Host: Dana Jonson
Guest: April Rehrig
Title: Founder, Rise Educational Advocacy and Consulting

Bio:
April Rehrig is a distinguished advocate in special education with over two decades of experience as a school psychologist, teacher, and parent within the public school setting. As the founder of Rise Educational Advocacy and Consulting, April focuses on training parents to be effective advocates for their children. Her strength-based approach emphasizes collaboration, communication, and empowering families to navigate the IEP process successfully.

Episode Summary

In this episode, Dana Jonson is joined by April Rehrig to discuss the power of parent advocacy in special education. April shares her journey from being a teacher and school psychologist to becoming an advocate and consultant. Together, they dive into:

• The importance of strength-based IEPs and reforming deficit-based processes.

• How parents can become equal participants in the IEP process and proactively address their concerns.

• Strategies for connecting assessment data to meaningful IEP goals and objectives.

• Training parents and students to advocate for their needs, especially in preparation for post-secondary transitions.

• The role of parent reports, accommodations, and self-advocacy in fostering better collaboration between families and schools.

Listeners will leave with actionable insights into how they can champion their child’s unique needs and strengths at the IEP table.

Resources Mentioned

• Rise Educational Advocacy and Consulting Website

• Free Consultation Contact Form

• COPAA (Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates): copaa.org

Engagement and Sharing

• Share this Episode: If you found this episode helpful, share it with friends or family who might benefit from learning about parent advocacy in special education.

• Leave a Review: Help us reach more listeners by leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform!

• Follow April on Social Media Instagram | LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook
  Follow Dana on Social Media Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Related Episodes and Content

• Parent Advocacy Insights from School Psychologist and Special Education Director Diana Fannon

Visit SpecialEd.fm for more episodes and transcripts.

Shortly after publication, a transcript of this episode will be available at SpecialEd.fm.

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