Breaking down Special Ed jargon so parents can speak the language of advocacy.

In this episode, we continue breaking down the alphabet soup of Special Education. I unpack common terms like related services, consultation, direct services, ADA, 504 Plans, and give a quick refresher on IDEA and FAPE. We also tackle something equally important: language. Words matter. I explain why it’s best to say hard of hearing instead of hearing impaired, low vision instead of visually impaired, and why person-first language (“a child with a disability”) shows respect and dignity. And no, we don’t use “handicapped” anymore—it’s outdated and harmful. This episode is about giving parents the tools to understand the jargon and advocate for respectful, accurate language in IEP meetings.