Episode 14: How to Advocate for Your Child Without Fighting the School: From a School Psychologist

Have you ever left a school meeting feeling like no one truly sees your child?Maybe the conversation focused on everything they're doing wrong. Maybe you walked away with more questions than answers. In this episode of Think Like a Kid, I sit down with school psychologist and special education advocate Mariah Choate to discuss how parents can advocate for their children confidently, effectively, and collaboratively without turning every school meeting into a battle.We also tackle one of the biggest misconceptions adults make when supporting children:What if the behavior isn't the problem?What if the real issue is a missing skill or an unmet need?In This Episode We Discuss:How to shift school conversations from deficits to strengthsWhat to do when every meeting seems focused on what's wrongWhy children often need support not punishmentHow reading struggles, executive functioning challenges, and emotional regulation difficulties can be mistaken for defianceWhat school psychologists wish parents knew about the special education processHow to tell the difference between "can't" and "won't"Key Takeaways1. Behavior is CommunicationInstead of asking:"Why won't they do it?"Try asking: "What's making this hard?"2. Ask for the DataIf you're receiving repeated calls or concerns from school, ask:What interventions have been tried?Which interventions helped?How is progress being tracked?3. Special Education is a Service, Not a PlaceOne of the biggest myths parents believe is that an IEP automatically means a separate classroom.It doesn't.4. Don't Be Afraid to Ask QuestionsYou don't need to understand every educational acronym or legal term.5. Lead With StrengthsMariah's advice was simple but powerful:Before anyone else can see the good in your child, you have to see it first.Free Resource: Prior Written Notice TemplateIf you've requested support from your school and aren't sure what to do next, Mariah shares a free Prior Written Notice template that parents can use when requesting evaluations and services.This resource helps you document concerns and understand your rights throughout the process.click here Want More Support?Mariah has created a comprehensive Special Education Advocacy System that walks parents through:Evaluations504 PlansIEPsScripts for difficult conversationsSpecial education lawDocumentation systemsAdvocacy toolsIf you've ever felt overwhelmed navigating the school system, this resource was created specifically for you.https://stan.store/Wholisticallypsyched/p/the-special-education-support-system- Mariah’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholistically_psyched/