The Collaborative IEP

Ashley Barlow

Welcome to The Collaborative IEP podcast!  This business has been in my heart for so many years, and I so excited to share it with you.  In these podcasts we’ll discuss all things special education – from eligibility to implementation of the IEP.  We’ll talk about basic concepts and dive deeper into specific topics.  We’ll talk about self-care for caregivers and professionals that support children on IEPs.  We’ll discuss best practices, behavior, therapies, and more!

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    Educating Your IEP Team: What to Do When Your IEP Team Lacks Training in Special Education Law and Practice

    Have you ever brought up something at an IEP meeting — and the team simply didn’t know what you were talking about? Sometimes the issue isn’t disagreement. It’s a lack of knowledge. In this episode of The Collaborative IEP Podcast, we explore what to do when your IEP team lacks training or familiarity with the research, practices, or concepts you’re raising. Whether you’re discussing the science of reading, PDA profiles, interoception, or another emerging topic, parents and advocates often find themselves educating the team. You’ll learn: Why knowledge gaps happen in special education teamsHow to share resources before a meeting to prepare the teamWhy a collaborative tone helps people stay open to learningSimple ways to “disarm the room” and keep the conversation productiveHow to introduce new ideas without triggering defensiveness When handled strategically, these moments can shift an IEP or 504 meeting from confusion to collaboration. Listen now to learn how to help your IEP team better understand your child’s special education needs. Join The Membership: https://ashleybarlowco.com/the-collaborative-iep-membership Get the Replay of the Conference: https://ashleybarlowco.com/all-access-pass-post ABCourse: https://abc.ashleybarlowco.com/

    14 min

  2. 3 MAR

    Cherry-Picked in the IEP Meeting: How Schools Misuse Data, Test Scores, and Accommodation Compliance to Deny Support

    Do you ever leave an IEP meeting thinking, “That one test score does not tell the whole story”? In this episode of The Collaborative IEP Podcast, we tackle what happens when schools rely on a single data point — a MAP score, an iReady number, one behavior report, or one teacher comment — to justify denying services or changing placement. This installment in the “Seven Simple Solutions to Solve Your Sticky IEP Situations” series focuses on Smoke and Mirrors — when rhetorical or incomplete information takes over the conversation. You’ll learn: How to spot cherry-picked data at the IEP tableWhy one test score should never drive big decisionsWhat it means to TCB (Take Care of Business) in your advocacyHow to stay calm, collaborative, and firm when the team leans on weak argumentsHow to refocus the conversation on comprehensive, objective data If you’re navigating special education meetings and want to advocate clearly — without escalating conflict — this episode gives you a practical mindset shift you can use immediately. Listen now and learn how to push back on incomplete data while staying strategic at the IEP table. Join The Membership: https://ashleybarlowco.com/the-collaborative-iep-membership Get the Replay of the Conference: https://ashleybarlowco.com/all-access-pass-post ABCourse: https://abc.ashleybarlowco.com/

    19 min

  3. 24 FEB

    How to Handle Feeling Misunderstood at an IEP Meeting: A Simple Special Education Advocacy Strategy for Parents to Improve Communication and Collaboration

    A Simple Special Education Advocacy Strategy for Parents Do you ever leave an IEP meeting feeling frustrated, unheard, or completely misunderstood? If you’re a parent navigating special education, you are not alone. In this episode of The Collaborative IEP Podcast, we break down a simple, practical advocacy strategy you can use when school staff don’t seem to understand your concerns, your child’s needs, or your “why.” This episode is packed with plain-language guidance for parents who want to improve communication at IEP meetings without escalating conflict. You’ll learn: What to do when you feel misunderstood at an IEP meetingHow to respond when the school district doesn’t “get” your positionA step-by-step special education advocacy strategy you can use immediatelyHow to pause an unproductive IEP meeting in a professional wayWhy writing your concerns can strengthen collaboration and protect your child’s rightsHow to improve parent-school communication without jumping straight to due process This episode is especially helpful for parents of children with IEPs who are dealing with: Communication breakdowns during IEP meetingsDisagreements with the school teamFeeling dismissed by school staffSpecial education negotiation challengesCollaborative advocacy vs. litigation decisions If you’re trying to advocate for your child with a disability and want to stay calm, clear, and effective at the IEP table, this episode gives you a practical tool you can use right away. Whether you’re new to special education or a seasoned IEP parent, this conversation will help you handle conflict more strategically and move toward productive collaboration. Listen now to learn how to turn frustration into focused, effective advocacy. Join The Membership: https://ashleybarlowco.com/the-collaborative-iep-membership Get the Replay of the Conference: https://ashleybarlowco.com/all-access-pass-post ABCourse: https://abc.ashleybarlowco.com/

    20 min

  4. 17 FEB

    Bad Vibes, Tight Jaws, and Side-Eye: When the IEP Room Feels Hostile Before Anyone Talks

    Have you ever walked into an IEP meeting and immediately felt it? The tension. The forced smiles. The “we’re fine” energy that is very much not fine. In this episode, we talk about what to do when the room feels hostile before the first agenda item is even mentioned — when people look uncomfortable, defensive, or already annoyed… and you’re trying to advocate without getting pulled into the emotional undertow. When the vibe gets tense, some of us talk too much, shut down, over-explain, fidget, or accidentally let our face do the talking. So we start with self-awareness — because knowing your default response is the first step toward changing the dynamic. Then, I walk you through three practical strategies to help soften the room and keep the meeting focused on the child: Disarm the tension by modeling a collaborative, child-centered spirit (and rerouting the discussion back to your child, again and again)Use calm, open body language and regulated communication to support agreement and de-escalationMake the environment more comfortable with intentional “meeting energy” shifts — including small talk, seating choices, and yes… sometimes even treats We also talk about the subtle things that matter more than you’d think: tone of voice, facial expressions, where you sit at the table, how you enter the meeting, and how to avoid getting stuck in a tense posture that signals “battle mode.” If your IEP meetings feel like you’re walking into a storm cloud — and you want tools to shift the atmosphere before it derails the conversation — this episode will help you approach those moments with more calm, more strategy, and more control. (And if you bring cookies… please bring ones you actually want to eat.)

    24 min

  5. 10 FEB

    You Don’t Have to Do This Alone: When to Hire an Advocate or Attorney

    Advocating for your child can feel isolating, exhausting, and deeply personal. Even when you understand the system, there are moments when the stress, emotion, and stakes make it nearly impossible to do it alone. In this episode, I share a candid look at what it really feels like to hit that point — including my own recent experience navigating an IEP challenge for my family. We talk about the signs that it may be time to bring in professional support and why hiring an advocate or attorney isn’t a failure — it’s a strategy. This conversation is about recognizing limits, protecting your energy, and getting the right help so you can show up for your child without burning yourself out. In this episode, I cover: The repeating “A vs. B” conversation loop that signals you’re stuckWhy feeling unheard is a communication red flagWhen missing legal or instructional expertise mattersThe hidden toll advocacy takes on your body and mental healthHow outside support can restore clarity and breathing roomWhat advocates actually change at the table If advocacy has taken over your thoughts, your conversations, and your nervous system, this episode is a reminder: you don’t have to carry it alone.

    24 min

  6. 3 FEB

    At Impasse with Your School?

    We’ve all hit that moment in an IEP meeting where the conversation just… stops. No agreement. No movement. Just two sides locked in place. That’s impasse — and when it happens at school, walking away isn’t really an option. In this episode, I go back to the foundations of advocacy and negotiation to talk about what to do when discussions stall and you’re stuck in that uncomfortable space between what your child needs and what the school is willing to offer. Using real-life examples, we break down practical strategies parents can use when talks feel frozen. This episode isn’t about being combative. It’s about being strategic. When school teams hold power and conversations feel circular, there are ways to reset the table without escalating conflict. In this episode, I cover: What “impasse” actually looks like in IEP negotiationsWhy walking away isn’t an option in educationThe importance of prioritizing before the meeting startsHow to reframe conversations when you’re stuck in loopsUsing interest-based negotiation to uncover the real “why”Bringing in new voices, data, and ideas to break stalematesPractical ways to move conversations forward without burning bridges If you’ve ever left a meeting feeling stuck, unheard, or unsure how to get negotiations moving again, this episode gives you a framework to reset the conversation and advocate with intention — not exhaustion. Warm coffee optional. Persistence required.

    19 min

  7. 27 JAN

    School People Bullying You?

    Okay, "bullying" may be a strong term, but we've all been there. Advocating for your child can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re being told “this is just how it is.” In this episode, in which I again take us back to the roots of The Collaborative IEP, we refocus on the advocacy and negotiation skills parents need when school teams hold the power and control the narrative. While we often focus on practice and interventions, this episode zeroes in on what to do when school staff present information as unquestionable fact—and parents are left feeling talked over, dismissed, or subtly bullied. It comes from one of my first webinars I ever presented here at The Collaborative IEP, Simple Solutions to Seven Sticky IEP Situations!!!! Using real-world examples I see daily in my advocacy and legal work, I walk through practical, accessible strategies for bringing conversations back to objectivity. From asking for data and documentation, to using the IEP’s structure strategically, to leveraging videos, research, and records requests, this episode is about reclaiming your footing at the IEP table. In this episode, I cover: The three core skills every parent advocate needsWhy power imbalances make advocacy so hardHow schools often “tell parents how it is”—and what to do about itPractical ways to bring conversations back to objectivityHow to use the IEP process strategically to support your goals If you’ve ever left an IEP meeting feeling confused, steamrolled, or unsure how to push back without blowing things up, this episode will help you reset, refocus, and advocate with clarity and confidence—heating pad and all.

    26 min

  8. 20 JAN

    One Tried and True Super Successful Strategy for Mediations

    Advocating for your child can feel overwhelming—even when you know a lot. In this episode, I come back to the roots of The Collaborative IEP and refocus on the advocacy side of special education. I revisit the three skills I believe are essential to advocating successfully for your child: understanding special education law, understanding special education practice, and having strong advocacy and negotiation skills. While we’ve spent a lot of time on practice, this episode zeroes in on the third skill—negotiation. I walk through a mediation strategy I use to avoid piecemeal decision-making and protect flexibility during negotiations. Using a real-world example, I explain why resolving issues one at a time can limit outcomes and how a more strategic, visual approach can lead to better results at the IEP table. In this episode, I cover: The three core skills every parent advocate needsWhy negotiation strategy matters in special educationHow mediation works in special education disputesA practical strategy for keeping all issues on the table during negotiation If you’re feeling stuck, frustrated, or like you’re missing something in your advocacy, this episode will help you refocus on the skills that actually move the needle.

    25 min
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About

Welcome to The Collaborative IEP podcast!  This business has been in my heart for so many years, and I so excited to share it with you.  In these podcasts we’ll discuss all things special education – from eligibility to implementation of the IEP.  We’ll talk about basic concepts and dive deeper into specific topics.  We’ll talk about self-care for caregivers and professionals that support children on IEPs.  We’ll discuss best practices, behavior, therapies, and more!

Information

  • Creator
    Ashley Barlow
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    266
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ashley Barlow
  • Show Website
    The Collaborative IEP

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