Both sides of the table : Building Bridges in Special Education

Dr. Kathleen Adolt-Silva (Dr. KAS)

A podcast for parents navigating the world of special education. Host Dr. Kathleen Adolt-Silva (Dr. KAS) brings a rare perspective—having served as a teacher, administrator, and now a board-certified parent advocate as well as a special education consultant and subject matter expert. Each episode breaks down the confusion, cuts through the jargon, and offers practical ways for families and schools to work together. The best outcomes for kids happen when everyone's on the same side. Both Sides of the Table is a podcast about building bridges—not building walls.

Episodes

  1. Feb 6

    Episode 7 : "How do I talk to the school without making things worse?

    You want to advocate for your child, but you also don't want to become "that parent"—the one whose emails get forwarded to lawyers, whose calls go unreturned, whose relationship with the school has turned toxic. In this episode, Dr. KAS draws on her unique experience from both sides of the table to share communication strategies that actually work. Learn when to email versus call versus meet in person, how to be firm without being adversarial, and why that thank-you note might be the most powerful tool in your advocacy toolkit. Because here's the truth: you can push hard for what your child needs while still building bridges. This episode shows you how.

    19 min

  2. Jan 10

    Episode 6 "I Don't Understand Anything They Said in That Meeting"

    Walking into an IEP meeting can feel like entering a room where everyone speaks a language you don't quite understand. You're outnumbered by professionals, the jargon is flying, and decisions are being made about your child's future. In this episode, Dr. KAS pulls back the curtain on what actually happens in these meetings—who all those people are, what their roles are, and most importantly, how to make sure your voice is heard. You'll get practical scripts for speaking up, strategies for slowing things down when you're lost, and a critical warning about what happens if you take that paperwork home and forget to sign it. You have a seat at that table for a reason—this episode will help you use it.

    28 min

  3. 12/30/2025

    Episode 5 - They handed me a stack of papers to sign - What am I agreeing to?

    If you've ever sat in a school meeting feeling overwhelmed by paperwork and jargon, this episode is for you. Dr. KAS breaks down the key documents you'll encounter on your special education journey—from consent forms to evaluation reports to the IEP itself. Learn what those confusing acronyms actually mean, what to look for before you sign anything, and why Prior Written Notice might be the most important document you've never heard of. This is your cheat sheet for navigating the paperwork without getting lost.

    34 min

  4. 12/27/2025

    Episode 4 : The school wants to test my child. Should I be worried?

    In this episode of Both Sides of the Table, Dr. KAS demystifies the school evaluation process for parents. She explains what evaluations involve, reassures listeners that an evaluation is simply a tool for gathering information—not a scary label that will follow their child forever—and reminds parents they have the right to request an evaluation themselves. The episode offers practical guidance on what to expect and how to prepare for the eligibility meeting that follows.

    33 min

  5. 12/23/2025

    Episode 3: I feel like I'm failing my child.

    Today's episode is going to bea little different. We're not going to talk about systems or strategies or whatto say in meetings. We're going to talk about you. Because if you're on thisjourney—if you're parenting a child who's struggling, or who might bestruggling, or who you're trying to get help for—there's something happeninginside you that nobody talks about. The guilt. The grief. The voicein your head that whispers, "This is your fault. You should have caught itsooner. You're not doing enough. You're failing them." I hear it from parents all thetime. And I want to speak directly to that voice today. Because here's what I know:You're not failing your child. And you need to hear why.

    19 min

  6. 12/23/2025

    Episode 2 : Everyone says he's fine, but I know something's wrong.

    This episode tackles the frustrating experience of knowing something isn't right with your child while teachers and others insist everything is fine. Dr. KAS explains why this gap exists—children often behave differently at school (structured, routine-based) versus home (where they feel safe enough to fall apart). Teachers aren't dismissing you; they're comparing your child to struggling classmates, may not see masking behaviors, have limited one-on-one time, and often lack training in identifying learning differences. Bottom line: If your gut says something's off, investigate. Being wrong costs nothing—but ignoring your instincts can mean your child falls through the cracks.

    28 min

  7. 12/17/2025

    Episode 1 : My Child Is Struggling and I Don't Know Why

    You know something's not right. Maybe it's the nightly homework battles. Maybe it's the calls from school. Maybe it's just a feeling in your gut that won't go away. And when you try to get help, it feels like you're speaking a different language than everyone else. Special education is confusing. The meetings, the paperwork, the acronyms—IEP, 504, FAPE, LRE—it can feel like you need a law degree just to help your own child. And too often, parents and schools end up on opposite sides of the table, fighting instead of working together. Previously as a special education teacher and administrator and now as a board certified parent advocate and special education content expert. I've sat in hundreds of IEP meetings. I've seen what works and what doesn't. And I believe there's a better way." Both Sides of the Table is a podcast about building bridges—not building walls. Each episode, I'll help you understand the system, know your rights, and work with your child's school to get real results. Because the best outcomes for kids happen when parents and educators are on the same team.

    12 min
  • 7 Episodes

About

A podcast for parents navigating the world of special education. Host Dr. Kathleen Adolt-Silva (Dr. KAS) brings a rare perspective—having served as a teacher, administrator, and now a board-certified parent advocate as well as a special education consultant and subject matter expert. Each episode breaks down the confusion, cuts through the jargon, and offers practical ways for families and schools to work together. The best outcomes for kids happen when everyone's on the same side. Both Sides of the Table is a podcast about building bridges—not building walls.

Information