In this episode of Conversations with the Co-op, host Jeffrey Lee sits down with Louise Flickinger, Teacher/Consultant for Students with Visual Impairments at the Paul Bunyan Education Cooperative. With dual licensure in Learning Disabilities and Blind/Visually Impaired education, Louise brings both expertise and advocacy to this conversation focused on the BVI disability category.

Together, they explore how students qualify for special education services under the Blind/Visually Impaired category by breaking down the two-part criteria involving both medical diagnosis and functional evaluation. Louise explains common misconceptions such as the belief that glasses fix everything or that digital means accessible, and offers practical strategies to support student independence, access, and success.

Listeners will gain a clearer understanding of the barriers BVI students face, including curriculum accessibility, social cues, and public perceptions. The episode also highlights how educators can create inclusive learning environments through individualized support and instructional clarity.

This episode is a must-listen for educators, case managers, and teams working to ensure that all students, regardless of vision, can thrive academically and socially.

In this episode of Conversations with the Co-op, host Jeffrey Lee sits down with Kate Hurd, ASD Coordinator for the Paul Bunyan Education Cooperative, to explore two distinct approaches to data in special education. Kate shares her perspective on collecting highly accurate, comprehensive data to inform programming decisions, particularly in Federal Setting III center-based classrooms. Jeffrey offers a more streamlined, functional approach often used in Settings I and II. Together, they examine the benefits and limitations of each perspective, the importance of context, and how teams can find the right balance to best support student success.

In this final episode of the 2024–2025 school year, Jeffrey Lee is joined by Lynn Krominga, Assistant Director of Special Education at the Paul Bunyan Education Cooperative, to unpack one of the most foundational and often misunderstood questions in our field: What is special education?

Together, they explore:

• What qualifies as special education and what doesn’t

• The role and purpose of related services in schools

• How teams determine when a student may no longer need special education

• What supports remain available when academic struggles persist

Whether you're a teacher, case manager, related service provider, or administrator, this conversation offers clarity and practical reflection on how we serve students and support teams.

Thanks for listening this school year. We’ll be back in the fall with more conversations to inform and inspire your special education practice.