IEPs aren’t just about grades! In this episode of The Special Ed Strategist, host Wendy Taylor breaks down how IEPs can – and should – support non-academic needs, including social-emotional skills, executive function, behavior, life skills, and related services like OT, speech, and counseling. Learn how to request functional performance evaluations, craft SMART goals, and advocate for accommodations that ensure your child’s success beyond the classroom. Wendy shares key advocacy strategies and the exact language you can use in IEP meetings to push for the support your child deserves.

Need help advocating for your child’s IEP? Check out Wendy’s course, Cracking the Code to Special Education Eligibility: Click here

🔗 Connect with Wendy Taylor:

Instagram: @learningessentials

LinkedIn: Wendy Taylor

Facebook: Learning Essentials

Website: www.LearningEssentialsEDU.com

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Join The Special Ed Strategist podcast for an eye-opening conversation with Dani and Paloma, founders of In the Cortex. Experts in neurodevelopment and brain reorganization, Dani and Paloma explain how retained primitive reflexes impact children’s behavior, learning, and emotional regulation. Discover actionable strategies, including targeted movements, to help rewire the brain and support kids both at home and in school. This episode is a must-listen for parents, educators, and therapists looking to unlock a child’s full potential.

Key Takeaways:

Primitive Reflexes: Learn what they are, why they’re crucial for development, and how they impact behavior if not integrated.

Brain Reorganization: Targeted movements can help rewire the brain for better focus, emotional regulation, and learning outcomes.

School Accommodations: Tips for advocating for supportive classroom strategies and accommodations through IEPs and 504 Plans.

Practical Tools: Simple, daily exercises that can make a big difference in a child’s behavior and learning journey.

Website: In the Cortex

Instagram: @inthecortex_us

Brain Reorganization Bundle: Explore the Program

Brain Assessment: Take the Assessment

Discount Code: Use WENDY for $27 off your first payment of their program!

Instagram: @LearningEssentials

LinkedIn: Wendy Taylor

Facebook: Learning Essentials

Website: www.LearningEssentialsEDU.com

Cracking the Code Course: Enroll Now

For more resources and support, follow Wendy and explore her educational tools!

In this episode of The Special Ed Strategist, Wendy Taylor, M.Ed., Executive Director of Learning Essentials and a certified educational therapist, explores how inclusive teaching practices can support meaningful participation for students with learning differences. From understanding IDEA and LRE to advocating for SMART goals and teacher training, Wendy shares actionable strategies to help parents and educators foster a supportive learning environment.

Instagram: @learningessentials

LinkedIn: Wendy Taylor

Facebook: Learning Essentials

Website: LearningEssentialsEDU.com

IEP Course: Cracking the Code

Like, share, and review this episode to help more families discover tools for educational success!

Join The Special Ed Strategist as Dr. David Palmiter, Clinical Director at the Chesapeake Center, dives into supporting kids with big emotions. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Palmiter shares practical strategies to help parents and educators foster resilience and manage emotional challenges.

Key Takeaways:

Instagram: @LearningEssentials

LinkedIn: Wendy Taylor

Facebook: Learning Essentials

Website: LearningEssentialsEDU.com

Website: Chesapeake Center

Resources: Hectic Parents Blog

In this episode of The Special Ed Strategist, host Wendy Taylor, a certified educational therapist and IEP coach with over 20 years of experience, delves into the significance of IEP amendments. She explains how these adjustments can promptly address a child's evolving educational needs without waiting for the annual review. Wendy offers practical advice on recognizing when amendments are necessary, understanding legal rights under IDEA, and fostering effective collaboration with IEP teams. Listeners will gain actionable strategies to ensure their child's IEP remains a dynamic tool for success.

Contact Wendy Taylor:

Explore the 'Cracking the Code' Course: Cracking the Code

Episode Summary:

Join Wendy Taylor as she sits down with Jane Singleton, founder of Launchpad for Life, a certified leadership coach and special education expert. Jane shares her journey from special educator to coach, helping parents and teens foster independence, build executive function skills, and embrace neuroinclusivity. Discover actionable strategies for transitioning from a parenting “director” to a supportive “consultant,” and learn how collaborative problem-solving can empower neurodivergent teens to thrive.

Guest Bio:

Jane Singleton is the founder of Launchpad for Life, specializing in bridging the gap between neurodivergent individuals and inclusive workplaces. With a Master’s degree in Special Education and 13+ years of experience as a learning and behavioral interventionist, Jane now focuses on coaching parents and teens for lasting independence and self-advocacy. As a certified leadership coach, she also works with organizations to promote neuroinclusive practices.

Contact Jane Singleton:

Launchpad for Life Website 

Episode 14: "Executive Function Strategies for Teens"

Episode 22: "Fostering Independence in Neurodivergent Learners"

Episode 35: "Building Self-Advocacy Skills in Special Education"

Navigating the IEP process doesn’t have to feel like entering a boardroom without a rulebook. In this episode, Wendy Taylor shares her expertise as an educator and advocate to guide you through the essentials of IEP reviews. Learn how to prepare, organize, and empower yourself as the expert on your child’s needs. Tune in to discover actionable tips and strategies for building a collaborative IEP team.

Contact Me

Have questions or need support? Reach out to me:

Host Wendy Taylor welcomes Beth Felsen, founder of Spectrum Transition Coaching, to discuss essential strategies for preparing autistic teens for college. Beth shares invaluable insights from her 25+ years of experience as a parent, autism coach, and executive function specialist. Learn how to support your teen in developing social connections, mastering life skills, and fostering independence. Beth highlights the transition from K–12 IEP-driven support to college accommodations under ADA, offering practical advice for parents and teens to navigate this new terrain successfully.

What You’ll Learn:

Special Offer: Podcast listeners get $50 off Beth’s course using the code sped at Spectrum Transition Coaching.

🔗 Connect with Wendy Taylor:

Instagram: @learningessentials

LinkedIn: Wendy Taylor

Facebook: Learning Essentials

Website: www.LearningEssentialsEDU.com

Course: Cracking the Code to Special Education Eligibility

🔗 Connect with Beth Felsen:

Website: Spectrum Transition Coaching

Guide for Parents: The Ultimate Guide for Parents of Autistic High School Students

Facebook & LinkedIn: Spectrum Transition Coaching

Tune in to gain valuable insights and tools to support your autistic teen's successful transition to college and beyond!

In this episode of The Special Ed Strategist, host Wendy Taylor explores the transition from high school to college for students with disabilities, focusing on changes under ADA and Section 504. Wendy dives into self-advocacy, differences in accommodations, and FERPA's impact on parental involvement. Discover how to prepare your child to advocate for themselves, understand new documentation requirements, and navigate college disability services for a smoother journey into independence.

Episode 16: College Insider Tips – Psst! It’s Not All Academics! with Andrea Malkin Brenner, PhD

Episode 406: Navigating Parenthood and Special Needs Advocacy with Susanna Peace Lovell

Episode 407: Navigating Special Education: The Power of Systems and Collaboration

In this episode of The Special Ed Strategist, Wendy Taylor welcomes Dr. Daniel Greenwood, Ed.D., M.Ed., and Beth Greenwood, B.A., UCLA College Counseling Certificate holders, who are experienced career and educational counselors with Greenwood Associates West, Inc. They bring insights from the Greenwood System, a holistic career counseling approach developed over three decades. This episode dives deep into understanding how abilities, interests, values, and personality intersect to guide students toward fulfilling career paths.

Key Highlights:

Career One Stop (career exploration resource)

ONET (career details database)

edX (MOOCs for career exploration)