Special Education Strategist: Expert Advice for IEPs, 504 Plans, Dyslexia, Parent Advocacy, Learning Disabilities, Executive Function, Dysgraphia, ADHD, Autism, Neurodivergent cover art

Special Education Strategist: Expert Advice for IEPs, 504 Plans, Dyslexia, Parent Advocacy, Learning Disabilities, Executive Function, Dysgraphia, ADHD, Autism, Neurodivergent

Special Education Strategist: Expert Advice for IEPs, 504 Plans, Dyslexia, Parent Advocacy, Learning Disabilities, Executive Function, Dysgraphia, ADHD, Autism, Neurodivergent

Written by: Special Education Strategist
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 Overwhelmed, lost, dismissed in IEP/504 systems — seeking help, clarity, and support? You're not alone!

Hosted by Wendy Taylor, M.Ed., ET/P, a certified educational therapist, IEP coach, and parent advocate with over 20 years of experience helping families navigate special education. Wendy is the founder of Learning Essentials and a trusted voice in decoding IEPs, literacy challenges, and executive function needs. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or professional, Wendy brings compassionate expertise, real-life strategies, and empowering guidance to help you support the child you care about. Education
Episodes
  • 148: From Home to School: Bridging Health, Neurodivergence, and Advocacy with Dr. Karin Varblow

    148: From Home to School: Bridging Health, Neurodivergence, and Advocacy with Dr. Karin Varblow
    Oct 14 2025
    From Home to School: Bridging Health, Neurodivergence, and Advocacy with Dr. Karin Varblow

    When home, healthcare, and school feel like three separate worlds, how do you build one clear path for your child?

    Pediatrician and Neurodivergence Specialist Dr. Karin Varblow joins Wendy to connect medication management, behavior-as-communication, and care coordination into a parent-friendly plan. With roots in education/social work and lived experience, Dr. Varblow offers scripts, weekly rhythms, and a “one child” lens you can take straight into your next IEP/504 meeting.

    Three Key Takeaways
    • One child, one plan: Align health + school with shared data and a point person in each system.
    • De-stigmatize supports: Treat medication as one tool; share what helps and side effects.
    • Weekly rhythm: Send a short home–school snapshot (strengths, struggles, supports tried).
    Contact the Speaker (Dr. Karin Varblow)

    Website: https://www.drkarinmd.com
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    54 mins
  • 147: From Medical Reports to Everyday Support — with Dr. Jennifer Linton Reesman, PhD, ABPP

    147: From Medical Reports to Everyday Support — with Dr. Jennifer Linton Reesman, PhD, ABPP
    Oct 7 2025
    Feeling overwhelmed by neuropsychological evaluations, audiology reports, or conflicting advice from doctors and schools?

    In this empowering episode, Dr. Jennifer Linton Reesman—board-certified clinical and pediatric neuropsychologist and Director of Neuropsychology Training at The Chesapeake Center—shares how families can translate complex medical findings into practical, everyday strategies. Learn how to bridge the gap between health and education systems, strengthen collaboration with school teams, and center your child’s unique voice, including for D/HH learners and families using ASL. Calm, doable steps for parents of neurodivergent children—without the burnout.

    Three Key Takeaways
    1. Start small: Begin with the report’s summary or recommendations and choose one to three priorities to focus on.
    2. Bridge the silos: Identify a single point person—at school or in the clinic—so communication flows and teams truly share information.
    3. Trust, then verify: Keep a simple home log of dates and notes to see what’s actually working for your child.
    Listeners: Connect with me, Wendy Taylor
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningessentials/
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy‑taylor‑7106b6a6/
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TutoringLE
    • Website & Course: www.LearningEssentialsEDU.com | Cracking the Code: https://learningessentialsedu.com/course/
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    58 mins
  • 146: Transforming Observations into Action: Crafting Effective IEP Goals

    146: Transforming Observations into Action: Crafting Effective IEP Goals
    Sep 30 2025
    In this episode of The Special Ed Strategist, host Wendy Taylor is joined by Dr. Rebecca Fritsch, Psy.D., licensed clinical and school psychologist, to explore how parents can document their child’s strengths and challenges at home—and translate those insights into measurable IEP goals. Parents will learn how to connect observations to “educational impact,” collaborate with school teams, and empower their child’s voice in the IEP process.

    Key Takeaways
    1. Document home observations using the simple frame: “When __ happens, my child __, which affects __.”
    2. Focus on educational impact: how behaviors affect learning and participation.
    3. Collaboration + student voice = stronger, more personalized IEP goals.
    Listen & Subscribe
    Apple Podcasts: The Special Ed Strategist

    Listeners: Connect with me, Wendy Taylor
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningessentials/
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy‑taylor‑7106b6a6/
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TutoringLE
    • Website & Course: www.LearningEssentialsEDU.com | Cracking the Code: https://learningessentialsedu.com/course/
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
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