• Navigating the IEP Maze: How to Advocate for Your Teen & Overcome School System Barriers

  • Mar 18 2025
  • Duración: 30 m
  • Podcast

Navigating the IEP Maze: How to Advocate for Your Teen & Overcome School System Barriers

  • Resumen

  • Is your teen struggling in school, but you’re hitting roadblocks trying to get them the support they need? The IEP (Individualized Education Program) process can be overwhelming—especially for minority parents facing additional challenges. In this episode, I sit down with Maria Davis-Pierre, a licensed mental health counselor, autism advocate, and founder of Autism in Black. Maria shares her personal journey navigating the special education system for her neurodivergent children and exposes the hidden biases that often prevent Black and minority children from getting the right diagnosis and accommodations. She also provides practical strategies for parents to advocate effectively, empower their teens, and navigate the IEP process with confidence. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE The biggest mistakes parents make when advocating for their child’s IEP—and how to avoid themWhy Black and minority children are often mislabeled as behavioral problems instead of receiving proper supportHow to involve your teen in their IEP process and teach them self-advocacy skillsThe hidden biases in school support systems that every parent should know about 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR PARENTS OF TEENS Know Your Rights – Understanding the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) is crucial for effective advocacy.Cultural Bias Exists – Many minority children are misdiagnosed or overlooked, making advocacy even more critical.Empower Your Teen – Teens who participate in their own IEP process develop stronger self-advocacy skills for the future.Leverage Their Strengths – Connecting accommodations to your teen’s interests can make learning more engaging.Give Yourself Grace – The IEP process is challenging, but you are your child's best advocate. 🎧❤️ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Don’t keep it to yourself! Share your favorite episode and leave a rating and review to help other parents find the support they need. Your feedback helps me create even more episodes filled with practical tips for you and your family! Thanks so much for your support! 🙏💫 🔔 Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE so you never miss another solution-packed episode! 🙌 CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST: Maria Davis-Pierre Website: autisminblack.orgInstagram: @autisminblack CONNECT WITH YOUR HOST: Dr. Cam Caswell Website: AskDrCam.comInstagram: @DrCamCaswellTikTok: @the.teen.translatorYouTube: Parenting Teens with Dr. CamFacebook: @DrCamCaswell ABOUT THE SHOW The Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam Podcast is your go-to resource for navigating the challenges of raising teenagers. Hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach, this podcast offers practical parenting strategies, expert advice, and real-world insights to help you build a stronger relationship with your teen and support their emotional growth. Whether you’re struggling with teenage behavior or looking to improve communication, each episode provides actionable tips to make parenting teens easier and more rewarding. ✅ Follow for expert guidance on parenting teens EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00 Navigating the IEP Process: A Personal Journey 02:49 Cultural Responsivity in Autism Support 05:52 Advocacy: The Unique Challenges for Minority Parents 09:04 Understanding the Special Education Process 12:00 Identifying Signs of Learning Difficulties in Teens 14:58 Overcoming Stigma: Supporting Teens with IEPs 17:52 Empowering Teens to Advocate for Themselves 20:54 Leveraging Interests for Learning 23:52 Finding Support and Resources 26:53 The Importance of Grace in Parenting FULL TRANSCRIPT Dr. Cam (00:00) As a mom who's been through the school IEP process dozens of times at least, I can tell you it's quite overwhelming. Whether it's figuring out the process, understanding what support is available, or just trying to advocate for your teen or help them advocate for themselves, it's a lot. That's why I'm so excited for today's episode. I'm joined by Maria Davis-Pierre, a licensed mental health counselor, autism advocate, and the founder of Autism in Black. Her work has been featured in Forbes, USA Today, PBS and more. Today she's gonna do, give us the insight we need to navigate IEPs with confidence. Welcome Maria. Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC (00:39) Thank you for having me. I'm so excited. Dr. Cam (00:42) Me too. So especially as someone that's been through this process a lot, I know that is so challenging. But let's first start with you. Tell us a little bit about you and how you got into just autism and black, especially. Maria Davis-Pierre, LMHC (00:57) Sure. So our story starts with our oldest child, Malia, who is now 12, almost 13, my goodness. And it started when she was about 10 months. I started to see the signs of characteristics of autism in her. And I knew with my experience as a licensed therapist, I was like, we need to get you know, in front of this and my husband who is a internal medicine physician, first he was like, you know, ...
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