Blog Post: What to Expect at Your First IEP Meeting (PLAAFP Explained)
Stop the Stress: Your Roadmap to Confidence at Your First IEP Meeting Walking into your child’s first Individualized Education Program
Read MoreStop the Stress: Your Roadmap to Confidence at Your First IEP Meeting Walking into your child’s first Individualized Education Program
Read MoreTonya What to Expect at Your First IEP Meeting: A Complete Parent Guide The Water Prairie Chronicles Podcast airs new
Read MoreTonya Episode #138: The #1 Question Every Parent Should Ask About Their Child’s Speech The Water Prairie Chronicles Podcast airs
Read MoreTonya Episode #137: The Future of Special Education: How IDEA Changes Will Impact Your Family The Water Prairie Chronicles Podcast
Read MoreTonya The Water Prairie Chronicles Podcast airs new episodes every Friday! Find the full directory at waterprairie.com/listen. Show Notes:Don’t miss
Read MoreUnderstanding the Difference As a parent of a child with special needs, you’ve likely encountered the terms “accommodations” and “modifications”
Read MoreTonya The Water Prairie Chronicles Podcast airs new episodes every Friday at Noon EST! Find the full directory at waterprairie.com/listen.
Read MoreShow Notes:
In this empowering episode, we dive into the world of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and the pivotal role of the Parent Input Statement. Join us as we welcome Heather Wright, a Master IEP Coach, who shares invaluable insights on how parents can effectively advocate for their child’s education.
Discover the secrets to crafting a compelling Parent Input Statement, one that goes beyond mere concerns and transforms your child’s educational journey. Learn how to embrace your essential role in shaping your child’s IEP and why preparation is the key to a successful IEP meeting.
This episode is a must-watch for parents, guardians, and anyone involved in the IEP process. It’s time to supercharge your advocacy, foster collaboration, and unlock your child’s full potential in their educational experience. Don’t miss this chance to take your child’s education to the next level.
Connect with Heather:
WEBSITE: http://www.heatherwrightconsultant.com
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/heatherwrightconsultant
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/heatherwrightconsultant
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Support our podcast and help us share more incredible stories by making a donation at Buy Me A Coffee. Your contribution makes a significant impact in bringing these stories to light. Thank you for your support!
https://BuyMeACoffee.com/waterprairie
Music Used:
“LazyDay” by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Artist: http://audionautix.com/
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Heather Wright, M.Ed. is a special education consultant who began her career more than 16 years ago as a middle school special education teacher. She is passionate about the world of special education and supporting families through this seemingly difficult process by providing them with the tools that allow them to be an advocate for their child all while developing a plan to move their education forward. She provides a variety of services to meet the unique needs of families, starting with a free 30 minute phone consultation.
She obtained her masters degree in Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorders from Georgia State University, in Atlanta, Georgia and is also a member of the Master IEP Coach® Network. She currently works with families of children with learning disabilities, autism, developmental delays, behavior disorders, and other health impairments, to get the supports and services in the public-school setting, through collaboration. Parents know their children best and are their best advocates; however, they don’t have to be alone!
Heather grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and moved to Georgia in 2006, where she lives with her husband and two fur babies. When she is not working you can find her cooking and baking, crafting, binge watching her favorite show, or enjoying the lake.
Read MoreShow Notes:
In this episode, Helen Panos, owner of Dynamis Learning in Atlanta, GA, and Heather Wright, a Master IEP Coach, share a wealth of knowledge and guidance on the important topics of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans for students with disabilities. These passionate advocates offer a comprehensive overview of these plans, emphasizing the critical role that parents play in their children’s educational journey.
Throughout the discussion, the conversation underscores the need for a collaborative approach, emphasizing that the school system, educators, and parents should work as a team to ensure that each student’s unique strengths and weaknesses are recognized and addressed. Additionally, they highlight the importance of early intervention, early identification of potential issues, and ongoing communication to foster a supportive educational environment.
Overall, this podcast interview provides an essential resource for parents, teachers, and anyone interested in the world of special education. The conversation highlights the importance of advocating for every child’s unique needs and creating an inclusive educational environment through collaboration and communication.
📣 Connect with Helen:
WEBSITE: https://www.dynamislearningacademy.com/
FREE Advocacy Brochure: https://bit.ly/40vheZg
PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/smart-parents-successful-students/id1581128395
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/dynamislearningacademy/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/dynamislearningacademy
YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/channel/UC-DBFY2KmyXii8Zp41R0RbQ
📣 Connect with Heather:
WEBSITE: http://www.heatherwrightconsultant.com
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/heatherwrightconsultant
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/heatherwrightconsultant
Are you getting our newsletter? If not, subscribe at https://waterprairie.com/newsletter
👉 Support our podcast and help us share more incredible stories by making a donation at Buy Me A Coffee. Your contribution makes a significant impact in bringing these stories to light. Thank you for your support!
https://BuyMeACoffee.com/waterprairie
Music Used:
“LazyDay” by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Artist: http://audionautix.com/
Read MoreShow Notes:
In this episode, Tonya continues her conversation from Episode 52 with Amanda Owen, author of the Owen the Wonderer book series and founder of the non-profit, Puzzle Pieces. Owen is the main character of the children’s book series, which includes real people from Amanda’s life. The series aims to start conversations about inclusion and acceptance of individuals with disabilities, and each book includes questions for parents and teachers to help facilitate these conversations. Amanda started the series to provide a tool for parents and educators who may not know how to approach the topic of disability with children. The books are based on Amanda’s experiences as a special education teacher and the founder of a non-profit organization that advocates for individuals with disabilities.
If you missed the first part of this conversation, be sure to listen to Episode 52 to hear Amanda’s story of growing up as the sibling to a brother with a rare genetic condition. She also gives good suggestions on how parents can prepare for their special needs child’s future care. You can watch Episode 52 at https://youtu.be/sapGfxihznY.
Since recording this podcast episode, Amanda has launched another project! She created a Gratitude Journal for moms raising children with disabilities. With the help of 30 mommas from across the country, Amanda made something that she wished her mom had 41 years ago when she discovered her brother had a rare disability.
This journal is meant to not only help moms find joy in the hard, but also build a village of other moms walking similar paths. You don’t have to be alone. This journal will help you connect and find gratitude in your journey raising your child.
You can order your Gratitude Journal HERE! ➡ piecesofme.org/gratitude-journal
Amanda loves to connect! Find her at:
Website: piecesofme.org
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pieces-of-me/id1547078857
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/piecesofmebyamanda
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/piecesofmebyamanda/
Connect with Us: https://linktr.ee/waterprairie
Support this channel: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/waterprairie
“2 Truths and a Lie” Game:
Can you guess which statements Amanda shared were her truths and which was her lie? Post your best guess in the comments below. We’ll post the correct answer on Instagram next week so be sure to check and see if you were right.
1. Her brother was the 11th person in U.S. with his diagnosis.
2. She is 2 episodes from 100th on podcast.
3. She loves to cook and try new recipes.
Music Used: “LazyDay” by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://audionautix.com/
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