Stress-Free IEP®: Building Your Village in 2026

You Were Never Meant to Do This Alone

Stress-Free IEP® has always been rooted in one core belief: families of neurodivergent children should not have to figure everything out on their own. The IEP process, school decisions, therapies, mental health, transitions into adulthood—it’s too much for any parent to navigate in isolation.

That’s where the idea of building a village comes in.

A real village isn’t just the school team. It’s the professionals, advocates, coaches, businesses, and fellow parents who understand your child as a whole person. It’s knowing who to turn to, what support exists outside the classroom, and how different systems can actually work together over time.

In 2025, Stress-Free IEP® hosted 38 guests who each brought a different piece of that village to families. As we move into 2026, the conversation continues—with some powerful and timely episodes already scheduled.

Below is a look at what’s coming up and why these conversations matter.

January 6: Autism, ADHD, and Strengths That Get Overlooked

Guest: Sam Mitchell, Autism Rocks and Rolls

The first show of the year sets the tone.

Sam Mitchell brings lived experience and unfiltered honesty to conversations about autism, ADHD, and bullying. This episode goes beyond labels and compliance-based approaches. Instead, it asks a critical question: What changes when we stop trying to “fix” kids and start centering their strengths?

This discussion will challenge common narratives, address the real impact of bullying, and push families—and systems—to rethink what support should actually look like.

January 13: Navigating School Choices Without Panic

Guests: Hayley Jacobson & Rich Weinfeld, Weinfeld Education Group

School choice decisions are often rushed, emotional, and overwhelming. This episode is about slowing the process down.

Hayley Jacobson and Rich Weinfeld walk families through how to:

Build a thoughtful and realistic school list

Ask better, more revealing questions

Look beyond marketing language

Make decisions based on fit, not fear

If you’ve ever felt pressure to “pick something now” without truly understanding your options, this conversation is for you.

February 3: Inclusion Beyond School Walls

Guest: Roger Haney, Spectrum Fudge

Inclusion doesn’t stop at graduation—or at the school doors.

Roger Haney shares his family’s journey and how it led to the creation of Spectrum Fudge, an inclusive business and community in Pittsburgh. This episode highlights what happens when families take inclusion into their own hands and create spaces where neurodivergent individuals are valued, visible, and meaningfully employed.

It’s a powerful reminder that community-based solutions matter.

February 17: When Homeschooling Is Part of the Conversation

Guest: Joseph Kavitski, Fusion Academy Rockville

More families are considering alternatives to traditional school settings, including homeschooling and hybrid models.

Joseph Kavitski explains how Fusion Academy can partner with families who are homeschooling or exploring flexible educational options. This episode focuses on collaboration—not replacement—and how personalized education models can support both students and parents navigating nontraditional paths.

March 10: Men’s Mental Health, Perfectionism, and Imposter Syndrome

Guest: Matthew Zakreski, PhD (“Dr. Matt”)

This episode introduces topics that haven’t been deeply explored on the show before—but should have been.

Dr. Matt dives into men’s mental health, imposter syndrome, and perfectionism, and how these issues intersect with parenting, professional life, and neurodivergence. This conversation matters not just for fathers, but for families trying to understand the unseen pressures that shape behavior, stress, and burnout.

March 17: Executive Function Coaching for the College Transition

Guest: Cindy Palmer, Threshold Coaches

The move from high school to college exposes executive functioning gaps fast.

Cindy Palmer explains how executive function coaching can support students during this transition—helping with planning, time management, self-advocacy, and independence. This episode is especially relevant for families preparing for postsecondary life and realizing that IEPs don’t follow students to college.

April 28: Executive Function Support Beyond School—and for Parents Too

Guest: Sean McCormick, Executive Function Coaching Academy

This conversation takes executive function support one step further.

Sean McCormick explores:

How families can access executive function support outside the school system

Why waiting for schools to address these skills isn’t enough

How parents who struggle with executive function themselves can still help their children develop these skills

This episode acknowledges a truth many families feel but rarely say out loud: parents don’t have to be perfect to be effective.

Stay Connected and Be Part of the Village

These are just a few of the upcoming episodes already on the calendar. Registration links are available above or below the video, depending on where you’re watching.

You can also sign up for the Stress-Free IEP® newsletter, sent every Friday. Each issue includes:

A link to that week’s episode

A related blog post

Additional resources families consistently find helpful

And if there’s a service, professional, or topic you want covered, say so. New ideas and new voices are always welcome—because a strong village is built together.

One Last Reminder:

You do not have to do it all alone.