Podcasts about iepadvocacy

Is your teen struggling in school, but you're hitting roadblocks trying to get them the support they need? The IEP (Individualized Education Program) process can be overwhelming—especially for minority parents facing additional challenges. In this episode, I sit down with Maria Davis-Pierre, a licensed mental health counselor, autism advocate, and founder of Autism in Black. Maria shares her personal journey navigating the special education system for her neurodivergent children and exposes the hidden biases that often prevent Black and minority children from getting the right diagnosis and accommodations. She also provides practical strategies for parents to advocate effectively, empower their teens, and navigate the IEP process with confidence.   WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE The biggest mistakes parents make when advocating for their child's IEP—and how to avoid them Why Black and minority children are often mislabeled as behavioral problems instead of receiving proper support How to involve your teen in their IEP process and teach them self-advocacy skills The hidden biases in school support systems that every parent should know about 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR PARENTS OF TEENS Know Your Rights – Understanding the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) is crucial for effective advocacy. Cultural Bias Exists – Many minority children are misdiagnosed or overlooked, making advocacy even more critical. Empower Your Teen – Teens who participate in their own IEP process develop stronger self-advocacy skills for the future. Leverage Their Strengths – Connecting accommodations to your teen's interests can make learning more engaging. Give Yourself Grace – The IEP process is challenging, but you are your child's best advocate.  

When and where to test your child and the beginning of the IEP,

The TSC world famous & beloved Dena Hook, Vice President of Support Services at the TS Alliance comes on the podcast to discuss, well, a lot. This is Part 1 of our conversation and Dena walks us through her history right up until she started working at the TS Alliance in 2007. Dena shares her experience advocating for her son with severe dyslexia in the early years of special needs legislation and how that inspired & launched her career in advocacy. She describes that it was a time when being "in the building" for a kid with special needs, was about as much support as was given. Dena was Technical Assistant Coordinator for the National Parent Training and Information Center (PACER) for over 6 years training educational advocates throughout the country. She worked with the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) during the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1997. A published author through Incentive Publication, she wrote: “Success with IEPs” and “An IEP Writing Tool” for teachers and school administrators. During her time as CEO of Family and Children First, she ran Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Early Childhood Program, Truancy Mediation, and Strengthening Families a Mental Health and Drug Addiction Program for Marion County in Ohio. She is certified as Special Education Mediator through the Juvenile Justice Center of Atlanta and as a Truancy Mediator through the Ohio Supreme Court. On a personal level, Dena also talks about leaving her job at PACER & working with OSEP to return to Ohio to aid her mother and how despite leaving an esteemed position, she was able to use her experience as a parent, advocate & then administrator to rise once again to leadership at Family & Children First in her home state of Ohio. Buckle up, there's a lot here and more on the way! (music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com)

The TSC world famous & beloved Dena Hook, Vice President of Support Services at the TS Alliance comes on the podcast to discuss, well, a lot. This is Part 1 of our conversation and Dena walks us through her history right up until she started working at the TS Alliance in 2007. Dena shares her experience advocating for her son with severe dyslexia in the early years of special needs legislation and how that inspired & launched her career in advocacy. She describes that it was a time when being "in the building" for a kid with special needs, was about as much support as was given. Dena was Technical Assistant Coordinator for the National Parent Training and Information Center (PACER) for over 6 years training educational advocates throughout the country. She worked with the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) during the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1997. A published author through Incentive Publication, she wrote: “Success with IEPs” and “An IEP Writing Tool” for teachers and school administrators. During her time as CEO of Family and Children First, she ran Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Early Childhood Program, Truancy Mediation, and Strengthening Families a Mental Health and Drug Addiction Program for Marion County in Ohio. She is certified as Special Education Mediator through the Juvenile Justice Center of Atlanta and as a Truancy Mediator through the Ohio Supreme Court. On a personal level, Dena also talks about leaving her job at PACER & working with OSEP to return to Ohio to aid her mother and how despite leaving an esteemed position, she was able to use her experience as a parent, advocate & then administrator to rise once again to leadership at Family & Children First in her home state of Ohio. Buckle up, there's a lot here and more on the way! (music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com)

In this final segment, Julie goes into detail discussing her son's progress once he became eligible through a waiver funded by the Louisiana Department of Health’s Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities. Julie was able to hire a Direct Support Professional of her own choosing to work one on one in the home, community, and more. Over time, her son was able to lessen the grip of a narrow focused interest/obsession with trains for which Julie and her family had gone to extremes in order to address. She gives a thorough look at the process of becoming eligible for this type of service, finding a good match and how through collaboration between herself, her son and this worker, hope for a better future has been reignited.

In this final segment, Julie goes into detail discussing her son's progress once he became eligible through a waiver funded by the Louisiana Department of Health’s Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities. Julie was able to hire a Direct Support Professional of her own choosing to work one on one in the home, community, and more. Over time, her son was able to lessen the grip of a narrow focused interest/obsession with trains for which Julie and her family had gone to extremes in order to address. She gives a thorough look at the process of becoming eligible for this type of service, finding a good match and how through collaboration between herself, her son and this worker, hope for a better future has been reignited.