Blog - Guiding with Integrity
Behavior Is Communication: Why Punishment Isn’t the Answer
By: Frances Shefter, Esq.
The words “consequence”...
Inclusion Coaching, Regulation, and Building a Village
A Stress-Free IEP Conversation with Janelle McCarthy,...
Dyslexia is a language-based learning difference that affects reading, writing, and spelling. While it...
Helping Neurodivergent Teens Find the Right Work Path
Stress-Free IEP with Frances Shefter & guest Viktoriya Selden
In...
The Power of Data in Your Child’s Educational Story
Behind every IEP goal is a story, one built on growth,...
This week on Stress-Free IEP, host Frances Shefter sits down with speech–language pathologist (SLP) and...
By: Frances Shefter, Esq.
Parenting is hard, and expensive. Your plate is already full running from...
What We Mean by “Executive Functioning” (And Why It Matters)
We toss around the term a lot, but Dr....
Meet the Guest & the Mission
This week on Stress-Free IEP, host Frances Shefter sits down with Dotan...
By: Frances Shefter, Esq.
On March 20, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order titled “Improving...
Meet the Guest
This week on Stress-Free IEP, Frances sat down with Lauren Gilbert—VP of Operations by...
A Parent’s Guide to Smooth Transitions with Spectrum Transition Coaching’s Beth Felsen
Episode at a...
Spotting ADHD in Girls Early: A Conversation with Cynthia Hammer
On this week’s episode of Stress-Free...
Keeping the Drama Out of Divorce: A Conversation with Cary Jacobson
On this episode of Stress-Free IEP,...
By: Frances Shefter, Esq.
Across the United States, schools are facing a serious crisis: not enough...
If you’ve ever skipped balloons because your child hates loud pops (hi, neurodivergent kiddos 👋), this...
Across the United States, families are filing more complaints against school districts over special education...
Guest: Rachel Greenberg, founder of Life Unlimited: Unleash Your Potential, LLC
Host: Frances Shefter,...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
When the federal government took control of the D.C. Metropolitan Police...
Helping Kids Regulate by Regulating Ourselves – A Conversation with Rivka Stern
In this episode of Stress-Free...
Featuring Dr. Jessica Hasson, Clinical Psychologist
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP, host Frances...
The Power of Early Intervention and Trusting Your Gut: A Conversation with Gabriele Nicolet
In this...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
Theo Huxtable, played by the newly departed Malcolm-Jamal Warner, was...
Healing Through Storytelling: Creating Trauma-Informed Classrooms
On this deeply moving episode of Stress-Free...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
The Supreme Court’s recent decision to allow the Trump administration to...
Meeting People Where They Are
In this powerful episode of Stress-Free IEP, host Frances Shefter welcomes...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
Congress recently passed the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” a misnomer...
Meet Lauri Getlan-Watson: Teacher, Artist, and Creative Catalyst
In this episode of the Stress-Free...
In this episode of the Stress-Free IEP podcast, host Francis Shefter welcomes Casey Joseph, founder and...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
I’m going to set the scene. You’re in school, sitting next to your best...
By: Frances Shefter, Esq.
On June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6–3 decision in Mahmoud...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
If you’re the parent of a child receiving special education services,...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
Something major just happened that can be game changing for families with...
Meet travel trainer Melinda “Mindy” Niland of ECNV, who turns bus routes and metro maps into gateways...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 95
Rethinking Literacy Support: From School Psychologist...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
Washington, D.C. is working on its budget for Fiscal Year 2026, and there’s...
On this episode of “Stress-Free IEP®,” host Frances Shefter welcomed Joan Green, a speech-language...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 93
From Personal Experience to Professional Advocacy
In...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
Last week, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at bringing back what...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
If you’re a Washington, DC resident, you’ve likely heard about the city’s...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
If you’ve recently been paying attention to special education, you know...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 92
In this heartwarming and insightful episode...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
Disability rights laws are supposed to make life fairer for people...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 91
In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Stress-Free...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
Transitioning from high school to adulthood is a big deal for any student,...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
Imagine walking into the school where you’ve taught for the last decade...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 89
Planning for the future is something every parent...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
Will special education services and protections be kicked out of the U.S....
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 88
The Power of Peer Support
In this episode of Stress-Free...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
One of the most dramatic proposals in recent history is President Trump’s...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 87
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
For families of students with disabilities, school isn’t just about grades...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 86
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 85
The Birth of EASE: Addressing Consent and Social...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
Last week, I wrote a blog post titled, “Addressing Staffing Shortages in...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 84
In this enlightening episode of Stress-Free...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
Staffing shortages are one of the major issues that American schools face...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 83
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
People with autism and their families have been pushing Congress to pass...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 82
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 81
Introduction:
In this episode, Frances Shefter welcomes...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
In today’s society, there are numerous factors that can cause trauma. Some...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 80
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 79
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP ®, Frances Shefter...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 78
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
In today’s diverse classrooms, cultural competence is mandatory for students...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 77
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
In a post-pandemic world, helping students deal with mental health challenges...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 76
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances...
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
There is a new—well, newish—theory that some children, along with a few...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 75
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 74
In this enlightening episode of Stress-Free IEP®,...
US Dept. of Ed Proposes Grants of $30M for State Assessments and $149M for Student Literacy Programs
Blog by Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
Last month, the U.S. Department of Education put out a press release...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 73
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter,...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 72
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, host Frances...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 71
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter...
Ensuring that all students receive the educational support they need is not just a legal
responsibility;...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 70
Introduction to Kids Up Reading Tutors (formerly Kids...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 68
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 67
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 66
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 64
Episode Summary:
In a recent episode of Stress-Free...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 63
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 62
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 61
Introduction to Stress-Free IEP®
Welcome to the Stress-Free...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 60
Introduction to Stress-Free IEP®
Welcome to the Stress-Free...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 59
Introduction to Stress-Free IEP®
Welcome to...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 58
Introduction to Stress-Free IEP®
Welcome to the Stress-Free...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 57
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP® Frances Shefter...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 56
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 54
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 53
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 52
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®,...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 50
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®,...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 49
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 48
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 47
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Ep 46
In this compelling episode of Stress-Free IEP®, host Frances...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Ep 45
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances speaks with...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 43
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®,...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 42
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP® Frances looks...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 41
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 40
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 39
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 38
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter...
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 37
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Crista Hopp, owner of and Executive...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Maria Slavin. Maria is a Certified...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks about her career and tells some inspiring...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Jared Kallen, Founder of Action Pact...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Psychologist Ali Navidi, Founder of...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Faith Borkowsky, Founder of High Five...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Deepa Gosal, Educational Therapist and...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Jenna Meehan, Autistic & ADHD occupational...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Naomi Rubinstein, Family Educator and...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Dr. Teri Bullis, Behavior Therapist...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Hanna Forrest, ADHD Specialist and Parent...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Dana Jeffrey, Licensed Educational Psychologist...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEPTM, Frances Shefter speaks with Evelyn Fromowitz, BCBA, Director at...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEPTM, Frances Shefter speaks with Sheryl Stevens, a pediatric Speech-Language...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEPTM, Frances Shefter speaks with Shannon Olsen M. Ed., Special Education...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEPTM, Frances Shefter speaks with Rachel Cederbaum, Founder and Lead...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Gabrielle Czaja, a Physical Therapist...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEPTM, Frances Shefter speaks with Mya Zavaleta, of Rooted Occupational...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEPTM, Frances Shefter speaks with Hannah Breckenridge, a Licensed Clinical...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEPTM, Frances Shefter speaks with with Candace Sahm & Kerri Midiri...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEPTM, Frances Shefter speaks with Lavaunda Roundtree, an academic therapist,...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEPTM, Frances Shefter speaks with Ned Johnson, President and Tutor Geek...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEPTM, Frances Shefter speaks with Pia Seltmann, MS, OTR/L, a German occupational...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEPTM, Frances Shefter speaks with Christine Dodaj. Christine is...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEPTM Frances Shefter speaks with Wendy Taylor.
Wendy Taylor is a certified...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEPTM, Frances Shefter speaks with Meghan Lucas. Meghan is the...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEPTM, Frances Shefter speaks with Kamakshi “Kami” Sankar Boyle, a Licensed...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEPTM, Frances speaks with Todd Boernstein. Todd is an estate planning...
In this episode of Stress-Free IEPTM, Frances speaks with Scot Marken, Founder and CEO of EdRedefined....
Stress-Free IEP™:
Frances Shefter is an Education Attorney and Advocate who is committed to helping her...
Stress-Free IEP™:
Frances Shefter is an Education Attorney and Advocate who is committed to...
Stress-Free IEP™:
Frances Shefter is an Education Attorney and Advocate who is committed to...
Stress-Free IEP™:Frances Shefter is an Education Attorney and Advocate who is committed to helping...
Stress-Free IEP™:Frances Shefter is an Education Attorney and Advocate who is committed to helping her...
Stress-Free IEP™: Frances Shefter is an Education Attorney and Advocate who is committed to helping...
I know it has been a while since I have blogged and I have several great reasons.
1. We are growing!!!...
I am excited to let you all know about new services I am offering, Strategy Sessions and Strategy Sessions...
I’m going to tell you a secret that schools don’t want you to know. Three little letters...
The World of Possibilities Disabilities Expo is being held on October 23, 2021 at the Amuel Riggs IV...
I hate when schools start meetings and just keep going instead of checking for understanding. As educators,...
I wanted to share how excited I am to be one of twenty-three experienced special education attorneys...
Yay! Some of your children are going back to school. I know it has been a rough year and those children...
I want to first apologize for not blogging for so long. I have started to Video blog and have a new You...
MCPS Superintendent of schools just send an email stating that MCPS will be virtual only for the entire...
Letter form MCPS Superintendent just emailed. It provides the draft plan for the 2020-21 school year....
The number one question on all parents’ minds right now, is what will school look like in the new...
Now that the school year is coming to a close, many parents are worried about the summer and...
Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) posts Technical Assistance Bulletins (TABs) providing...
I found this guide for parents put out by Disability Rights Maryland very helpful to use when developing...
MSDE issued a Technical Assistance Bulletin #20-01 regarding servicing children with disabilities during...
I found this article interesting and wonder what other school districts are doing.
My daughter’s case...
I do not even know what to say. I definitely do not agree with teach none if you cannot teach all. However,...
The world of special education can be overwhelming at times. Lots of acronyms and new vocabulary being...
