Inclusive Education Project (IEP) Podcast

Planning for your child's financial future can feel overwhelming, especially when you need to protect their eligibility for important government benefits. Should you open an ABLE account, establish a special needs trust, or consider both? And what happens when well-meaning family members leave money to a child with disabilities without understanding the potential consequences?

Today, Vickie Brett and Amanda Selogie welcome back Mary of All Needs Planning for a practical conversation about financial planning for families of children with disabilities. Building on their previous discussion, Mary explains the differences between ABLE accounts, special needs trusts, 529 college savings...

What happens when the professionals responsible for helping students succeed aren't given the time, resources, or opportunity to work together? School-based therapists play a critical role in supporting students with IEPs, yet growing caseloads, staffing shortages, and limited collaboration can prevent them from providing the consistent support students need.

Today, Vickie Brett and Amanda Selogie welcome Cheryl Haibach of Kelly Pediatric Therapy for an important conversation about the challenges facing school-based therapists and what districts can do to better support both providers and students. Drawing on her experience as a physical therapist and pediatric therapy leader, Cheryl...

When a child is struggling with behaviors at school, how do you know when it’s time to take a closer look at what’s really going on? And if a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) could help identify what’s behind those behaviors, how long should a team wait before moving forward? Today, we’re welcoming Dr. Desiree back for a candid conversation about FBAs, behavior intervention plans, data collection, and why it’s so important to understand not just what a behavior looks like, but what may be causing it.

Amanda shares a recent IEP experience involving...

As the school year is off and running, we get the sense that everyone feels the pressure of juggling many moving parts. Our executive functioning skills are being put to the test, which makes today’s conversation extremely relevant. We are discussing all things executive functioning, including what these skills are and how we use them to complete tasks, manage emotions, and fulfill our obligations. These skills are important to students and adults in any educational setting, but they translate into real-world skills that are valuable in our lives at any age. Kids with learning challenges definitely need more su...

With the start of a new school year, everyone involved in education feels a varying degree of anxiety and uncertainty. Today’s topic, the influence of AI in education, is relevant to everyone: parents, teachers, and students. AI has come to the forefront in recent years, along with debate about the pros and cons of screen time. An expert joins us today to explain how AI is changing the way children think and learn. Join us now!

Dr. Jonathan Strecker is an educator, author, commentator, and public thinker who has a background in neuroscience and psychology. He ha...

The school year is in full swing for most of the country. We want to remind you about your required 30-day transition IEP meeting if your child has transitioned to a new school or new program. If you haven’t been offered this meeting, request it now for a check-in. Even without a transition, you can still request this meeting to get updates on your child’s progress. Don’t delay! Now is the time! Today’s guest has her finger on the pulse of today’s special education programs, support, and funding, and she’s here to help us understan...

We spent much of the last school year discussing the changes in education and the uncertainty surrounding the federal Department of Education. Beyond the policy debates and headlines are real families trying to navigate very real questions about their children’s futures. For families of children with special needs, those questions can feel especially overwhelming: What happens after high school? How do we plan for adulthood? What financial, legal, and practical decisions need to be made—and when? Today, we’re shifting the conversation from what is happening in education right now to what families need to plan for the ye...

Welcome back, everyone! It’s back-to-school season across the country, and we are cautiously optimistic about this upcoming year. The sky has not fallen, and there is still work for us to do to effect change in the world of education. We are still here in the thick of the fight, ready for another school year. As always, we will continue to feature guests and informative conversations focused on funding, equity, inclusion, and the special needs of all students in classrooms. It’s a new academic year with new challenges and real opportunities for change. Join us!

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We are officially here at the last episode before we take a summer break. We will return with new episodes in August. This last school year was one in which we felt the negative shift in our education system, but all hope is not lost. Our focus today is on how we can best prepare for the upcoming school year. We have a great responsibility! Join us to learn more!

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Transition IEP meetings are essential when your child transitions from elementary to middle school, middle school to high school, and high school to college/vocational school. If you haven’t had a transition IEP meeting for the end of this school year, you can still get one scheduled as soon as the new school year begins. We are breaking it down in today’s episode. Join us!

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Crazy time is here! Schools across the country have a LOT happening in these final days of the school year. For parents, there is a sense of relief, along with the panic of realizing that summer is about to begin and that they need to plan what their kids will do. Having a structured literacy plan is key, but it doesn’t have to be complex. Don’t be confused by the plethora of reading programs that are advertised as a “must-have” resource. Today’s guest helps us understand what’s most important for parents to know as they help their c...

Welcome to the final weeks of the school year. Across the country, school districts are winding down to summer break from now through mid-June. It is a busy time for everyone involved in education. Today’s episode explores the power of inclusion, particularly when policies don’t always align with what best serves our students. We are thrilled to welcome Andrew Goff back to the show for his unique perspective on this topic. Join us!

Andrew Goff taught early childhood special education in five different least restrictive environments over 12 years. He is currently the lead instructor at Colo...

What is an IEP? What does it mean for your child? How do IEPs and IEP meetings differ across school districts? What is my recourse if the teacher who relates best to my child is moved to another school? We’re answering these questions and more in today’s solo episode with Vickie and Amanda!

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As the school year winds down, this is a critical window for families and educators. If there’s anything you’ve been meaning to put in motion before summer, now is the time to act. Planning ahead is essential, and school districts often operate on fixed timelines, leaving limited flexibility for scheduling assessments and services. In today’s episode, we’re diving into the challenges many families face in kindergarten and transitional kindergarten classrooms when it comes to getting students evaluated and connected with the support they need. Tune in as we break it down and share what you should k...

We are back with the second part of our conversation with Dr. Dennis. Our previous episode covered the escalating attendance crisis and how we can address it with new evaluations and data-collection tools. We are excited to dive deeper into this important subject through Dr. Dennis’ expertise and passion. Join us!

Dr. Dennis Lefevre recently served as the Executive Director of Student Support Services in a small, high-performing school district in southern CA. Before that role, he worked in various capacities in public, non-public, and private school settings with thousands of preschool, elementary, and secondary students. He had a front-row seat to the unfolding attendance crisis and became increasingly frustrated with th...

Whether you’re ready for Spring Break or still have a few weeks until Spring Break, the reality is that there isn’t much of the school year left. There are many assessments and IEP meetings that need to be scheduled now. In today’s episode, we are talking with a wonderful guest, really getting into the trenches of evaluations and the escalating attendance crisis of the last few years. Join us to learn more!

Dr. Dennis Lefevre recently served as the Executive Director of Student Support Services in a small, high-performing school district in southern CA. Prior...

It’s already March, and we are quickly approaching Spring Break season when different school districts have those breaks scattered over the next 4-6 weeks. Seeing a flare-up in behavior problems is not unusual during this time. There are highly severe sensory and emotional dysregulations happening with many students, and our goal should not be punishment. We need to appropriately address these behaviors that might be outside of the student’s control, especially those that are a result of a disability. Join us for today’s discussion about Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBAs) and Behavioral Intervention Plans (BIPs).

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We are entering the crazy season when Spring Breaks will be happening all over the country during March and April. This is a friendly reminder to be proactive in scheduling any meetings, tours, tests, and assessments that you would like to have completed before the end of the school year. The year will be winding down before we know it! We don’t want to see more students fall behind by multiple grade levels simply because assessments haven’t been done in a timely fashion. It’s not just academics that warrant an IEP meeting; social and emotional struggles should...

In our final episode of 2025, we spoke with Dr. Doug Bolton about innovative solutions for students experiencing dysregulation. We received a lot of feedback on that episode and had already planned a follow-up episode about the shift in perspective we are seeing in student behavior. We are thrilled to welcome him back to learn from him about student behavior and regulation. Join us for another conversation with Dr. Bolton!

Dr. Doug Bolton is a clinical psychologist who has always been drawn to working with kids who experience behavioral problems. Knowing that being in schools gives him the...

2026 has already had an interesting start, with numerous changes to education, particularly here in California. We urge you to check with your state representatives to see what’s happening in your state amid the chaos and confusion of the current state of US education. Your voice needs to be heard! We want this solo episode to focus on the trends we are seeing right now and how parents can be proactive. One of the biggest problems is the lack of services for the kids who need them most; so many are struggling to learn and function, but they are de...

​​Happy New Year! We can’t believe it’s already 2026. We made it through the holidays, which can be a particularly challenging time for many students. Our last episode of 2025 covered the topics of misbehavior and dysregulation, and we continue in that direction with today’s guest. Join us to learn more!

Dr. Desirie Sykes is a speaker, leader, advocate, author, and CEO. She is the founder of NESS Behavior Consulting and NESS Cares, a nonprofit in New York. NESS Behavior Consulting provides resources for mental health and special education, targeting children with a primary diagnosis of autism. Dr...

This episode will be the final one of 2025, as we take a break from the podcast over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Before we introduce today’s topic and guest, we want to address the “elephant in the room”: the shifts happening in the Department of Education under the Trump administration. Just a heads-up: following us on Instagram is the best way to stay up to date on current happenings in our world. Please keep in touch! Today’s topic is behavior and discipline with our guest, Dr. Doug Bolton. Join us!

Dr. Doug Bolton is a clinical...

With so many school holidays fast approaching, there are many kids who need interventions right now, and their parents are panicking. Furthermore, the effects of the government shutdown are being felt as Head Start programs are having to close their doors. Families are scrambling, and we are witnessing significant shifts that are having a profound impact on our kids. Today’s guest shares her perspective on anti-DEI sentiment and the current state of our country, affecting both education and the corporate world.

Nadine Jones is a 2003 graduate of Howard Law School, with a background in antitrust and co...

Today’s topic is one that not many people are talking about, but it’s a big problem in our country. We are discussing the deficit in our children’s education about civics, government, and basic politics. As parents and educators, we have a huge responsibility to do better, and today’s guest is taking on the challenge. Join us to learn more!

Lindsey Cormack is a professor of political science at Stevens Institute of Technology, a little-known but premier engineering school in Hoboken, NJ. Seeing extremely bright students every day who don’t understand the basics of our gov...

Typically, October is a busy month for us as we are already a couple of months into the new school year; reality has set in, and winter/holiday breaks are fast approaching. Today’s focus comes from a lively topic of discussion that was posted on our Instagram last week: an update on CA Assembly Bill 461, which repeals a 2011 Truancy Law. That law provided for criminal misdemeanor charges, fines, and jail time for parents of chronically truant children or for a student over 18 with chronic truancy. The problem is that the law disproportionately affects low-income students and those with di...

We’ve become accustomed to the normal back-to-school craziness this time of year, but this year seems more chaotic than usual! Numerous lawsuits are being filed to challenge the funding cuts, which are having a significant impact on programs, services, staffing, and students. There are numerous unknowns that contribute to the turmoil. We are doing our best to keep our listeners informed as much as possible. In this episode, we refer back to the Supreme Court decision from earlier this year, in which $65 million in educational funding was cut. Join us to learn more!

Dr. Annalies Corbin is...

Here we are, on the front lines of the fight for inclusive education. Now, a month or so into the new school year, we are already in the thick of the fight, and we are seeing numerous lawsuits being filed as things are changing daily. Many of our listeners are already feeling the impact of funding cuts to education. Today’s episode focuses on the actions of the US Department of Education at the beginning of August regarding five school districts in northern Virginia. Join us to learn more.

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Our goal is always to keep people informed about what’s going on in today’s world that directly affects the education of our students. It is essential to consider the communities that are forming within the broader context of the current political climate. How are conversations being navigated around important topics like race and culture? Today’s guest has valuable insights to share! Join us!

Jebeh Edmunds is the founder and CEO of Jebeh Cultural Consulting, a firm that helps disseminate multicultural lesson plans for K-12th grade. Part of her essential work also includes providing traini...

We are in the middle of the start of another school year across the country, whether your students have already returned or have a later start date. One of the most important events from last school year was the Supreme Court decision to withhold $65M in federal funding for education, and we are seeing those impacts across the board. Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez is here to unpack the decision and the far-reaching effects. Join us to learn more!

Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez is the CEO at the National Center for Learning Disabilities, an organization that is almost 50 years old...

Welcome back to the podcast as we kick off a new school year! We are excited, as always, to jump into some very important topics in the coming weeks. First up is our amazing guest, Jennifer Catalano, to discuss her work in deaf education and share her perspective on the least restrictive environments for these students. Is it better to have 100% inclusion or 100% special instruction? Let’s learn more from Jennifer’s perspective in today’s episode!

Jennifer Catalano is the director of both undergraduate and graduate deaf education programs at Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL. Her ba...

This is our last episode before our much-needed summer break. Taking this break helps us to refocus and prepare for a new school year. We recently made another appearance on the Diverse Thinking Different Learning: A ChildNEXUS podcast with Dr. Karen Wilson, who has also joined us on our podcast before. Today, we are featuring that episode as an overview of what’s been happening, and continuing to happen, in the field of special education in the US since the Trump administration took office. Enjoy the conversation!

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The landscape of American education has undergone significant changes over the past few months, particularly in the realm of special education. Our diligence in staying informed about developments in our field is more important than ever as we approach the start of a new school year in just a few weeks. Our focus today centers on understanding 504s with our guest, April. Join us to learn more!

April Rehrig is a special education advocate who does things differently. Her experiences as a teacher, mother, and school psychologist for 20 years provide her with a wide-ranging perspective on education...

Today’s episode brings back Tracy Baynes to share her best tips and advice for getting your student involved in their education earlier rather than later. She gives practical steps middle school students can take to prepare for college success, even if they are low-income students. Join us to learn more!

Tracy Baynes is the founder, president, and CEO of STEP, the Student Expedition Program. As an instructor in the oceanography field, Tracy noticed the persistent achievement gap between high-income and low-income students. She created the STEP college access and leadership program for low-income high school students, gu...

We continue our journey to view the education of our children holistically as we strive to develop them into productive and inclusive members of society. Tracy Baynes joins us to share her interesting work in helping students achieve unimaginable success.

Tracy Baynes is the founder, president, and CEO of STEP, the Student Expedition Program. As an instructor in the oceanography field, Tracy noticed the persistent achievement gap between high-income and low-income students. She wanted to focus her efforts on students who are working hard despite their adverse economic background. In 2004, she established STEP and soon took the...

Today’s conversation covers the impact of recent executive orders on DEI, the historical context of the civil rights movements, and the importance of local community efforts. Our guest is Dr. OiYan Poon, a community-engaged research scholar, educator, storyteller, and leader for intersectional racial equity. Her research is focused on the racial politics of Asian Americans, and her book is titled Asian American is Not a Color. 

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Today’s episode features a fascinating conversation about strategies to support students and schools during unknowns and big transitions in education in the US. We welcome Robert Barnett to the podcast to discuss his innovations in teaching math and how his nonprofit, The Modern Classrooms Project, is training teachers to teach differently. Join us to learn more!

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Many parents of kids with disabilities share the same fear of what will happen to their child in adulthood and when they are no longer here to care for and advocate for them. Today’s guest is Kimberly McCarten, CEO of Jonathan’s Landing Foundation, in Orlando, FL. This remarkable organization is bringing innovation into how we service people in the adult transition by providing a bridge to communication and independence for adults across the autism spectrum. A division of Jonathan’s Landing is Techtonic’s Workforce Academy. This social enterprise certifies neurodivergent individuals in WISE certification, paving the way for...

We love to offer solutions along with our discussions of the current problems in education today. Today’s fresh perspective comes from Dr. Emily Affolter, the director of the Sustainability Education Ph.D. at Prescott College. The focus of this program is on the nexus of social and environmental justice as enacted in teaching, learning, and leading. Emily’s interest is in culturally responsive teaching across grade levels to infuse social justice principles into education. Join us to learn more!

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One of the benefits of hosting a podcast in our field of civil rights and special education is that we can do quick follow-ups to incidents as they happen. If you follow us on social media, you know we cover many topics there, and we utilize the podcast for more in-depth conversations about relevant happenings in our field. One such recent event is the "Dear Colleague" letter of 2/14/25 sent out by the US Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR). It gives guidance clarifying how they will interpret federal laws about discrimination for educational institutions that receive federal...

We are still in the early months of 2025, and there is a LOT happening in the state of California and across the country. There are many important conversations we need to have, and our guest, Mike Robbins, joins us to discuss the current state of affairs. We have concerns about what’s happening with DEI and special education, but we want to keep things in perspective and learn how we can find common ground in an increasingly divided and disconnected world. Join us to learn more from Mike!

Mike Robbins is a speaker, writer, workshop leader, and po...