REMARKABLE FUTURES PODCAST IEP Secrets Every Parent Should Know A conversation with Julie Swanson, Special Education Advocate & Author Episode Notes & Transcript Highlights EPISODE OVERVIEW This episode of Remarkable Futures features Julie Swanson — a special education advocate and co-author of Your Special Education Rights: What Your School District Isn't Telling You and the IEP guide for parents and teachers. Julie shares the personal story that led her from a career in television production into special education advocacy, and offers guidance for parents navigating an autism diagnosis, IEP disputes, and the choice between hiring an advocate versus an attorney. ABOUT THE GUEST Julie Swanson is a special education advocate and author based in Connecticut.Her advocacy career began in 1997 after her son was diagnosed with autism and she prevailed in a due process hearing against her school district.She previously worked in television production before pivoting to full-time special education advocacy.Co-author, with special education attorney Jennifer Luciano, of two books: Your Special Education Rights: What Your School District Isn't Telling You, and a newer guide on IEPs for parents and teachers.KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED 1. Julie's Personal Journey Into Advocacy Julie's son was diagnosed with autism around age two, in what she describes as the “dinosaur days” of autism awareness — before the internet, support communities, or widespread public understanding existed. She built an in-home ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) program for her son, then encountered resistance from her school district, which did not recognize ABA and questioned the diagnosis itself. This conflict led her to hire an attorney, enter a due process hearing, and ultimately prevail — an experience that became the foundation of her advocacy career. "It's going to be okay. Take one day at a time. Learn as much as you possibly can. Find your tribe of people, your support network." 2. Processing the Diagnosis Julie speaks candidly about the grief and isolation of receiving her son's diagnosis, including weeks of depression before she “got busy” and began building a plan. She contrasts her experience — researching autism from outdated encyclopedias with no internet or community support — with the resources available to parents today, including online support groups and established organizations. 3. Navigating the School District Julie recounts her family's due process hearing, which was resolved not by a hearing officer's ruling but because a school employee publicly disclosed private, identifying information about her family at a staff meeting — a privacy violation that led directly to a settlement in her favor. 4. Advocate vs. Attorney: Where They Overlap and Differ A significant portion of the conversation addresses how special education advocates and attorneys complement each other: Advocates are not licensed and do not belong to a governing board, though training programs exist (e.g., COPAA — Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates).A good advocate can do nearly everything an attorney can do except formally represent a family in a due process hearing or legal settlement proceedings.Advocates often handle manifestation determination reviews and can lay the groundwork — data, school records, documentation — that reduces legal costs if a case eventually requires an attorney.Julie estimates she resolves 90–95% of cases without escalation to a formal hearing.5. Addressing Cost Concerns Julie acknowledges that cost is a common barrier for families and points to free resources such as state-mandated parent resource centers and nonprofit grant programs (she cites the Connecticut-based Special Education Legal Fund, “SELF,” as one example). She frames working with an advocate or attorney as an investment in a child's future rather than an optional expense. "I don't want to be in your life forever... If an advocate is doing what they need to do, they should come in and resolve the situation." 6. On the Books Julie describes co-writing both books with attorney Jennifer Luciano, whom she met when Jennifer's father (Julie's original attorney) sent his newly graduated daughter to cover a hearing date. The books intentionally avoid restating the law itself, focusing instead on practical, “behind the scenes” information for parents and school staff alike. RESOURCES MENTIONED Your Special Education Rights: What Your School District Isn't Telling You — Julie Swanson & Jennifer LucianoIEP guide for parents and teachers — Julie Swanson & Jennifer LucianoCOPAA — Council of Parent Attorneys and AdvocatesSpecial Education Legal Fund (SELF) — Connecticut-based nonprofit grant programState parent resource centers (mandated by IDEA in every state)Yale Child Study CenterCLOSING NOTE The episode closes with a preview of a follow-up conversation that will go deeper into the IEP process itself. AblePlanning, founded by Stephen Norton, is a financial planning service dedicated to helping families of individuals with special needs build secure financial futures. The firm provides personalized guidance on special needs trusts, government benefits, estate planning, investments, and long-term financial security, helping families plan with confidence and peace of mind. About Remarkable Futures The Remarkable Futures Podcast is designed to help families make informed decisions about special needs planning, financial security, and long-term care. 🎯 Start planning with confidence: AblePlanning.com 📺 Watch and subscribe on YouTube: @AblePlanning-u9j 📩 Have questions or need guidance? Reach out: https://ableplanning.com/contact/
