Have you ever walked into an IEP meeting and felt like the room was stacked against you?

In this episode of The Collaborative IEP Podcast, I talk about something many parents and advocates experience but don’t always know how to name: the stress and intimidation that can happen when schools bring large teams of staff into special education meetings.

Sometimes there are legitimate reasons for having multiple professionals at the table. But other times, the number of people in the room can feel overwhelming and create a power imbalance for parents.

In this episode, I share a personal reflection on stress, caregiving, and advocacy, along with what I’ve learned about recognizing when pressure and intimidation are affecting your ability to advocate clearly.

In this episode, I discuss:

1. How stress affects our bodies, decision-making, and advocacy
2. Why caregiving and advocacy roles can create significant pressure
3. What it feels like when meetings or situations become overwhelming
4. Why recognizing stress signals in your body matters
5. How awareness can help you stay grounded in advocacy conversations

IEP advocacy is emotional work. Caregiving is emotional work. And when we combine the two, it’s important to recognize the impact stress can have on us.

In this episode, I share some of my own experiences with stress and regulation and why paying attention to those signals can help us take better care of ourselves and the people we support.

Listen now for an honest conversation about stress, advocacy, and the realities of supporting children with disabilities.

Join The Membership: https://ashleybarlowco.com/the-collaborative-iep-membership

Get the Replay of the Conference: https://ashleybarlowco.com/all-access-pass-post

Have you ever brought up something at an IEP meeting — and the team simply didn’t know what you were talking about?

Sometimes the issue isn’t disagreement.

It’s a lack of knowledge.

In this episode of The Collaborative IEP Podcast, we explore what to do when your IEP team lacks training or familiarity with the research, practices, or concepts you’re raising.

Whether you’re discussing the science of reading, PDA profiles, interoception, or another emerging topic, parents and advocates often find themselves educating the team.

You’ll learn:

1. Why knowledge gaps happen in special education teams
2. How to share resources before a meeting to prepare the team
3. Why a collaborative tone helps people stay open to learning
4. Simple ways to “disarm the room” and keep the conversation productive
5. How to introduce new ideas without triggering defensiveness
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When handled strategically, these moments can shift an IEP or 504 meeting from confusion to collaboration.

Listen now to learn how to help your IEP team better understand your child’s special education needs.

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/

Do you ever leave an IEP meeting thinking, “That one test score does not tell the whole story”?

In this episode of The Collaborative IEP Podcast, we tackle what happens when schools rely on a single data point — a MAP score, an iReady number, one behavior report, or one teacher comment — to justify denying services or changing placement.

This installment in the “Seven Simple Solutions to Solve Your Sticky IEP Situations” series focuses on Smoke and Mirrors — when rhetorical or incomplete information takes over the conversation.

You’ll learn:

1. How to spot cherry-picked data at the IEP table
2. Why one test score should never drive big decisions
3. What it means to TCB (Take Care of Business) in your advocacy
4. How to stay calm, collaborative, and firm when the team leans on weak arguments
5. How to refocus the conversation on comprehensive, objective data

If you’re navigating special education meetings and want to advocate clearly — without escalating conflict — this episode gives you a practical mindset shift you can use immediately.

Listen now and learn how to push back on incomplete data while staying strategic at the IEP table.

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/