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Learn from Jaclyn Halpern, PsyD, Painter, Clinical Director of Psychology, and Psychology Supervisor at Playful Therapy Connections, a neurodiversity affirming practice providing therapy and testing.
Stress-Free IEP with Jaclyn Halpern
Frances & Diane Gould, LCSW & Founder of PDA North America, talk support & resources for individuals & families living with Pathological Demand Avoidance Learn more about your host, Frances Shefter, and this podcast, Stress-Free IEP® at https://shefterlaw.com.
Stress-Free IEP with Diane Gould
Have you ever been to an IEP eligibility meeting where you’re reviewing an independent evaluation? If so, you know it can be overwhelming to ensure the school takes your report seriously. This video breaks down what parents need to know to navigate these meetings effectively. 💼 💡 One key tip? Ask the psychologist if they accept the report as valid. With that validation, you have a solid foundation, even if they don’t agree with every recommendation. Let’s work together to ensure your independent evaluation is taken seriously! #ShefterLawPA #STRESSFREEIEP #Specialeducationlaw #Womaninlaw   You do not need to do it all alone!    💠Get In Touch With Us:  🔹️Website: https://shefterlaw.com/  🔹️Email: info@shefterlaw.com  🔹️Office: 301-605-7303  🔹️Linktree: https://linktr.ee/shefterlawpa?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
Independent Evaluations: What Parents Need to Know for IEP Meetings
Timely evaluations are essential to educationally plan and develop and an appropriate IEP for your child. Current evaluations are even more important if you’re considering a change in placement. Federal law requires schools to consider doing evaluations every three years, but there is no requirement to actually complete any.   💡 For best results, request academic evaluations at least every two years—preferably annually. Having up-to-date data helps avoid delays and ensures your child receives the support they need without wasting critical time. Check your child's IEP today to make sure evaluations are current! #ShefterLawPA #STRESSFREEIEP #Specialeducationlaw #Womaninlaw   You do not need to do it all alone!    💠Get In Touch With Us:  🔹️Website: https://shefterlaw.com/  🔹️Email: info@shefterlaw.com  🔹️Office: 301-605-7303  🔹️Linktree: https://linktr.ee/shefterlawpa?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
Don’t Delay Your Child’s Education—The Importance of Regular Evaluations!
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 78 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Robin Brannan, a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist with 20+ years experience supporting neurodivergent families. Her practice, Better Together Family Therapy, specializes in neurodiversity affirming and LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy for adults, children, teens and families. She and her team of seasoned clinicians serve families online throughout Maryland and in person in their Kensington office. Robin is also a proud parent of 2 neurospicy teens. Episode Summary: Introduction: Frances Shefter hosts licensed clinical marriage and family therapist Robin Brannan, who has over 20 years of experience supporting neurodivergent families. Robin leads Better Together Family Therapy (https://betterfamilytherapy.com), a practice in Maryland that provides neurodiversity-affirming and LGBTQIA+ supportive therapy for families, adults, children, and teens. The Importance of Couple and Family Therapy: Robin emphasizes the importance of a strong couple system for family well-being, suggesting that parents begin with couple or co-parenting therapy to create a unified approach. She also highlights that while individual therapy is valuable, it’s crucial to choose a therapist trained to look at family systems, as some therapists may unintentionally influence clients to consider leaving relationships. Supporting Nonverbal Children and Communication Challenges: Robin discusses the challenge of supporting nonverbal or minimally verbal children, stressing that as parents, we often rely heavily on reading nonverbal cues. She explains the difficulty parents face when systems misinterpret a lack of verbal communication as a lack of cognitive ability, which is a common frustration for parents of neurodivergent children. Parental Self-Care and Balance: Robin discusses the necessity of self-care for parents to maintain a healthy boundary between their experiences and those of their children. She suggests practical strategies such as setting up a “Parent IEP” that includes taking extended time for themselves, reducing workloads, and focusing on their own mental health. This approach, she explains, ultimately benefits children by allowing parents to remain calm and present. Parenting Challenges and Adjustments in Goals: Robin and Frances discuss the balance between supporting children’s mental health and managing school demands. They stress that focusing on mental well-being and manageable expectations is key, especially in an educational system that may not always accommodate neurodivergent needs effectively. Frances shares how she prioritizes her children’s mental health over strict academic requirements, even when this means adjusting or opting out of certain assignments. Self-Care Tips and Strategies for Parents: Robin introduces the concept of “thrillers, chillers, and fillers” to help parents categorize self-care activities that energize, calm, or simply entertain. She encourages parents to use waiting room time for self-care and to set boundaries with technology, such as limiting access to emails outside work hours to reduce stress. Navigating Co-Parenting and Compromise: Robin advises co-parents to listen to each other’s priorities and to yield when something is particularly important to one partner. She highlights the importance of open communication and compromise, especially for parents with differing views on parenting approaches and therapy. Conclusion: This episode underscores the importance of intentional self-care and co-parenting strategies to better support children. Robin’s insights encourage parents to balance their children’s needs with their own, allowing them to parent effectively while maintaining their well-being. Learn more about Robin Brannan: * Connect with Robin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-brannan-4ab29441 * Follow Better Together Family Therapy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-together-family-therapy * Subscribe Better Together Family Therapy‘s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@bettertogetherfamilytherap7449 * Visit Better Together Family Therapy’s website: https://betterfamilytherapy.com * Follow Better Together Family Therapy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BetterFamilyTherapy * Workshops and Groups for Parents of Anxious Kids https://betterfamilytherapy.com/blog/space-groups * Back to School Booster Group for Neurodivergent Kids https://betterfamilytherapy.com *********************************** Stress-Free IEP®: Frances Shefter is an Education Attorney and Advocate who is committed to helping her clients have a Stress-Free IEP® experience. In each episode, Frances interviews inspiring people to share information, educate you, empower you and help you get the knowledge you need. Watch more episodes of Stress-Free IEP®: * On website: https://shefterlaw.com/blog
Neurodiversity- & LGBTQIA+-Affirming Therapy with Robin Brannan of Better Together Family Therapy
Assessments are crucial, not just for eligibility, but for developing an appropriate and effective Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Whether your child has autism, ADHD, or any other disability, these conditions aren't going away. But we CAN build a plan that truly supports their needs. 💡 The Present Levels section of the IEP is where it all starts. It outlines your child’s strengths and weaknesses and guides the goals, supports, and accommodations they'll receive. Without updated assessments, you're working off opinions and outdated info. That’s why we need more than just state tests or teacher input. We need data! ✅ Academic testing, behavior rating scales, and evaluations for speech, OT, and PT—all provide valuable insights. Your child's behaviors and needs change over time, and so should the data we use to support them. A robust IEP starts with accurate, up-to-date information. Let's ensure your child has the support they need to thrive! 🌟 You do not need to do it all alone!    💠Get In Touch With Us:  🔹️Website: https://shefterlaw.com/  🔹️Email: info@shefterlaw.com  🔹️Office: 301-605-7303  🔹️Linktree: https://linktr.ee/shefterlawpa?utm_source=linktree_profile_share  #SpecialEducation #IEP #Autism #ADHD #ParentAdvocacy #Assessments #InclusiveEducation
Assessments, Eligibility & Broader Understanding
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 77 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Michelle Letterly, a financial advisor specializing in helping families with special needs children. Michelle shares advice on budgeting, insurance, and protecting children's benefits. Episode Summary: Introduction: Frances Shefter welcomes Michelle Letterly from Primerica’s Letterly Group (https://www.primerica.com/mletterly), an experienced former special education teacher and current finance professional who supports families with neurodiverse children. Michelle has transitioned her skills from education to finance, specializing in guiding families through budgeting, insurance, and investment planning, particularly for children with disabilities. Financial Planning for Special Needs Families: Michelle emphasizes the importance of financial strategies tailored to families with special needs children, explaining foundational steps like budgeting, debt elimination, and insurance planning. She advocates for term life insurance to avoid the cash-value policies that can jeopardize eligibility for state or federal benefits. To ensure financial security, she advises parents to consider special needs trusts over naming children as direct beneficiaries, which can protect assets from disqualifying children from benefits. Planning for the Future: Highlighting the high cost of raising a child with autism compared to a neurotypical child, Michelle discusses the necessity of planning for different possible futures, especially for children who may require lifelong support. She advises parents to build a financial buffer that could support ongoing therapy, adaptive equipment, and care services, ensuring continuity if parents are unable to provide it. Insurance for Children: Michelle explains the importance of securing life insurance policies for children early, as diagnoses like autism or other conditions can later make them uninsurable. This ensures funds are available not only for potential funeral expenses but also to allow grieving parents some time off work if necessary. Additional Financial Tools and Considerations: Michelle also mentions other financial vehicles, such as ABLE accounts, which allow families to save without impacting benefits, and 529 college savings plans that can fund other educational expenses. She stresses the need to understand each tool's benefits and limitations, including how state-specific plans can vary. The Realities of Caregiving and Vacations for Special Needs Families: Michelle shares personal anecdotes illustrating the logistical and financial challenges of planning outings and vacations with neurodiverse children. She explains that the costs associated with necessary support, adaptive equipment, and extra assistance can add up, making financial planning even more essential. Preparing for the Unexpected: Michelle underscores the necessity of preparing for unexpected events, from natural disasters to medical emergencies, by having insurance and detailed care plans in place. She suggests creating a comprehensive manual for caregivers detailing everything from emergency contacts to daily routines and preferences, ensuring continuity of care in the event of parents’ absence. Conclusion: This episode underscores the critical importance of thorough financial and legal planning to secure a stable future for neurodiverse children. Michelle’s advice offers families practical guidance on safeguarding benefits, reducing financial strain, and planning for various scenarios that may arise in caring for a child with special needs. Learn more about Michelle Letterly: * Connect with Michelle on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-letterly-398a08140 * Follow Primerica on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primerica * Visit Primerica’s website: https://www.primerica.com/mletterly * Follow Michelle on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/michelle_letterly * Visit The Letterly Group’s website: https://www.theletterlygroup.com * Follow Michelle on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@finance_momma *********************************** Stress-Free IEP®: Frances Shefter is an Education Attorney and Advocate who is committed to helping her clients have a Stress-Free IEP® experience. In each podcast, Frances interviews inspiring people to share information, educate you, empower you and help you get the knowledge you need. Watch more episodes of Stress-Free IEP®: * On website: https://shefterlaw.com/blog * On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCff0foIeCETrWbtsQSDwckQ Connect and learn more from your host, Frances Shefter: * https://shefterlaw.com/#contact-me * https://shefterlaw.com * https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesshefter * https://www.facebook.com/ShefterLawPA * https://twitter.com/shefterlawpa * https://www.instagram.com/shefterlawpa * https://www.tiktok.com/@shefterlawpa
Navigating Finances for Special Needs Families with Michelle Letterly
Understanding why "time is of the essence" can be crucial when dealing with your child's education. Join Frances Shefter from Shefter Law P.A. as she explains the significance of timely actions in the context of special education and IEPs. Learn how delaying the process can affect your child’s educational outcomes and self-esteem, and discover why acting on your parental instincts is essential.  You do not need to do it all alone!    💠Get In Touch With Us:  🔹️Website: https://shefterlaw.com/  🔹️Email: info@shefterlaw.com  🔹️Office: 301-605-7303  Linktree: https://linktr.ee/shefterlawpa?utm_source=linktree_profile_share    #ShefterLawPA #STRESSFREEIEP #Specialeducationlaw #Womaninlaw
The Crucial Importance of Timely Action in Your Child’s IEP!
Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 76 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Meagan Gillcrist, the Executive Director and Founder of AlignEd. Meagan shares her journey, from over a decade of experience as a special education teacher to overseeing special education programming and ultimately founding AlignEd. AlignEd is focused on creating systems to support both general and special education before the need for formalized IEPs arises, emphasizing proactive strategies to ensure the success of students and teachers alike. Episode Summary: Introduction: Frances Shefter, host of Stress-Free IEP®, welcomes Meagan Gillcrist, Executive Director and founder of AlignEd, an organization dedicated to helping schools implement effective systems that bridge the gap between general and special education. In this episode, they explore how Meagan uses her extensive experience as a special educator to create practical, sustainable frameworks that support teachers in meeting diverse student needs. The discussion focuses on building systems that proactively support students, reduce teacher burnout, and ensure that Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) are implemented with fidelity. Meagan's Background and the Founding of AlignEd: Meagan discusses her background in special education, particularly her experience working with students with emotional disabilities and overseeing special education programs in Colorado. She found that while IEPs were often well written, they were not always implemented effectively, leading her to explore solutions. During COVID, Meagan became overwhelmed by the reactive nature of addressing educational issues, which inspired her to focus on creating systems for schools that proactively support both educators and students. The Importance of Systems in Education: Meagan explains that systems are essential for reducing daily decision-making for teachers and helping them implement educational practices consistently. She emphasizes that systems should support general education teachers in accommodating students’ needs, thereby preventing unnecessary special education referrals. Systems ensure that teachers have a structured approach to help students succeed without overcomplicating the process. Challenges in Special Education and Solutions: Meagan addresses the common challenge of overcomplicating accommodations and the need for effective systems. Many schools provide an overwhelming number of accommodations without focusing on the highest priority needs. She highlights the importance of training students to advocate for themselves, particularly in secondary education, and the need for better collaboration between general and special education. The Role of Data and Progress Monitoring: Frances and Meagan discuss the importance of using data effectively. Meagan points out that schools often have a lot of data but lack clear strategies for how to use it. Effective data collection and interpretation can help schools identify when students truly need special education services and when the issue may be with the quality of instruction rather than the student’s ability. Addressing Systemic Disconnects: Meagan describes how schools often operate in silos, focusing on specific subjects or departments rather than taking a holistic approach to student learning. She advocates for better team collaboration among educators to ensure that all aspects of a child’s development—social, emotional, and academic—are considered. Implementing Effective School Systems: Meagan offers advice for schools interested in improving their systems. She emphasizes that teachers are often already using effective systems but may not realize it. Schools should capture these existing systems and resources, rather than creating new ones from scratch. She suggests starting with a review of what is already working and using that information to build a cohesive structure. AlignEd's First 5 Course Bundle: Meagan shares details about AlignEd’s "First 5" course bundle, which is designed to help schools implement effective systems for Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). This course is aimed at individuals responsible for coordinating MTSS, offering practical guidance and templates to help them get started. A free introductory workshop will be held on November 7, 2024. https://courses.aligneducation.org/MakeMTSSWork Read the conclusion at https://shefterlaw.com Learn more about Meagan Gillcrist: * Connect with Meagan on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/meagan-gillcrist * Follow AlignEd on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aligneducation * Visit AlignEd’s Website: http://www.aligneducation.org * Follow AlignEd on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Aligned4success *********************************** Watch more episodes of Stress-Free IEP®: * On website: https://shefterlaw.com/blog * On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCff0foIeCETrWbtsQSDwckQ
Building Effective Education Systems with Meagan Gillcrist
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