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PODCAST

Starting With IEP

Flor De Amelia Hoffman

Welcome to Starting with IEP! I am Flor De Amelia, an Autism Mom, BCBA, IEP Coach, and SpEd Teacher. I deeply understand the IEP journey, having navigated it for my daughter for 16 years. This podcast goes beyond paperwork to demystify the process and help you confidently advocate for your child"s long-term success. We feature honest conversations with parents, young adults, and insightful professionals, ensuring you feel prepared, empowered, and never alone. My mission is to help families find

education courses

All Episodes

45:05

How to Disagree in IEP Meetings Without Feeling...

Starting With IEP ·

2026/04/08

Have you ever walked out of an IEP meeting feeling overwhelmed, confused, or like decisions were already made without you? That feeling is more common than you think, and it does not mean you have to accept it.In Episode 32 of Starting with IEP, host Flor de Amelia continues her conversation with Dr. Marielle Mathews to break down what parents need to know when they disagree with the school. This episode goes deeper into your rights, what to do when something doesn’t feel right, and how to advocate

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44:23

IEP Meetings: When to Say Yes, When to Say No, and...

Starting With IEP ·

2026/04/02

Have you ever sat in an IEP meeting feeling confused, overwhelmed, or unsure if you can speak up? You are not alone, and more importantly, you are not powerless.In this episode 31 of Starting with IEP, Flor de Amelia is joined by Dr. Marielle Mathews to break down one of the most misunderstood parts of the IEP process: procedural safeguards and your rights as a parent. Together, they unpack what schools don’t always explain clearly, including when you can say yes, when you can say no, and how to

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44:28

What Schools Won’t Tell You About ESY, 1:1 Support,...

Starting With IEP ·

2026/03/25

ESY services and one-to-one support are some of the most misunderstood parts of the IEP process. Many families are told their child “needs” these services, only to realize that decisions are not always clearly explained or grounded in meaningful data. When this happens, services can become routine instead of purposeful, and may not truly support the child’s growth.This conversation is for parents who have been encouraged to accept ESY without understanding why, questioned whether a one-to-one aide

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01:03:50

Episode 29: Is Your Child’s IEP Too Long… or Just...

Starting With IEP ·

2026/03/18

IEPs are meant to support students, but many families are told their plan is “too long,” “too detailed,” or “too complicated.” In Episode 29, we continue the conversation with Michael Plummer to unpack why that mindset can be harmful and what truly individualized planning should look like.This episode explores what happens behind the scenes in special education leadership. From the realities of writing IEPs to the systems schools should have in place to monitor services, we discuss why transparency,

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34:17

Episode 28: What Every Parent Must Know About...

Starting With IEP ·

2026/03/05

Transition IEPs are one of the most critical parts of special education, yet they are often treated like a formality instead of a roadmap to adulthood. When transition planning is vague, delayed, or reduced to a single page in the IEP, students miss meaningful opportunities to build real-world skills before they exit the school systemIn Episode 28, I walk through what a Transition IEP actually requires under IDEA, when it must begin, and how it should shape the entire IEP, not just senior year

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01:07:37

Ep. 27 ft. Marielle Mathews: A School Psychologist...

Starting With IEP ·

2026/02/25

IEP eligibility is one of the most misunderstood parts of special education. Many families walk into their first evaluation meeting believing that a medical diagnosis automatically guarantees an IEP, only to discover that the process is more nuanced than they expected. In Episode 27, we sit down with licensed school psychologist Marielle Mathews to unpack what eligibility truly means, how decisions are made, and why educational impact matters more than labels.This conversation is not about

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45:36

Episode 26: IEP Trauma and Trust: How Strong Admin...

Starting With IEP ·

2026/02/18

IEP meetings can shape a family’s entire educational journey, yet many parents leave feeling unheard, overwhelmed, or uncertain about the decisions being made. In Episode 26, we continue the conversation with Michael Plummer to explore the emotional side of IEP leadership and how trust, communication, and collaboration influence outcomes for students and families.This episode goes beyond policies and procedures to focus on the human experience inside IEP meetings. We unpack how leadership styles,

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01:05:11

Episode 25: Mastering IEP Decisions: Retention,...

Starting With IEP ·

2026/02/11

Grade retention is one of the most complex and emotional decisions in special education. Families often feel torn between academic data, emotional readiness, and school recommendations, without fully understanding how IEP teams actually make these decisions.In Episode 25, I talk with Michael Plummer about what really happens behind grade retention discussions, diploma track decisions, and IEP team conversations. This episode goes beyond simple explanations and explores how schools weigh data,

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01:24:51

Episode 24: Why OT Eligibility Varies: How Therapist...

Starting With IEP ·

2026/02/04

Occupational therapy is one of the most misunderstood services in special education. Families are often told their child “doesn’t qualify” for school-based OT while simultaneously paying for private OT multiple times a week.In Episode 24, I talk with occupational therapist Cody Lukasik about the real reasons behind this disconnect. This conversation goes beyond surface-level explanations and dives into how schools define educational impact, how private practice defines clinical need, and why those

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23:12

Episode 23: Present Levels and Why IEP Goals Fall...

Starting With IEP ·

2026/01/28

Present levels of performance are one of the most important parts of an IEP, yet they are often vague, outdated, or disconnected from real data. When present levels are weak, goals stop being individualized and progress becomes performative instead of meaningful.In Episode 23, I explain what present levels actually are, why they matter, and how they serve as the foundation for every IEP goal. This episode is not about blaming schools or creating conflict. It is about clarity, alignment, and making

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14:10

Episode 22: Baseline Data and the Difference Between...

Starting With IEP ·

2026/01/21

Baseline data is one of the most important parts of an IEP, yet it’s often rushed, vague, or poorly explained. Without it, progress becomes subjective, goals can be recycled, and parents lose real leverage in advocating for their child.In Episode 22, I unpack what baseline data really is, why it matters, and how understanding it changes the way parents approach IEP meetings. This episode is not about catching schools doing something wrong or creating conflict, it’s about clarity, accountability, and

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20:31

Episode 21: What Early Intervention Progress Really...

Starting With IEP ·

2026/01/14

Early intervention does not feel loud or urgent in the beginning. It often feels quiet, slow, and filled with doubt. Families start to wonder whether anything is actually happening, whether progress should look different, or whether they should be pushing harder for more services. Those questions are rarely answered clearly, and that uncertainty can be just as heavy as the diagnosis itself.In Episode 21, I walk parents through what the first six months of early intervention are truly designed to do

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41:50

Episode 20: Early Intervention for Infants and...

Starting With IEP ·

2026/01/07

Early intervention doesn’t begin with a school meeting or an IEP document. It begins in the quiet moments when something feels off and you are deciding whether to trust your instincts or wait it out. That decision carries more weight than most families are ever told.In Episode 20, I walk parents through the Infants and Toddlers Program under IDEA Part C and why early intervention is not about rushing a child, labeling them, or doing something “too soon.” It is about responding while the brain is

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26:06

Episode 19: The Power of Parent Networks in...

Starting With IEP ·

2025/12/31

IEP meetings don’t just test your knowledge of special education, they test your emotional endurance. The self-doubt, the second-guessing, the feeling that everyone else knows something you don’t, it can be isolating in ways few people talk about.In Episode 19, I’m addressing one of the most overlooked yet powerful factors in a parent’s IEP journey: building a parent support network. This episode is for the parents who leave meetings replaying every word they said, wondering if they were too much

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31:43

Episode 18: Newly Diagnosed and Overwhelmed - What...

Starting With IEP ·

2025/12/24

Receiving a diagnosis can feel like the ground has shifted beneath you. The fear, the grief, the questions, and the pressure to “do the right thing” all arrive at once. I know this feeling deeply.In Episode 18, I’m speaking directly to newly diagnosed families and to the parents who are quietly wondering if they should be doing more, sooner. I share the moments I wish someone had prepared me for, the mistakes that come from being told to “wait and see,” and the systems that are meant to support

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33:44

Episode 17: From Transition IEPs to Real Jobs - What...

Starting With IEP ·

2025/12/18

Planning for adulthood started early for me, long before Aliyah reached her teenage years. I realized quickly that her adulthood was going to look very different from other kids, and if I wanted her to have the best possible future, I needed to understand transition IEPs, DORS, and the services that support young adults with disabilities.In this episode, I’m sharing my own journey. The emotional moments, the unexpected roadblocks, the misinformation that almost kept Aliyah from qualifying for

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23:27

Episode 16: Avoid the Gap Year - A Parent’s Guide to...

Starting With IEP ·

2025/12/10

Planning for adulthood started early for me, long before Aliyah reached her teenage years. I realized quickly that her adulthood was going to look very different from other kids, and if I wanted her to have the best possible future, I needed to understand transition IEPs, DORS, and the services that support young adults with disabilities.In this episode, I’m sharing my own journey. The emotional moments, the unexpected roadblocks, the misinformation that almost kept Aliyah from qualifying for

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29:07

Episode 15: The Missing Supporting Piece in IEPs and...

Starting With IEP ·

2025/12/03

Guest: Solo episode with Flor De Amelia, Special Needs Mom, Advocate, and Host of Starting With IEPIEPs don’t only determine services, minutes, or goals. They influence the way our children connect with the world, the opportunities they can access, and the friendships that either form or never get the chance to grow. In this solo episode, I talk about something we rarely discuss in IEP meetings but feel deeply as parents: the social side of our children’s lives.I share the painful moments when doors

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24:48

Episode 14: How IEP Goals Turn Into Real Life Skills...

Starting With IEP ·

2025/11/26

Guest: Solo episode with Flor De Amelia — Special Needs Mom, Advocate, and Host of Starting With IEPIEPs don’t just shape a child’s education, they shape entire families.In this solo episode, I open up about the weight we parents carry, the guilt we rarely talk about, and the way IEP goals ripple through siblings, routines, and the entire rhythm of family life. From communication challenges to self advocacy, from balancing attention between my children to navigating meetings that feel overwhelming,

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47:48

Episode 13: Stop Guessing: Dr. Heller's Guide to...

Starting With IEP ·

2025/11/19

Guest: Dr. Carey Heller — Licensed Psychologist, Certified ADHD Professional, Executive Functioning CoachPsychological evaluations can feel overwhelming—pages of scores, terms you’ve never seen, and recommendations that shape your child’s future. Where do you even start? What parts actually matter? And how do you know if something important is missing?In this episode, Flor sits down with Dr. Carey Heller to break down evaluations in a way every parent can understand. Together, they explore how to

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