Adriane|IEP Coach Podcast: Helping Parents Advocate Confidently in the IEP & Special Education Process

Adriane|IEP Coach
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You Signed the IEP. Why Nothing Changed is a podcast for parents of children with special needs navigating the special education and IEP process. If your child has an IEP but isn’t making meaningful progress, this show breaks down why—and what parents can do next. Each episode explains IEP meetings, special education laws, parent rights, evaluations, goals, services, accommodations, and progress monitoring in plain language parents can actually use. We uncover why IEPs often fail to deliver real support, how schools use confusing language and delays, and what parents need to know to advocate effectively for their child’s education. This podcast is honest, practical, and parent-focused—designed to help families stop feeling overwhelmed and start walking into IEP meetings informed, confident, and prepared. If you’re tired of signing paperwork without results and want clarity, advocacy tools, and real guidance in special education, this podcast is for you.

  1. 1d ago

    The Parent Guide To Spotting Hidden Needs Beyond Speech

    Send us Fan Mail Speech therapy can be a lifeline, but it can also become a label that keeps everyone from seeing what your child truly needs. We walk through a question parents ask all the time: how do you know when your child needs more than school-based speech therapy, even if they’ve been receiving speech services for years? We start by clarifying what speech language services can target in an IEP: articulation, receptive language, expressive language, social communication (pragmatics), fluency, voice, and AAC. Then we get practical about the red flags that suggest a bigger picture such as academic struggles tied to language, reading comprehension that doesn’t improve, skills that don’t generalize outside the therapy room, executive functioning issues that look like “not listening,” sensory regulation and fine motor challenges that point to occupational therapy, and behavior that may be communicating an unmet need rather than “noncompliance.” We also cover what to do next under IDEA: how to request a comprehensive reevaluation in writing, what evaluations to consider (academic, psychological, OT, assistive technology, audiology, autism-related measures, FBA, adaptive behavior, and more), and how to check whether goals are measurable and supported by real progress data. You’ll leave with a set of clear IEP meeting questions and a reminder that coordinated services beat siloed supports every time. If this helps, subscribe so you don’t miss future IEP strategy episodes, share it with a parent who needs it, and leave a review to help more families find the show. Support the show https:/skool.com/iep-success-circle-6668/about  https://www.tiktok.com/@iephelp

  2. Oct 23

    How To Read The Present Levels Section Like A Pro

    Send us Fan Mail The fastest way to spot a weak IEP is to read the Present Levels (PLAAFP) section and ask one blunt question: could a new teacher pick this up tomorrow and truly understand how my child learns, struggles, and succeeds at school? Present levels are not filler. They are the evidence-based starting point that makes IEP goals measurable, services justifiable, and progress monitoring meaningful. I walk you through what IDEA requires present levels to include, and why grades alone never tell the full story. We break down the difference between academic achievement and functional performance, including attention, executive functioning, behavior, communication, sensory regulation, and independence. You’ll hear clear examples of vague statements that schools often write, and what strong, data-based present levels look like instead, complete with baselines tied to specific conditions and supports. We also get practical about advocacy at the IEP meeting: how to check alignment from need → baseline → goal → service → accommodation → progress monitoring, how to flag copy paste language and “too positive” fluff that hides missing data, and how to add powerful parent input that the team can document. If you’ve ever felt like services appear randomly, or goals don’t match what your child actually needs, this will help you slow the meeting down and get real answers. If you want support reviewing your child’s present levels and planning your next steps, join my free IEP Success Circle on School using the link in the episode details. Subscribe, share this with a parent who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find practical special education help. Support the show https:/skool.com/iep-success-circle-6668/about  https://www.tiktok.com/@iephelp

  3. Oct 16

    How Related Services Work In Your Child’s IEP

    Send us Fan Mail “Your child doesn’t qualify for school-based OT.” “PT is medical.” “We’ll do consultation instead.” If you’ve heard any of these lines in an IEP meeting and walked out feeling unsure, this one is for you. I’m Adrian, a special education advocate and former insider, and I’m breaking down what occupational therapy, physical therapy, and related services actually mean under IDEA, including how these supports connect to FAPE and educational access. We get specific about what school-based OT can address beyond handwriting: fine motor skills, visual motor integration, keyboarding, classroom tools, organization, self-care skills that affect participation, assistive technology, and sensory or self-regulation needs when they interfere with instruction. Then we move into school-based PT, focusing on mobility, balance, stairs, safe movement through the building, positioning for learning, and access to required school routines, not just wheelchairs. I also clarify the difference between school-based therapy and private medical therapy, how to submit and discuss outside OT/PT reports, and why private services don’t automatically remove the school’s responsibility. You’ll learn how to request an OT or PT evaluation in writing with strong school-based examples, what a useful evaluation should answer, and how to choose between direct therapy, push-in services, pull-out sessions, and consultation. Finally, we cover how related services must be written clearly in the IEP, what to do when services are reduced or missed, how to track delivery, and when to ask about compensatory services or prior written notice. If you want to walk into your next IEP meeting with better questions and more confidence, listen now, share this with a parent who needs it, and subscribe for more special education advocacy tools. After you listen, what’s one related service question you want to ask your team next? Support the show https:/skool.com/iep-success-circle-6668/about  https://www.tiktok.com/@iephelp

  4. Oct 9

    Stop Letting Letters Run Your Life

    Send us Fan Mail RTI. MTSS. Section 504. IEP. If your child is struggling and the school keeps switching acronyms, it can feel like you’re being handed a puzzle with missing pieces. I’m Adrian, a special education advocate and former insider, and I’m translating what those labels actually mean so you can stop guessing and start making clear requests backed by your parental rights.  We start with the big distinction most schools don’t spell out: RTI and MTSS are intervention frameworks schools use to provide support and track progress, while Section 504 and IDEA are federal disability laws. I break down RTI as a tiered response-to-intervention process and explain what “real” interventions look like (target skill, who provides it, frequency, duration, and progress monitoring data). Then we address a critical warning: a school cannot use RTI or MTSS to delay or deny a special education evaluation when a disability is suspected. You’ll hear the exact questions that cut through vague promises of “extra help.”  Next, we cover MTSS as the wider school-wide system that can include RTI plus behavior supports, attendance supports, and social-emotional interventions. I also explain why a child with an IEP can still participate in MTSS, and how to make sure MTSS does not replace IEP services. From there, we move into Section 504 and what “equal access” really means, including why good grades don’t automatically rule out a 504 plan and why a medical diagnosis alone doesn’t automatically create one. Finally, we clarify what makes an IEP different: IDEA eligibility plus the need for specially designed instruction, measurable goals, and services.  You’ll walk away able to answer the question that matters most: does my child need accommodations for access, or specially designed instruction, or both? If this helps, subscribe to the podcast, share it with a parent who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find practical special education guidance. Support the show https:/skool.com/iep-success-circle-6668/about  https://www.tiktok.com/@iephelp

  5. Oct 2

    How To Document Missed IEP Services And Get Results

    Send us Fan Mail “According to our records, services were provided.” If you’ve ever heard something like that in an IEP meeting and felt your stomach drop, you already know why documentation matters. I’m Adrian, a special education advocate and former insider, and I’m walking you through how parents can build a paper trail that replaces guesswork with clarity, without turning your home into a records warehouse. We start with the simplest rule that changes everything: if it is important, put it in writing. I share how to send short, calm follow-up emails after phone calls, what to include so your message becomes a usable record, and how to keep the tone professional while still being firm. Then we go deep on the seven categories of IEP documentation that protect your child over time: current and past IEPs (plus drafts), evaluations and independent educational evaluations, progress reports and progress monitoring data, service delivery records and simple service logs, emails and meeting follow-ups, work samples and parent observations, and key notices like prior written notice under IDEA. You’ll also get a practical communication framework I use with families: Facts, Educational Impact, Clear Request. It helps you report missed speech therapy or OT sessions, connect the issue to your child’s goals and progress, and ask for what you need, like service logs, an IEP meeting, or consideration of compensatory services. We cover documentation mistakes to avoid, simple folder and binder systems, how to build a timeline and evidence chart, and what parent rights look like when you request education records. If this helps, subscribe to the podcast, share it with a parent who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find clear guidance on special education, IEP meetings, and parental rights. What’s the one record you wish you had kept last school year? Support the show https:/skool.com/iep-success-circle-6668/about  https://www.tiktok.com/@iephelp

  6. Sep 25

    The Seven Special Education Myths Parents Believe

    Send us Fan Mail Seven beliefs quietly sabotage IEP meetings every day, and most of them sound reasonable until you put them next to the law and the data. We unpack the biggest special education myths parents are told, then we replace each one with clear, usable truth so you can advocate with confidence without needing a degree in special education. We start with a misconception that blocks evaluations all the time: “My child is passing, so they cannot qualify.” Passing grades can hide informal modifications, heavy adult support, tutoring, and anxiety, so we talk about what to ask instead, including independence, grade-level performance, and what the assessments and classroom data actually show. We also clarify why a medical diagnosis like autism, ADHD, anxiety, or dyslexia matters but does not automatically create IEP eligibility under IDEA, and how to explain educational impact so the team cannot brush it aside. From there, we get practical about parent rights and real-world IEP strategy: your role on the IEP team, how to pause jargon and demand plain language, how to request changes before the annual meeting, and how to write accommodations so they are clear enough to implement. We separate accommodations from modifications, explain why an IEP does not guarantee passing grades, and push the focus back to measurable goals and progress monitoring. Finally, we tackle the moment that derails so many parents: the school says no. You will hear what to ask for, which data to request, and how Prior Written Notice can turn a quick refusal into a documented decision with real accountability. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share with a parent who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find accurate IEP support. Support the show https:/skool.com/iep-success-circle-6668/about  https://www.tiktok.com/@iephelp

  7. Sep 18

    What Parents Should Know Before A School Reevaluation

    Send us Fan Mail Your school says it’s time for the three year reevaluation and the next thing you see is a stack of forms to sign. That moment matters more than most parents realize, because a special education reevaluation can influence whether your child stays eligible under IDEA, how needs are identified, what related services are recommended, and what goals and accommodations show up in the next IEP. I walk you through what a reevaluation really is, why it often starts with a review of existing data, and how to decide when “no additional testing needed” is not good enough. We dig into the requirement to evaluate all suspected areas of disability and need, including academic skills, attention, executive functioning, behavior, communication, social emotional needs, and motor or sensory concerns. I also share the exact questions I want you asking before the evaluation plan is finalized, including what the team will not assess and why. We talk about informed parental consent, what consent does and does not mean, and why a comprehensive evaluation must use multiple tools and be accessible for your child’s language, communication method, sensory needs, and assistive technology. I also cover a common mistake that can derail an eligibility meeting: waiting until the meeting to read the evaluation reports. Finally, we address what to do if the school hints at ending services, how to ask for the data behind that claim, and when to request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at public expense. If you have a reevaluation coming up, listen, take notes, and use the checklist to prepare. Subscribe for more IEP help, share this with another parent who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find clear guidance. Support the show https:/skool.com/iep-success-circle-6668/about  https://www.tiktok.com/@iephelp

  8. Aug 28

    Walk Into Your Annual IEP Review Prepared With A Clear Parent Roadmap

    Send us Fan Mail You can feel it the second you sit down: the stack of paperwork, the rapid-fire talk about goals and services, and that creeping thought that you’re about to sign something you don’t fully understand. We built this conversation for parents who want to walk into an annual IEP meeting prepared, not panicked, with a clear checklist that keeps the team focused on one thing that matters most: meaningful educational progress for your child.  We unpack why the annual IEP review is far more than a yearly renewal. It’s the moment to ask whether the plan still fits the child you have today, not the child from last year. We talk through the essential IEP checklist items: reading the current IEP, reviewing progress toward every goal, and digging into present levels to make sure they reflect current strengths, needs, and real data. We also cover how to evaluate accommodations, specially designed instruction (SDI), and related services like speech therapy or occupational therapy so supports are specific, implemented, and measurable.  Then we get into the sections that often get rushed but can change everything: behavior supports, placement and least restrictive environment, progress monitoring that catches problems early, and transition planning that actually prepares students for life after high school. We close with the questions to ask before you leave the meeting and the red flags that signal a copied, standardized IEP instead of an individualized plan.  If you want more clarity around the special education process and stronger IEP advocacy tools, subscribe, share this with another parent, and leave a quick review so more families can find the support they need. Support the show https:/skool.com/iep-success-circle-6668/about  https://www.tiktok.com/@iephelp

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About

You Signed the IEP. Why Nothing Changed is a podcast for parents of children with special needs navigating the special education and IEP process. If your child has an IEP but isn’t making meaningful progress, this show breaks down why—and what parents can do next. Each episode explains IEP meetings, special education laws, parent rights, evaluations, goals, services, accommodations, and progress monitoring in plain language parents can actually use. We uncover why IEPs often fail to deliver real support, how schools use confusing language and delays, and what parents need to know to advocate effectively for their child’s education. This podcast is honest, practical, and parent-focused—designed to help families stop feeling overwhelmed and start walking into IEP meetings informed, confident, and prepared. If you’re tired of signing paperwork without results and want clarity, advocacy tools, and real guidance in special education, this podcast is for you.

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