In this episode we dig into why IEP meetings are so emotionally charged and mom Karen Kiecker shares her special education journey. Karen delved into the role of advocate when she serendipitously lost her job at the same time as her daughter’s academic struggles hit an all-time high. We discuss how she crammed to understand her basic legal rights, forged alliances at school, prepared for meetings, and contained her emotions so she could get the services her three kids with learning differences needed to thrive in the system.