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A Simple Special Education Advocacy Strategy for Parents

Do you ever leave an IEP meeting feeling frustrated, unheard, or completely misunderstood?

If you’re a parent navigating special education, you are not alone. In this episode of The Collaborative IEP Podcast, we break down a simple, practical advocacy strategy you can use when school staff don’t seem to understand your concerns, your child’s needs, or your “why.”

This episode is packed with plain-language guidance for parents who want to improve communication at IEP meetings without escalating conflict.

You’ll learn:

• What to do when you feel misunderstood at an IEP meeting
• How to respond when the school district doesn’t “get” your position
• A step-by-step special education advocacy strategy you can use immediately
• How to pause an unproductive IEP meeting in a professional way
• Why writing your concerns can strengthen collaboration and protect your child’s rights
• How to improve parent-school communication without jumping straight to due process
  

This episode is especially helpful for parents of children with IEPs who are dealing with:

• Communication breakdowns during IEP meetings
• Disagreements with the school team
• Feeling dismissed by school staff
• Special education negotiation challenges
• Collaborative advocacy vs. litigation decisions
  

If you’re trying to advocate for your child with a disability and want to stay calm, clear, and effective at the IEP table, this episode gives you a practical tool you can use right away.

Whether you’re new to special education or a seasoned IEP parent, this conversation will help you handle conflict more strategically and move toward productive collaboration.

Listen now to learn how to turn frustration into focused, effective advocacy.

• Join The Membership: https://ashleybarlowco.com/the-collaborative-iep-membership 
• Get the Replay of the Conference: https://ashleybarlowco.com/all-access-pass-post 
• ABCourse: https://abc.ashleybarlowco.com/ 

Resources

• The IEP Guru Academy
• The Collaborative IEP Membership
• The Collaborative IEP Conference 2026

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