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.
Don't IEP Alone.
Speaking Up for My Son's Needs Amid Controversial Autism Narratives
Welcome to another episode of Don't IEP Alone with your host, Lisa Lightner. In this thought-provoking installment, Lisa shares her personal journey navigating autism advocacy as the parent of a disabled child. With candor and determination, Lisa challenges the prevailing narratives in the autism advocacy community, emphasizing the importance of genuine conversations over performative advocacy. She reflects on the evolution of her views on autism, informed by personal experience and online discourse, and discusses the broader implications these narratives have on funding, programming, and support for individuals with severe autism. Tune in as Lisa passionately advocates for those, like her son, whose voices are often unheard in these discussions.
Autism Information and Resources
- Understanding "Allistic" and Its Impact on Your Child’s IEP
- The Differences Between Hyperlexia and Gestalt Language Processing
- 15 Popular Books with Autistic Main Characters
- Hand Flapping When Excited, But Not Autism? How to Tell, When to Worry.
- 7 Audiologist-Recommended Noise Cancelling Headphones for Autism, ADHD, or Anxiety
- 50 Sensory Bin Ideas for Autism
- Transautistic and transabled, what are these?
- How to Write an IEP for Autism: IEP Goal Ideas, Sample PDF
- Free Interoception Activities PDF: How to Improve Interoceptive Skills
- 14 Pretend Play Ideas (+ Pretend Play and Autism)
- Autism Incontinence: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
- Educational Autism vs Medical Autism: What's the Difference?
Don't IEP Alone with Lisa Lightner, Special Education Advocate
The IEP process never gets easier. YOU get better.
How? With specific action steps and training.
Visit ADayInOurShoes.org for more information.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Don't IEP Alone. See you next time!
Other ways I can help you with IEPs:
📊 Free IEP Data Collection Sheets
📒 Free IEP Binder for Parents
☑️ IEP Meeting Preparation Kit
🧰 IEP Toolkit for Parents
👩💻 Online Advocacy Training
🙋 Ask an Advocate your IEP Question
🧰 IEP Teacher Toolkit