Special Education Strategist: Expert Advice for IEPs, 504 Plans, Dyslexia, Parent Advocacy, Learning Disabilities, Executive

Special Education Strategist
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Overwhelmed, lost, dismissed in IEP/504 systems — seeking help, clarity, and support? You're not alone! Hosted by Wendy Taylor, M.Ed., ET/P, a certified educational therapist, IEP coach, and parent advocate with over 20 years of experience helping families navigate special education. Wendy is the founder of Learning Essentials and a trusted voice in decoding IEPs, literacy challenges, and executive function needs. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or professional, Wendy brings compassionate expertise, real-life strategies, and empowering guidance to help you support the child you care about.

  1. From Home to School: Bridging Health, Neurodivergence, and Advocacy with Dr. Karin Varblow

    OCT 14

    From Home to School: Bridging Health, Neurodivergence, and Advocacy with Dr. Karin Varblow

    From Home to School: Bridging Health, Neurodivergence, and Advocacy with Dr. Karin Varblow When home, healthcare, and school feel like three separate worlds, how do you build one clear path for your child? Pediatrician and Neurodivergence Specialist Dr. Karin Varblow joins Wendy to connect medication management, behavior-as-communication, and care coordination into a parent-friendly plan. With roots in education/social work and lived experience, Dr. Varblow offers scripts, weekly rhythms, and a “one child” lens you can take straight into your next IEP/504 meeting. Three Key Takeaways One child, one plan: Align health + school with shared data and a point person in each system. De-stigmatize supports: Treat medication as one tool; share what helps and side effects. Weekly rhythm: Send a short home–school snapshot (strengths, struggles, supports tried). Contact the Speaker (Dr. Karin Varblow) Website: https://www.drkarinmd.com

    54 min
  2. From Medical Reports to Everyday Support — with Dr. Jennifer Linton Reesman, PhD, ABPP

    OCT 7

    From Medical Reports to Everyday Support — with Dr. Jennifer Linton Reesman, PhD, ABPP

    Feeling overwhelmed by neuropsychological evaluations, audiology reports, or conflicting advice from doctors and schools? In this empowering episode, Dr. Jennifer Linton Reesman—board-certified clinical and pediatric neuropsychologist and Director of Neuropsychology Training at The Chesapeake Center—shares how families can translate complex medical findings into practical, everyday strategies. Learn how to bridge the gap between health and education systems, strengthen collaboration with school teams, and center your child’s unique voice, including for D/HH learners and families using ASL. Calm, doable steps for parents of neurodivergent children—without the burnout. Three Key Takeaways Start small: Begin with the report’s summary or recommendations and choose one to three priorities to focus on. Bridge the silos: Identify a single point person—at school or in the clinic—so communication flows and teams truly share information. Trust, then verify: Keep a simple home log of dates and notes to see what’s actually working for your child. Listeners: Connect with me, Wendy Taylor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningessentials/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy‑taylor‑7106b6a6/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TutoringLE Website & Course: www.LearningEssentialsEDU.com | Cracking the Code: https://learningessentialsedu.com/course/

    58 min
  3. Transforming Observations into Action: Crafting Effective IEP Goals

    SEP 30

    Transforming Observations into Action: Crafting Effective IEP Goals

    In this episode of The Special Ed Strategist, host Wendy Taylor is joined by Dr. Rebecca Fritsch, Psy.D., licensed clinical and school psychologist, to explore how parents can document their child’s strengths and challenges at home—and translate those insights into measurable IEP goals. Parents will learn how to connect observations to “educational impact,” collaborate with school teams, and empower their child’s voice in the IEP process. Key Takeaways Document home observations using the simple frame: “When __ happens, my child __, which affects __.” Focus on educational impact: how behaviors affect learning and participation. Collaboration + student voice = stronger, more personalized IEP goals. Listen & Subscribe Apple Podcasts: The Special Ed Strategist Listeners: Connect with me, Wendy Taylor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningessentials/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy‑taylor‑7106b6a6/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TutoringLE Website & Course: www.LearningEssentialsEDU.com | Cracking the Code: https://learningessentialsedu.com/course/

    45 min
  4. Medical Insights That Transform Learning & Behavior

    SEP 23

    Medical Insights That Transform Learning & Behavior

    Feeling overwhelmed by constant IEP meetings, doctor visits, and behavior struggles? Join Wendy Taylor as she interviews developmental-behavioral pediatrician Dr. Amir Miodovnik—an expert who trained at Boston Children’s and Kennedy Krieger—on how medical factors like sleep, anxiety, and ADHD shape learning and behavior. Discover how to transform your observations into action: translate clinical insights into school strategies, prioritize child-centered supports, and plan ahead as your child grows. Warm, clear, and deeply empowering—this episode gives you a strategy you can use immediately. Three Key Takeaways Sleep first: Establish sleep routines before tackling attention or emotional issues. One-page strategy: Create a “Student Health Snapshot” to share medical insights clearly with your school team. Expect change: Be vigilant through transitions—behaviors evolve, so adapt supports accordingly. About Dr. Amir Miodovnik Board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatrician, Dr. Miodovnik trained at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard, led developmental medicine at Kennedy Krieger Institute, and now offers private, family-centered care in the DMV area—prioritizing clarity, shorter wait times, and tangible tools for advocacy. Learn more at drmio.com Connect with Wendy Specialized Tutoring/Coaching: Expert help with Dyslexia intervention, strategic writing, and executive function. IEP Course: Learn how to get IEPs with our Cracking the Code course. Instagram LinkedIn Facebook

    58 min
  5. Different Thinkers: Turning a Diagnosis into Empowerment

    SEP 16

    Different Thinkers: Turning a Diagnosis into Empowerment

    In this episode of The Special Ed Strategist, host Wendy Taylor sits down with pediatric neuropsychologists Dr. Yael Rothman and Dr. Katia Fredriksen—co-authors of the Different Thinkers children’s book series—to explore how families can help children understand diagnoses with compassion and clarity. With a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming lens, they offer practical ways to shift conversations from “what’s wrong” to “what’s unique,” empowering both home life and school advocacy. Three Key Takeaways: Reframe diagnosis as a narrative shift toward understanding, not limitation. Use personalized storytelling and concrete examples to highlight what the child does best. Equip children with words and self‑advocacy tools early and revisit them as they grow. Listeners: Connect with me, Wendy Taylor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningessentials/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy‑taylor‑7106b6a6/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TutoringLE Website & Course: www.LearningEssentialsEDU.com | Cracking the Code: https://learningessentialsedu.com/course/ Find the full episode here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the‑special‑ed‑strategist‑podcast‑with‑wendy‑taylor‑m‑ed‑et‑p/id1639953041 Other platforms: https://pod.link/1639953041

    50 min
  6. Building Independence One Microstep at a Time

    SEP 9

    Building Independence One Microstep at a Time

    In this episode of The Special Ed Strategist, Wendy Taylor sits down with Kristin Lombardi, MA, BCBA, founder of Zeal Behavior Analysis, and Dr. Christine Drew, BCBA-D, Assistant Professor at Auburn University, to discuss their groundbreaking book, Spectrum of Independence: How to Teach Your Neurodiverse Child Daily Life Skills. Kristin and Christine share practical, science-backed strategies for helping neurodiverse children gain independence—one “microstep” at a time. From scaffolding skills at home to collaborating with IEP teams at school, this conversation empowers parents to reduce overwhelm, celebrate small wins, and build confidence for both kids and families. Three Key Takeaways: Small Steps, Big Wins: Break routines into microsteps to build confidence and independence without overwhelm. Home-to-School Bridge: Align daily routines at home with IEP goals to support skills that are relevant across settings. Progress Over Perfection: Independence looks messy sometimes—celebrate the small victories along the way. Connect with Wendy (Host): Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningessentials/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy‑taylor‑7106b6a6/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TutoringLE Website & Courses: www.LearningEssentialsEDU.com | Cracking the Code: https://learningessentialsedu.com/course/ Connect with the Guests: Spectrum of Independence website: https://www.spectrumofindependence.com/

    1h 4m
  7. How Will the General Education Teacher Know What’s in My Child’s IEP?

    AUG 12

    How Will the General Education Teacher Know What’s in My Child’s IEP?

    In this solo episode of The Special Ed Strategist, Wendy Taylor, M.Ed., ET/P, unpacks a question many parents whisper with concern: How will the general education teacher know—and follow—my child’s IEP? Discover what the law requires, what often happens in practice, and proactive ways you can bridge the gap between the IEP document and daily classroom implementation. 3 Key Takeaways Ask the right questions: Clarify how general education teachers are updated after an IEP is finalized. Share a one-page student snapshot: Highlight strengths, needs, and preferred strategies in a friendly, visual format. Foster ongoing collaboration: Keep communication open, start with gratitude, and track patterns at home to share with the team. Contact Wendy Website: LearningEssentialsEDU.com Instagram: @learningessentials LinkedIn: Wendy Taylor Facebook: TutoringLE Explore the Course Cracking the Code to Special Education Eligibility – Learn the 4 Es and unlock services your child deserves: Click here

    9 min
  8. Listener Favorite: Complex Kids: Navigating Autism, ADHD & Anxiety with Dr. Dan Shapiro

    AUG 5

    Listener Favorite: Complex Kids: Navigating Autism, ADHD & Anxiety with Dr. Dan Shapiro

    Understanding your child's unique behaviors can feel overwhelming—but clarity is possible. In this empowering, listener-favorite episode from our archives, host Wendy Taylor welcomes Dr. Dan Shapiro, renowned developmental-behavioral pediatrician, author, and founder of the Parent Child Journey. Dr. Shapiro demystifies the complexities of autism, ADHD, and anxiety by explaining how these conditions interact and providing practical strategies tailored to your child's everyday needs. Three Essential Takeaways: Discover how autism, ADHD, and anxiety can coexist and fluctuate, explained through Dr. Shapiro's accessible "brakes too tight vs. brakes too loose" analogy. Learn why functional assessments that track specific daily triggers and behaviors are more insightful than a diagnosis alone. Get practical guidance on medication, therapy, and educational interventions, focusing on prioritizing realistic, achievable goals—small wins over sweeping changes. Connect with Wendy Taylor (Learning Essentials): Instagram LinkedIn Facebook Website Cracking the Code Course Connect with Dr. Dan Shapiro: Parent Child Journey Website A compassionate and informative conversation for any parent feeling uncertain about supporting their child's complex developmental needs.

    53 min
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5
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About

Overwhelmed, lost, dismissed in IEP/504 systems — seeking help, clarity, and support? You're not alone! Hosted by Wendy Taylor, M.Ed., ET/P, a certified educational therapist, IEP coach, and parent advocate with over 20 years of experience helping families navigate special education. Wendy is the founder of Learning Essentials and a trusted voice in decoding IEPs, literacy challenges, and executive function needs. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or professional, Wendy brings compassionate expertise, real-life strategies, and empowering guidance to help you support the child you care about.

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