Undivided Voices: Navigating Disability For Parents

Mealtimes can feel overwhelming when your child has a limited diet — but small shifts can make a big difference.In this episode, Undivided’s Head of Content and Community, Lindsay Crain, sits down with autism dietitian Brittyn Coleman to talk about picky eating in children with autism. Brittyn shares one of her most effective, practical tips to help expand your child’s food acceptance — without pressure, power struggles, or unrealistic expectations.Whether you’re navigating sensory sensitivities, food aversions, or just looking for a starting point, this conversation offers a supportive, real-life approach you can actually use at home.To learn more about Undivided, visit: https://undivided.io

What does the law actually say about inclusive Extended School Year (ESY) — and how could it impact your child?In this episode, Lindsay Crain, Head of Content and Community at Undivided, introduces a candid and important conversation led by Undivided’s Karen Cull. Karen is joined by David German, Partner at Vanaman German, and Melinda Bird, Senior Litigation Counsel at Disability Rights California, to break down the M.C. vs. LAUSD case — a case that raised serious concerns about disability discrimination in summer services.Together, they explore what this case means for students who require special education during the summer, how it could shape access to inclusive ESY programs, and what families should understand when advocating for their child’s rights.If you’ve ever questioned whether your child’s ESY services are truly inclusive — or what schools are legally required to provide — this conversation is a must-listen.For more information about CalABLE, check out our article: https://undivided.io/resources/2200

Mental health is a critical part of every child’s well-being — but for children with disabilities, it’s often overlooked or misunderstood.In this episode, Undivided’s Head of Content, Lindsay Crain, sits down with Dr. Lauren Stutman, Clinical Director and Founder of CARE-LA, to unpack the unique mental health challenges faced by children with disabilities. They explore why these needs are so often missed, how behaviors can be misinterpreted, and what families should be looking for when it comes to emotional and psychological support.This conversation offers insight, validation, and practical perspective for parents navigating both disability and mental health.For more information, check out our article: https://undivided.io/resources/1456

What does it actually take to make inclusion work — not just on paper, but in the classroom?Education and inclusion advocate Karen Ford Cull breaks down how families can move beyond placement and toward true participation in general education. From writing stronger, more inclusive IEP goals to using accommodations, behavior supports, and practical advocacy strategies, this conversation is packed with tools you can use right away.Whether you’re facing resistance from your IEP team or trying to figure out how to better support your child in a general education setting, you’ll walk away with clearer next steps and a stronger framework for advocating for meaningful inclusion.Learn more in our full event recap: https://undivided.io/resources/3764

Whether your child is attending camp and needs a 1:1 aide or they’re staying home while you’re working, Regional Center provides services that can help with your child’s summer programming. From social classes and swim lessons to specialized supervision and respite, we have you covered! For more information on Regional Center, go here: https://undivided.io/app/resources/947Want help navigating public benefits — and keep your data HIPAA-secured? Try Undivided’s Andy AI, built to pull from expert-backed resources for personalized support and guidance: https://www.undivided.io/

What does FAPE really mean for your child? And how does the least restrictive environment (LRE) affect where and how they learn?In this Undivided conversation, Dr. Sarah Pelangka, BCBA-D, special education advocate and owner of KnowIEPs, breaks down key concepts every parent should understand about IEPs. She explains your child’s right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), what LRE can look like in practice, and how these legal protections shape the services and supports included in an IEP.If you’re navigating special education or trying to better understand your child’s rights, this conversation offers helpful guidance and real-world insight.Want help reviewing your child’s IEP? Try the Undivided IEP Assistant for personalized insights and feedback: https://www.undivided.io/iep-assistant/

Undivided Parent and Navigator duo Isabelle and Kelly talk about how they worked together to advocate for inclusion with supports, language immersion, and retention. Isabelle shares how her advocacy affected her daughter’s kindergarten experience. For further reading on the transition to kindergarten, check out our Making the Transition to Kindergarten with an IEP article: https://undivided.io/resources/216

What counts as a “related service” in an IEP — and how do you know if your child is getting the right support?In this episode, Dr. Sarah Pelangka, special education advocate and owner of KnowIEPs, breaks down services like speech therapy, OT, 1:1 aides, AAC, counseling, and more. She explains how these supports are determined and how they connect to your child’s goals and access to FAPE.Want a second set of eyes on your IEP? Try Undivided’s free IEP Assistant for personalized insights and goal feedback: https://www.undivided.io/iep-assistant/Read the recap article here: https://undivided.io/resources/544

California’s proposed 2026–27 budget is here — and the decisions made in the coming months could directly impact programs and services that children with disabilities rely on every day.Hosted by Lindsay Crain, this episode features Christofer Arroyo, Deputy Director of Policy and Public Affairs for the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, breaking down what’s in the proposed budget, what potential cuts could mean for families, and why now is the time to make your voice heard before the July deadline.If you’re wondering how the state budget affects IEPs, IHSS, Regional Center services, and other critical supports, this conversation will help you understand what’s at stake — and what you can do next.For more expert guidance, advocacy tools, and resources to help you navigate complex systems with confidence, visit https://undivided.io

Eye gaze AAC is powerful technology — but understanding how it works is key to using it effectively.In this episode, experts break down how high-tech eye gaze systems use infrared lights, cameras, and specialized software to track eye movement and translate it into communication. We also discuss why eye gaze isn’t plug-and-play, why professional support and proper calibration are essential, and what real-life use actually looks like at home, at school, and in everyday settings.If you’re considering an eye gaze system or supporting someone who uses one, this conversation offers practical insight into what makes eye gaze successful.To go deeper, read our full article here: https://undivided.io/resources/3636

In this episode of Undivided Voices, Dr. Sarah Pelangka, special education advocate and owner of KnowIEPs, breaks down one of the most important—and often overwhelming—parts of the special education process: assessments.Dr. Pelangka explains how assessments work, how they’re administered, how to read and understand results, and what families can do if they disagree with the findings. This conversation offers practical guidance to help parents feel more confident, informed, and prepared when assessments impact their child’s IEP and services.For more information, check out our article IEP Assessments 101: https://undivided.io/resources/115To learn more about Undivided, visit: https://undivided.ioFor more content like this, find us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/undividedapp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/undividedapp X: https://twitter.com/undividedapp

Ever wonder what really happens behind closed doors in special education? 👀 IEP meetings are just the tip of the iceberg—and there’s a lot families don’t always hear.In this episode, we’re joined by Daphne Zacky Bold, a licensed educational psychologist, educational consultant, and longtime special education advocate with nearly 20 years of experience supporting students with diverse learning needs. Daphne pulls back the curtain on what families should know, what schools don’t always explain, and how parents can better advocate for their children.Want to go deeper? Catch highlights, takeaways, and resources in our full event recap: https://undivided.io/resources/3472or more content like this, find us on... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/undividedapp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/undividedapp Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/undividedapp Bluesky: https://bsky.app/undividedapp.bsky.social

Once you’ve done all your individualized education plan (IEP) prep work, how do you make sure the IEP meeting itself goes smoothly and covers all your concerns? We sat down with Undivided's Non-Attorney Education Advocate Lisa Carey to learn more about how to make sure our priorities get covered in an IEP meeting, red flags to watch out for, and other tips to help us advocate for our kids' needs in school. For more information about individualized education plans, check out our article: https://undivided.io/resources/127

Leslie Lobel, Undivided's Director of Health Plan Advocacy, and Lisa Concoff Kronbeck, Undivided's Public Benefits Specialist, explain the funding resources available to parents and how to navigate them during this Undivided Live event. To learn about how to pay for medical and therapeutic needs that are sometimes harder to get approved through traditional means, check out our article: https://undivided.io/resources/300

Join Dr. Caitlin Solone, education advocate, teacher-educator, and academic administrator for the disability studies program at UCLA, about the questions parents should ask when it comes to alternate and modified curriculum. Here are the top takeaways from our discussion! For more information about Alternate Curriculums, check out our article: https://undivided.io/resources/536

IEPs evolve in high school, just like our kids do. We’re starting to focus on those vision statements and what comes after high school as our teens near adulthood, but how can we know all of the options and possibilities for support? Join Undivided Education Advocate Lisa Carey, as we covered major milestones and steps to take from age 14 to 21 so that you can feel confident you’re preparing your teen for adulthood. For more information about the transition to adulthood, check out our article: https://undivided.io/resources/10

Parents often ask, “How can I afford it all?” From therapies to medical supplies, expenses add up quickly. Lisa Concoff Kronbeck and Leslie Lobel, Undivided’s experts in public benefits and insurance, share tips on maximizing private insurance and Medi-Cal to cover your child’s needs while saving money. To learn more about public benefits, check out our insurance decoder: https://undivided.io/resources/978

In this episode, Undivided’s Education Advocate Lisa Carey unpacks some of the most common — and confusing — things said in IEP meetings. From “We don’t usually offer that” to “Let’s wait and see,” Lisa explains what these statements really mean and how you can respond with clarity and confidence.You’ll walk away with practical scripts, advocacy tips, and Lisa’s personal playbook for navigating IEP conversations like a pro. Whether you’re prepping for your first IEP or your tenth, this episode gives you the tools to show up informed, empowered, and ready to collaborate.Looking for more IEP prep support? Our full guide is here: https://undivided.io/resources/128

In this Undivided Voices episode, non-attorney education advocate Lisa Carey shares how to spot the signs, ask the right questions, and create a plan that truly supports your child’s needs. Whether you’re facing challenges with accommodations, progress, or just that gut feeling something’s off, Lisa offers practical, empowering steps to help you advocate with confidence and clarity.✨ Learn more about Undivided: https://undivided.io#IEP #SpecialEducation #UndividedVoices #ParentAdvocacy #Inclusion

Worried about statewide district budget deficits and unknown federal cuts? Education attorney Dina Kaplan will answer questions about school when the stakes seem higher than ever.Although we’re always concerned with ensuring our kids’ rights to an education are protected, we know this isn’t a typical school year. Reality has set in and many parents are stressed about about how our kids’ education will be affected. Dina is here to help us prepare for back-to-school season and give us her tips as an experienced advocate and parent for making sure our kids get the support they need in school.

Kelley Coleman is an author and advocate who has spent over a decade navigating public benefits, insurance, and education for her child with multiple disabilities. Join us in conversation with Kelley Coleman, who will give us practical tips and advice (and a pep talk!) on how we can advocate to make sure our kids get what they need. For more information about Undivided, visit: https://undivided.io

Dr. Caitlin Solone, education advocate, teacher educator, and faculty at UCLA, offers suggestions for crafting inclusive IEP goals for your child, including how to make sure your child isn't removed from the general education classroom for "goal work," how your goals can support more inclusive opportunities for your child in special education, the red flags to watch for before signing your IEP, and more in this Undivided event. For more on IEP goals, check out our article: Rewriting Goals for an IEP: Let's Fix Those Goals!

As parents, we know the transition to a new school year can be overwhelming as you help your child prepare for so many changes. We get it because we’ve been there, and we know what would have made our parenting journey easier! Together with parents, professionals, special education experts, and engineers, we’ve built an all-in-one platform to make sure YOU get the support you need for a new school year. The Undivided app aims to revolutionize your IEP and education support with tools unlike anything you’ve had before with the help of our IEP Assistant: the first AI-powered tool designed to help build the most effective IEP for your child. Visit www.undivided.io today to get started!

Inclusion expert Dr. Mary Falvey answers common questions about inclusion and socialization. We’ll explore ways to encourage socialization with peers, make sure everyone feels supported, and set IEP goals that promote inclusion and meaningful connections. We’ll also cover a lot more!Don't miss out on more socialization and inclusion insights; check out our Socialization and Inclusion: Nurturing Authentic Peer Relationships article!

Undivided Voices is a podcast for parents raising kids with disabilities. In our first episode, host Lindsay Crain sits down with Dr. Caitlin Solone to debunk common myths about inclusion and share practical ways schools can support every child.Looking for more myths about inclusion? Check out our Inclusion 101 article!