In this episode, we have our first dad on the podcast but not just any dad, Author, Advocate + IEP Expert, Aaron Wright. We will explore some of the hard truths, pitfalls, and insights that we hope empower you as a parent having to navigate services, support, and accommodations for your children with autism or any child with exceptional needs. He wrote a memoir titled 13 Doors that illustrates what he + his wife, Lisa Wright, educator + now Certified IEP Coach herself went through with their child.

You can see their Beginner's Guide to IEPs here.

Additionally, this is an Advocacy Toolkit, which is mentioned that Jean, Co-Host recommends to the families she mentors, along with acquainting themselves with Wright's Laws.

Top Tips:

• To Advocate is to be curious and keep asking questions.
• It is up to the parent to "police" the system.
• Educating the parents is universal but it doesn't exist for everyone.
• It is important to be conscious of your mental health because this can serve as chronic aggravation.
• Eligibility is different from a diagnosis.
• What is medically necessary isn't educationally necessary.
• You don't have to agree to anything in the actual meeting. Take your days.
• Foster & Maintain relationships with your child's team.
• It is automatically, by design, a contentious relationship.
• Get to know your Procedural Safeguards: Designed to protect the rights of parents and their child with a disability, and at the same time, gives families and school systems several mechanisms by which to resolve disputes.

Jody's Story

Jody is one of the 5 hosts of Moms Talk Autism

Jody and Brittney talk about her journey to becoming a special needs mom,  How it's  been the hardest journey of her life and why its been the most rewarding.   

Jody's 8 year old daughter Remy has a rare genetic disorder called PCDH19. It causes her clustered seizures where she stops breathing. 

With this diagnosis, came autism and ADHD. 

Jody talks about the first seizure and what the autism diagnosis has been like for her and her family of 6. 

Check us out and say hello

Where to find Moms Talk Autism

Website 

Email 

Instagram 

Where to find Jody

Website 

Email

Instagram 

Where to find Shannon

Email 

Instagram 

Where to find Jean

Email 

Instagram 

Where to find Tash

Email 

Instagram 

Where to find Brittney

Website
Email

Instagram

Covid has been life changing for everyone. 

In this episode, you'll hear how the pandemic has affected the lives of autism families. 

Jody, Jean, Tash, Brittney & Shannon talk about  How the pandemic has shifted their lives

The impact its had on their special needs kids

How their mental health has suffered

and the good that's come out of this change

Check us out and say hello

Where to find Moms Talk Autism

Website 

Email 

Instagram 

Where to find Jody

Website 

Email

Instagram 

Where to find Shannon

Email 

Instagram 

Where to find Jean

Email 

Instagram 

Where to find Tash

Email 

Instagram 

Where to find Brittney

Website

Email

Instagram