You keep the data. You report the data. You’re all about the data. But they still don’t listen! Have you ever tried to capitulate your child’s data in a chart or graph? This simple advocacy strategy can be super helpful and might just make a difference in your child’s next IEP meeting. In today’s episode I’ll walk you through an Excel tutorial… wait! I promise it’ll be helpful! And it won’t be terribly painful. Welcome back! Okay, I’ll show you how to use Excel to paint the picture of your child’s progress- or lack thereof- in a way that might finally get to the other IEP team members. One note: I do share my screen, so if you normally listen via audio only, you may choose to use YouTube this week! 

Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/U32gafxefxf

In today’s episode of the podcast, I will review for common pitfalls in progress monitoring. I grabbed these pitfalls from an article, but they are definitely things that I have seen in my practice repeatedly. Of course, you know I will give you strategies and solutions so you can avoid the pitfalls, and address them if errors occur.

In today’s episode, we are going to talk about all of the ancillary information that can impact data. This information is super important to understand and to consider when evaluating data. Incoming weeks we will talk about what to do with this information and how it can, impact, advocacy, instruction, and more. Data feels a little like Bruno. We should probably talk about it, but nobody wants to. Let’s make it easy starting this week.

Conflict adverse? This episode is for you! A few weeks ago, I was sitting in an IEP meeting and used a negotiation strategy that I’d just used in parenting Jack. I realized the irony… our children TEACH us skills that help us advocate for THEM! In today’s episode we’re talking about two skills that you’ve probably developed in parenting your children that will immensely enhance your advocacy skills.

A couple weeks ago, I was asked to speak on a Hot Topic in special education advocacy at a conference for people with ADHD. Without hesitating, I suggested that I speak about executive functioning – and not only EF – but really HOW to advocate for better supports for students that struggle with executive functioning. Let me tell you--- this is coming up in soooooo many IEP meetings in my practice. In today’s episode I give you my #1 tip for advocating for students with executive functioning struggles and even run you through some examples. 

It seems so simple. Too simple. Unbelievably simple. Like do negotiation experts actually teach this? Do law schools professors actually harp on this? Is it seriously the bane of the mediator’s existence? Friends, in today’s episode I give you THE most simple negotiation strategy. It’s one that you think you know. But wait. You might need to know more about… wait for it… what you want. Yep, in today’s podcast, we’re talking about what you want! Isn’t that what EVERYbody wants to discuss in a negotiation? Hop over and give a listen. I bet it helps you at your next IEP meeting!

In preparing for my new job, I’ve been cleaning my office building and preparing to rent it out. It’s been a real trip down memory lane. As I’ve thought about all of my favorite attorneys and advocates, a few verbs kept circulating through my mind. In today’s episode we dive into the mindset of attorneys and advocates. How do we work? What makes us tick? How do we achieve success for our clients? This will be a good one if you’ve ever considered working with or BECOMING an advocate yourself!

A Book called “The Behavior Code?” Yes please! In today’s episode, I summarize one of my most favorite books, “The Behavior Code,” by Jessica Minahan and Nancy Rappaport, MD. Let me tell you… if you read just the first 26 pages of this book, you’ll be able to talk to your child’s school team so much more effectively! And if you commit to 42 pages, you’ll also be able to suggest a super great behavior support plan for your child! Do I have your attention? This book also addresses specific strategies for students experiencing anxiety, oppositional behaviors, withdrawal, and sexualized behaviors. I give summaries for each chapter so you can decide if it’s right for you! Want more book reviews? DM me! I’m a reader, and I’m happy to deliver this info to you if you’d like it!  https://amzn.to/3r9aVud

My dad, our beloved Kurtie, often prays, “God, give me patience, and give it to me NOW!” If you’re a parent in special education, you can relate to this, and you may have whispered, “God, give me resources, and give them to me NOW!” The fact is that there are soooo many resources about special education and advocacy on-line… so many, in fact, that it is hard to determine where the best resources exist. In today’s episode I’m giving you two of my favorite, go to resources for special education advocacy. We’ll be talking about www.wrightslaw.com and www.tiescenter.org, which both provide a wealth of information. I’ll take you on a tour of the websites and tell you how I find my favorite special education resources quickly and when I need them!

One of the things I use most often in my advocacy is the United States Department of education's policy documents. These documents can help yield learn about a particular topic, turn into what a district might be thinking, and tears out certain elements of special education laws. They can be hard to find, because sometimes they get buried in websites, so in today's episode, I walk you through how to find the documents and what to do with them. Want to make your wait in car line more effective? I've got policy docs for you!