Don't IEP Alone.
Inspired by her own son with disabilities, Lisa Lightner is an award-winning blogger and advocate. She has previously worked for her county's Arc and has served on the Boards of Directors for several disability organizations.
Currently, she is her county's chairperson for the Right to Education Task Force, a federally decreed group set up in 1971 to ensure that all children in Pennsylvania had the opportunity to an education.
When not attending IEP meetings with families or lobbying in Harrisburg and DC for disability rights, she can be found on the web at her IEP advice blog, A Day in our Shoes. She is known for her practical, realistic and implementable advice for parents.
Warning: I've been told I have a Philly accent. I don't hear it. Also, I curse. It's something I'm working on as far as personal development. So please don't be put off. I'm trying.
📣Preorder my book on Amazon,
Episodes
193 episodes
As Jerry Springer would say-- take care of yourselves, and each other.
When one door closes, another opens.
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15:38
ADHD Month means Executive Functioning Chats
Executive functioning-- always a popular topic.🔴 Is Your Child's IEP Working?: 👉https://dontiepalone.com/iep-progress/🚀 Sign Up for Special Education Advocacy Tra...
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13:23
OSEP and OSERS Staff Elimination
Mentioned in Episode:OSERS Has Been Dismantled: What This Means for Disabled Adults and Their Families.OSEP Is Gone: What It Means for ...
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20:51
Buzzword: Trust Recession
Going off topic for a moment... but trust matters!🔴 Is Your Child's IEP Working?: 👉https://dontiepalone.com/iep-progress/🚀 Sign Up for Special Education Advocacy ...
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19:44
What is Explicit Instruction?
Mentioned in Episode:What is Explicit Instruction?What is Specially Designed Instr...
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12:26
Is This Podcast Working? Reflections on Content, Format, and Listener Feedback
Welcome back to "Don't IEP Alone" with Lisa Lightner! In this candid episode, Lisa gets real about the behind-the-scenes struggles of podcasting, from wrestling with ADHD and perfectionism, to navigating technical hiccups and the pressure of so...
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16:37
Most important part of an IEP.
If your Present Levels are wrong, everything else in the IEP will fall like dominoes.Article mentioned in video: https://adayinourshoes.com/present-levels-iep/IEP Toolkit for Parents: https://dontiepalone.com/my-parent-iep-toolk...
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Season 5
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Episode 3
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6:51
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Have you been asked to come pick up your child at school?
The Secret Suspension Problem: a MUST WATCH if the school is constantly calling you to come get your kid at school.Resources mentioned in video: Behavior Info for Families: https://adayinourshoes.com/tag/behavior/Behavi...
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Season 5
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Episode 2
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8:10
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Can you show me where it says.....
IDEA is surprisingly non-specific about a lot of special education. Here's how to advocate when you're pretty sure you've been told something incorrect....but struggle to find proof. Get your free FAPE guide here: https://birdsend....
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Season 5
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Episode 1
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5:42
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Good news, bad news.
I'm getting a facelift! Ha, no, not me. The podcast. Details in this episode.
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10:32
Don’t IEP Alone: Essential Advocacy Tips for Today’s Unstable Education Landscape
Parents, get your free IEP binder: https://adayinourshoes.com/free-iep-binder/Get your free IEP goal tracker: https://adayinourshoes.com/iep-goal-tracker/Welcome back to Don't IEP Alone with your host, Lisa Lightner. I...
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14:23
Good News and Bad News: Navigating What to Request at Your IEP Meeting
Parents, get your free IEP binder: https://adayinourshoes.com/free-iep-binder/Get your free IEP goal tracker: https://adayinourshoes.com/iep-goal-tracker/Welcome back to Don't IEP Alone with Lisa Lightner! In ...
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10:14
Sustained Advocacy: The Real Secret Behind IEP Progress
Lisa Lightner is a dedicated advocate for parents navigating the IEP process. With her trusty mini desk fan by her side—an essential comfort for women of a certain age—Lisa brings warmth, humor, and understanding to her work.
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10:10
From Phone Calls to Handwritten Letters: Tips to Make Legislators Listen on Issues
Welcome back to the Don't IEP Alone podcast with Lisa Lightner! In today’s episode, Lisa dives into the importance of contacting your representatives—even if you sometimes feel like your voice won’t make a difference. Drawing from her own advoc...
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9:59
Reviving Parent Groups: The Old and New of Special Ed Advocacy
Welcome back to Don't IEP Alone! In this episode, host Lisa Lightner shares a heartfelt update from the thick of summer, reminding parents to communicate their children's special health needs—like temperature regulation—to their IEP te...
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14:24
Medical Records and the IEP
The school has asked for access to your child's medical records. Now what?Do I have to share my child’s medical records with the IEP team?...
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22:28
IEE-Independent Education Evaluations
What parents need to know about IEEs-Independent Education Evaluations. When and how to ask for one, what criteria to use to ask for one and what to do once you've received an IEE report.
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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21:49
Should you hire an IEP Advocate?
Hiring an IEP advocate or Special Education Advocate is a tough decision. Here...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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18:48
A 13th and 14th year?
Students with IEPs can continue in public schools until ages 19 or even 25. But should they? And who decides?
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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22:10
🚨 Medicaid Cuts, Advocacy, and Why We Can’t Stay Silent 🚨
A bill just passed in the House that could mean big cuts to Medicaid—even though the word Medicaid isn’t in it. Sound sneaky? That’s because it is.In this episode, I’m breaking down:✅ What this bill actually ...
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17:39