In today's episode I'm giving you to down low on Interroception, the sense of feeling your feelings and accessing skills and tools to ameliorate them when they're uncomfortable. This is part of a series where I give you little snippets of helpful information in short bursts- similar to how I do it in the IEP Guru Academy products! Over half of my IEP meetings deal with Interroception, at least in small part, so this topic is a can't miss, super duper helpful one! Enjoy!

This week on the podcast, I’m getting real with you. I’ll share my honest reflections on the IEP Guru Academy launch, why it didn’t go as planned, and what I’ve learned about the challenges of advocacy in special education.

Spoiler alert- it was a bummer. But here’s the thing—I’m not staying in disappointment. Instead, I’m using it to inspire a fresh start for all of us in 2025. Let’s talk about why advocacy feels hard, why it’s so worth it, and how we can tackle it together with hope and intention.

Tune in for honesty, encouragement, and a challenge to make this year count—for you, your child, and the entire disability community!

Want to learn about interoception in 20 minutes or less? I’m breaking it down for you in this episode – literally faster than it takes me to paint my nails! 💅 Interoception is the ability to sense what's going on inside our bodies – think hunger, thirst, or even when we need to use the bathroom. It’s a critical skill, especially for kids with sensory processing challenges, and understanding it can make a huge difference when advocating for supports at the IEP table. This episode packs a lot of info into a short amount of time, just like our IEP Guru Academy videos. In these videos, we dive into these topics in even more detail, offering quick, actionable lessons to help you navigate IEP meetings with confidence!

The IEP Guru Academy

The Collaborative IEP Membership

Behavior. It’s the buzzword at so many IEP meetings, yet it’s often misunderstood, overcomplicated or downright ignored. Today, I’m breaking it down in just 12 minutes—or less! You’ll get my behavior 'ditty'—a quick, memorable way to think about and address behavior effectively. Why? Because this perspective is a game-changer in IEP meetings and school discussions, and I want you to see just how much you can learn in a short time. It’s a sneak peek at the kind of value-packed strategies I share in the IEP Guru Academy videos!

The IEP Guru Academy

The Collaborative IEP Membership

How does IQ testing affect your child’s eligibility for special education services, their disability category under IDEA, and their placement in the least restrictive environment (LRE)? In this episode, we break it all down.

We’ll explore the purpose of IQ testing, its limitations, and how it fits into the broader picture of determining your child’s unique needs. You’ll learn how disability categories influence placement decisions and why IQ scores should never be the sole factor in deciding your child’s educational path.

Join us for practical tips on navigating IEP discussions, challenging the misuse of IQ scores, and advocating for inclusive opportunities that focus on your child’s strengths. If you’ve ever wondered how these pieces fit together, this episode is for you!

The IEP Guru Academy

The Collaborative IEP Membership

Conflict is often seen as something to avoid, but what if it’s the key to progress? In this episode, we explore how productive conflict can strengthen relationships, spark creativity, and lead to better outcomes—both in everyday life and at the IEP table.

We'll share real-life examples of how disagreements, when handled constructively, have driven innovation, resolved long-standing issues, and built stronger teams. Then, we’ll dive into how embracing healthy debate can transform IEP meetings. You’ll learn practical strategies to navigate conflict with confidence, turn differing perspectives into actionable solutions, and keep your focus on what matters most: the child’s needs.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or advocate, this episode will inspire you to view conflict as a tool for collaboration and growth.

The IEP Guru Academy

The Collaborative IEP Membership

Are you ready to tackle IEP meetings with confidence and ease? 💪 In this week’s episode, I’m introducing something that’s going to change the game for parents and teachers: the IEP Guru Academy Videos!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

✨ How these short, focused videos meet YOUR needs.

✨ The practical strategies, workbooks, and tools they offer.

✨ Why they’re perfect for busy parents and educators who want quick, effective solutions.

💡 Imagine walking into your next IEP meeting feeling prepared, calm, and ready to advocate for your child. These videos make it possible—and I’m breaking it all down for you in today’s episode!

We’re rebranding! After much thought and heart, I'm thrilled to introduce The Collaborative IEP—a brand that better reflects our mission to empower and support families and educators in navigating the IEP process together. 💪💙And that’s not all! To kick off this new chapter, I’m launching the IEP Guru Academy videos—short, affordable, and jam-packed with practical strategies designed to make your IEP advocacy journey easier. Each video is a powerful tool, helping you feel more prepared and confident without taking too much time out of your busy day. Catch all the details in this week's podcast episode, where I share why I made these changes, what you can expect from The Collaborative IEP, and a sneak peek into the new IEP Guru Academy videos.Tune in now and join me in this exciting next step!

We wrap up our 200th episode celebration today with one of your favorite repeat guests, Dr. Rachel Schwartz, and man did we ever have fun! Dr. Rachel and I set out with a loose idea of discussion topics, but what you really get in this episode is a discussion between someone who supports IEP teams in supporting students' behavior and an advocate who sees the trends when things go south. Dr. Rachel provides so many insights and strategies for common behavioral issues at schools - both how to support the student and how to advocate within IEP teams. We talk reinforcers, skill deficits, replacement behaviors, sensory process, belonging, and even shame!!!! That one blew my mind and made me want to re-read every Brene Brown book with my clients in mind! I know you'll love this episode!

Rachel Schwartz, Ph.D., BCBA-D, has worked internationally creating and supervising programs for individuals with disabilities. Her work as a consultant and trainer includes teaching behavior analytic strategies and exploring issues related to sexual education and quality of life. Dr. Schwartz has published original research on these topics in special education journals as well as presented at national, state, and local conferences. Through her work as a trainer and consultant with the Watson Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dr. Schwartz taps into more than 15 years of experience working in special education to empower students, families, and professionals.

Links: 

• The Watson Institute
• LinkedIn- The Watson Institute
• When Behavior Impedes Learning- ADDitude
• A Parent's Guide to Problem-Solving Problem Behaviors (ADDitude) 

When Pepper Stettler's daughter, Louisa, was first entering school, she was IQ tested. Pepper didn't think much of it... until the results came in. What happened next prompted Pepper to go on a years-long journey of research and discovery. Pepper assimilated the results of that into a book called A Measure of Intelligence: One Mother's Reckoning with the IQ Test, and boy is it ever good! In the book, Pepper explores not only the history of IQ testing but also the methodology of testing, the impact on people with disabilities, the impact on the special education system, and so much more. Pepper and I set out to answer some common interview questions, and even though I never read one questions during our interview, we answered all of them in an organic, excited conversation! That's my favorite kind of interview! If you've ever wondered about IQ testing, how it impacts eligibility, or how it affects special education, this is a must listen! Pepper's book can be found on Amazon or other booksellers!

Pepper Stetler is the author of A Measure of Intelligence: One Mother's Reckoning with the IQ Test. She writes extensively on issues facing people with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Slate, The Progressive, the Ploughshares blog and Gulf Coast. Pepper is a professor of Art History at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she lives with her husband and daughter Louisa.

• Website
• Book