Starting With IEP

How to Disagree in IEP Meetings Without Feeling Intimidated ft. Marielle Mathews | Ep 32

Have you ever walked out of an IEP meeting feeling overwhelmed, confused, or like decisions were already made without you? That feeling is more common than you think, and

IEP Meetings: When to Say Yes, When to Say No, and What Schools Won’t Tell You- Marielle Mathews (Ep. 31)

Have you ever sat in an IEP meeting feeling confused, overwhelmed, or unsure if you can speak up? You are not alone, and more importantly, you are not powerless. In this

What Schools Won’t Tell You About ESY, 1:1 Support, and IEP Decisions

ESY services and one-to-one support are some of the most misunderstood parts of the IEP process. Many families are told their child “needs” these services, only to realiz

Episode 29: Is Your Child’s IEP Too Long… or Just Done Right? (What Schools Won’t Tell You)

IEPs are meant to support students, but many families are told their plan is “too long,” “too detailed,” or “too complicated.” In Episode 29, we continue the conversation

Episode 28: What Every Parent Must Know About Transition IEP Planning

Transition IEPs are one of the most critical parts of special education, yet they are often treated like a formality instead of a roadmap to adulthood. When transition pl

Ep. 27 ft. Marielle Mathews: A School Psychologist POV on IEP Eligibility & Educational Impact

IEP eligibility is one of the most misunderstood parts of special education. Many families walk into their first evaluation meeting believing that a medical diagnosis aut

Episode 26: IEP Trauma and Trust: How Strong Admin Leadership Shapes Parent-School Partnerships

IEP meetings can shape a family’s entire educational journey, yet many parents leave feeling unheard, overwhelmed, or uncertain about the decisions being made. In Episode

Episode 25: Mastering IEP Decisions: Retention, Advocacy, and Admin Insight

Grade retention is one of the most complex and emotional decisions in special education. Families often feel torn between academic data, emotional readiness, and school r

Episode 24: Why OT Eligibility Varies: How Therapist Approaches Shape School vs. Private OT

Occupational therapy is one of the most misunderstood services in special education. Families are often told their child “doesn’t qualify” for school-based OT while simul

Episode 23: Present Levels and Why IEP Goals Fall Apart Without Them

Present levels of performance are one of the most important parts of an IEP, yet they are often vague, outdated, or disconnected from real data. When present levels are w

Episode 22: Baseline Data and the Difference Between Real and Artificial Progress

Baseline data is one of the most important parts of an IEP, yet it’s often rushed, vague, or poorly explained. Without it, progress becomes subjective, goals can be recyc

Episode 21: What Early Intervention Progress Really Looks Like in the First Six Months

Early intervention does not feel loud or urgent in the beginning. It often feels quiet, slow, and filled with doubt. Families start to wonder whether anything is actually

Episode 20: Early Intervention for Infants and Toddlers and the Path to the IEP

Early intervention doesn’t begin with a school meeting or an IEP document. It begins in the quiet moments when something feels off and you are deciding whether to trust y

Episode 19: The Power of Parent Networks in Navigating the IEP Process

IEP meetings don’t just test your knowledge of special education, they test your emotional endurance. The self-doubt, the second-guessing, the feeling that everyone else

Episode 18: Newly Diagnosed and Overwhelmed - What Families Must Do First

Receiving a diagnosis can feel like the ground has shifted beneath you. The fear, the grief, the questions, and the pressure to “do the right thing” all arrive at once. I

Episode 17: From Transition IEPs to Real Jobs - What Families Need to Do Before It Is Too Late

Planning for adulthood started early for me, long before Aliyah reached her teenage years. I realized quickly that her adulthood was going to look very different from oth

Episode 16: Avoid the Gap Year - A Parent’s Guide to Transition IEPs and Adult Services

Planning for adulthood started early for me, long before Aliyah reached her teenage years. I realized quickly that her adulthood was going to look very different from oth

Episode 15: The Missing Supporting Piece in IEPs and Why Kids Need Interest-Based Social Groups

Guest: Solo episode with Flor De Amelia, Special Needs Mom, Advocate, and Host of Starting With IEP IEPs don’t only determine services, minutes, or goals. They influence

Episode 14: How IEP Goals Turn Into Real Life Skills at Home, With Family, and Everywhere They Go

Guest: Solo episode with Flor De Amelia — Special Needs Mom, Advocate, and Host of Starting With IEP IEPs don’t just shape a child’s education, they shape entire familie

Episode 13: Stop Guessing: Dr. Heller's Guide to Reading Evaluation Reports & Planning Interventions

Guest: Dr. Carey Heller — Licensed Psychologist, Certified ADHD Professional, Executive Functioning Coach Psychological evaluations can feel overwhelming—pages of scores