EP 28: What No One Tells You About IEPs, Grief, and Grit with Trina Jones

Let’s be real—advocating for your child in the school system can feel like going to war without a weapon.On this episode of Affirm That Sh!t, I sat down with Trina Jones, the no-nonsense founder of Advocates for Educational Excellence, and a mother who turned heartbreak and resistance into fuel. Her daughter was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, and what followed was a crash course in fighting for what her child actually needed.Trina shared her story—from getting talked down to by school staff, to demanding a proper evaluation, to finally watching her daughter receive the services she deserved under a legally binding IEP.We talked about how IEPs are often misunderstood, how they’re living documents that parents have power over, and why it’s not just okay—but necessary—to ask questions, call meetings, and push back.We also went deep on something no one talks about: grief. The grief that comes with watching your child struggle, being told they’re “just behind,” and realizing no one’s coming to save them unless you raise hell. Trina opens up about what it took to hold the line for her daughter, and how she now helps other parents do the same.This episode is your battle cry if you’ve ever been made to feel like you were too emotional, too demanding, or too much when advocating for your child.Trina is working on a new app and book to guide more parents through this broken system—and trust me, she’s just getting started.Subscribe to my YouTube channel and share this with the parent in your life who needs to know they’re not alone.Connect with Trina:  https://aee-group.org/