Today April Rehrig, creator of Rise Educational Advocacy, joins me on The OT Corner with Mrs. K to talk about building a better IEP. April is a highly experienced educational advocate who has been working in the field for over 20 years. With experience as a teacher, school psychologist and mother, she has a deep understanding of the challenges that families face when navigating the educational system and is committed to helping them overcome these challenges. April has worked with families from diverse backgrounds and has helped them to secure the appropriate services and accommodations for their children. Developing a strong IEP can be challenging for students and families. Common challenges include a lack of understanding of the process, difficulty in communicating with school personnel, and a lack of knowledge about available services and accommodations. April helps families navigate the IEP process by providing guidance on the process, reviewing educational records, and advocating for appropriate accommodations and services. Empowering parents and students in the IEP process is crucial for ensuring that their rights are protected and that their unique learning needs are being met. April's success stories demonstrate the positive impact of educational advocacy services and the importance of empowering parents and students in the IEP process.

Rise Educational Advocacy: https://www.riseeducationaladvocacy.com/

Rise Advocacy Services:

https://www.riseeducationaladvocacy.com/individual-coaching-services

Rise IEP Workshops (for parents and educators):

https://www.riseeducationaladvocacy.com/online-iep-courses

Rise Group Training (for educators only):

https://www.riseeducationaladvocacy.com/group-training

Guides and Templates Do It Yourself IEP & 504 Toolkits: https://www.riseeducationaladvocacy.com/guides-shop

Join Mrs. K on the OT Corner as she dives into the evolution of school based occupational therapy over the past 50 years with special guest Carol Conway, a retired pediatric occupational therapist. They explore the impact of legislation on OT practices in schools and discuss the changing landscape of OT roles. Tune in for a deep dive into the intersection of legislation, education, and occupational therapy in this insightful two-part episode.

Carol Conway, MS, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist with over 40 years of experience specializing in school-based practice. In her most recent school-based position at Hudson City Schools in Ohio, she provided services for students in grades 3-8. She served on the district leadership team which was instrumental in successfully shifting OT service provision to an integrated, inclusive model, thus maximizing the impact of OT at a whole-school level. Carol is on the leadership team for Every Moment Counts contributing to the development and implementation of several model programs emphasizing integrated services. Presently, she provides consultative and collaborative support to school-based practice with an emphasis on health (mental and physical), inclusion and interdisciplinary collaboration. Carol presents at the local, state, national and international level and has published articles regarding inclusion, integrated services and the use of communities of practices as a method of knowledge translation.

Every Student Succeeds Act: https://www.ed.gov/essa?src=rn

Molina Roldán, S., et al.. “How Inclusive Interactive Learning Environments Benefit Students Without Special Needs.” Frontiers in Psychology. April 29, 2021. ⁠https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8116690/⁠. Accessed November 23, 2023.

⁠10 Keys to Happier Living⁠ Action for Happiness website (Giving, relating, exercising, awareness, trying out, direction, resilience, acceptance, emotions and meaning)

⁠Every Moment Counts Initiatives Tab⁠ Embedded Strategies, Integrating Services, Refreshing Recess, and Comfortable Cafeteria

⁠Calm Moment Cards⁠

Bazyk, S. (2022). Occupational Therapy: Promoting Participation in Occupation. ⁠www.everymomentcounts.org⁠

Bazyk, S., et al. (2022).⁠ Occupational Therapy's Role as SISPs Under ESSA⁠. (For OT practitioners). ESSA OT Advocacy Network.

Bazyk, S., et al. (2022).⁠ Occupational Therapy's Role as SISPs Under ESSA⁠. (For school administrators and other school personnel). ESSA OT Advocacy Network.

Join Mrs. K on the OT Corner as she dives into the evolution of school based occupational therapy over the past 50 years with special guest Carol Conway, a retired pediatric occupational therapist. They explore the impact of legislation on OT practices in schools and discuss the changing landscape of OT roles. Tune in for a deep dive into the intersection of legislation, education, and occupational therapy in this insightful two-part episode.

Carol Conway, MS, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist with over 40 years of experience specializing in school-based practice. In her most recent school-based position at Hudson City Schools in Ohio, she provided services for students in grades 3-8. She served on the district leadership team which was instrumental in successfully shifting OT service provision to an integrated, inclusive model, thus maximizing the impact of OT at a whole-school level. Carol is on the leadership team for Every Moment Counts contributing to the development and implementation of several model programs emphasizing integrated services. Presently, she provides consultative and collaborative support to school-based practice with an emphasis on health (mental and physical), inclusion and interdisciplinary collaboration. Carol presents at the local, state, national and international level and has published articles regarding inclusion, integrated services and the use of communities of practices as a method of knowledge translation.

Every Student Succeeds Act: https://www.ed.gov/essa?src=rn

Molina Roldán, S., et al.. “How Inclusive Interactive Learning Environments Benefit Students Without Special Needs.” Frontiers in Psychology. April 29, 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8116690/. Accessed November 23, 2023.

10 Keys to Happier Living Action for Happiness website (Giving, relating, exercising, awareness, trying out, direction, resilience, acceptance, emotions and meaning)

Every Moment Counts Initiatives Tab Embedded Strategies, Integrating Services, Refreshing Recess, and Comfortable Cafeteria

Calm Moment Cards

Bazyk, S. (2022). Occupational Therapy: Promoting Participation in Occupation. www.everymomentcounts.org

Bazyk, S., et al. (2022). Occupational Therapy's Role as SISPs Under ESSA. (For OT practitioners). ESSA OT Advocacy Network.

Bazyk, S., et al. (2022). Occupational Therapy's Role as SISPs Under ESSA. (For school administrators and other school personnel). ESSA OT Advocacy Network.