagram–We are doing videos on Instagram, so connect with us here and send us your questions!

Twitter

IEP website

Email us: [email protected]

We are joined today by a special guest, Michael Hingson, host of the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. We have shared a lot of time on each other’s podcasts and learned a lot from Michael’s perspective on special education, especially what he experienced in the very early days of special ed.  Join us to learn more about Michael’s life and work!

Michael Hingson has a unique story. With a master’s degree in physics, Mike is an educator, best-selling author, inspirational speaker, and disability advocate–and he is blind and a 9/11 World Trade Center survivor. When his premature birth called for a pure oxygen environment, his retinas were irreparably damaged, and he has been blind ever since. His parents were urged to institutionalize him because “no blind child can ever amount to anything or contribute to society”---or so the doctors said. His parents refused and gave him every chance to learn, sending him to public schools throughout his life. He earned his physics degree and secondary education teacher credential, going on to become an accomplished salesman and sales manager. He is a coveted keynote speaker and the author of the bestseller, Thunder Dog: The Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust. 

Show Highlights:

• Mike’s story: science, sales, the early days of disability law, and a life of advocacy
• Michael’s learning process with guide dogs and white canes
• Michael’s 9/11 experience at the World Trade Center which led to his book, Thunder Dog
• “Disability does not mean a lack of ability.”
• We will have Mike back very soon for Part 2 of this conversation, in which we will discuss his involvement in technology development to help many people with disabilities of all kinds. Stay tuned!

Links/Resources:

Connect with Michael Hingson

Website

Unstoppable Mindset podcast

Thunder Dog book

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org   

Thank you for listening! 

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, then please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or Google Play. It helps other listeners find this show.

Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions/concerns:

Facebook

Instagram–We are doing videos on Instagram, so connect with us here and send us your questions!

Twitter

IEP website

Email us: [email protected]

We're happy to bring you some of our listener favorites during the next few weeks. These episodes are sure to pique your interest by featuring topics important to each of us Enjoy!

We are pivoting from our normal education-centric topics today to take a broader view of the financial side of raising a child with a disability. We want to make sure that families, and people working with these families, have all the resources and tools for a well-rounded toolkit for supporting their kids. We welcome James Lange to the podcast to share his practical insights and expertise.

James Lange is a CPA, a state attorney in Pennsylvania, and the author of nine best-selling financial books. He is a nationally recognized IRA, 401(k), and retirement plan distribution expert. As a result of his daughter’s disability, James developed a passion for helping parents who need to provide sufficient care for a disabled child even beyond their own lifetime. He explains how he and his wife are providing for their daughter’s future and what parents of a disabled child should do right now to ensure the financial future of their child. 

Show Highlights:

• James’ plan to provide for his daughter for the rest of her life
• James’ mission to help parents of children with disabilities optimize their financial assets
• Three steps to take right now for your disabled child: 
• Get your child qualified for government benefits in the SSI or SSDI. (James explains the #1 mistake most parents make in applying for these benefits.)
• Get your estate planning done appropriately with the proper trust or conservatorship option. (Don’t rely on “Joe Schmo Attorney” for this!)
• Get the Roth IRA conversion strategy done right by a financial professional. (The difference in doing this correctly and incorrectly can amount to a huge difference in available funds for your child.)
•  Best resources for parents to use in their education and planning:
• Get James’ FREE book, Retire Secure for Parents of a Child with a Disability. Click here!
• Sign up for Expert Advice for Parents of Children with Disabilities: A Virtual Summit, June 18-20, 2024. Click here for more information about this FREE event!

Links/Resources:

Connect with James Lange: Disabled Child Planning,  Pay Taxes Later, and LInkedIn

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org   

Thank you for listening! 

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, then please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or Google Play. It helps other listeners find this show.

Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions/concerns:

Facebook

Instagram–We are doing videos on Instagram, so connect with us here and send us your questions!

Twitter

IEP website

Email us: [email protected]

We're happy to bring you some of our listener favorites during the next few weeks. These episodes are sure to pique your interest by featuring topics important to each of us Enjoy!

We recently had the chance to speak at the BOOST Conference about our podcast, the IEP system, and special education in general. The BOOST Conference is an annual event to inspire youth, learning, and change. Many different educational professionals attend the conference in Palm Springs, California to participate in classes, workshops, and networking events, and to explore the latest in technology and innovation related to education. Join us to hear this live presentation and the Q & A session!

Show Highlights:

• An overview of the IEP podcast
• What is an IEP? What are IEP meetings?
• The importance of collaboration in the entire IEP process
• Individualization, not comparison, is most helpful in the IEP process.
• The vital need for parents to talk to the teachers before the IEP meeting
• 95% of the conflict in IEP meetings is due to a communication breakdown.

Links/Resources:

Find out more about the BOOST Conference: Website

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org   

Thank you for listening! 

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, then please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or Google Play. It helps other listeners find this show.

Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions/concerns:

Facebook

Instagram–We are doing videos on Instagram, so connect with us here and send us your questions!

Twitter

IEP website

Email us: [email protected]

We are taking a summer break for July to soak up a little summer fun with our families, so we are replaying some of our most popular episodes that are packed with information and inspiration. We will be back in August with new episodes to prepare us for the 2024-2025 school year. Today’s replay first aired a few weeks ago during Mental Health Awareness Month. Maria Barrera helps us understand the need for a more comprehensive and relevant curriculum focused on skill-building and emotional awareness instead of reacting to students’ mental health needs “after the fact.” Doesn’t it make more sense to support “mental wellness” than to simply address “mental illness”? That’s the idea behind Clayful! Join us to learn more!

Maria Barrera is the founder and CEO of Clayful, a company that began as a way to address the mental health crisis in a more preventative way. Clayful offers supportive tools and resources to help students become more resilient and emotionally aware before they get to their breaking point. Maria is committed to addressing the youth mental health crisis, and her dedication to training a diverse mental health workforce and establishing partnerships with schools have impacted thousands of students across the country. 

Show Highlights:

• The need for more targeted interventions and skill-building in schools
• The origins of Clayful to address students’ needs during the pandemic
• The challenge in supporting students with behavior regulation issues
• Labels and language have POWER!
• The gist of CA Assembly Bill 2173: to change the language from “emotional disturbance” to “emotional disability”
• Clayful’s work in destigmatizing the need for emotional support
• Clayful allows students to connect with a coach every week to develop a “protective layer.”
• The mental health crisis is here! We need to partner together to help as many young people as possible!

Links/Resources:

Connect with Maria Barrera and Clayful: Website and Email

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org   

Thank you for listening! 

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, then please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or Google Play. It helps other listeners find this show.

Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions/concerns:

Facebook

Instagram–We are doing videos on Instagram, so connect with us here and send us your questions!

Twitter

IEP website

Email us: [email protected]