Welcome back to the podcast as we kick off a new school year! We are excited, as always, to jump into some very important topics in the coming weeks. First up is our amazing guest, Jennifer Catalano, to discuss her work in deaf education and share her perspective on the least restrictive environments for these students. Is it better to have 100% inclusion or 100% special instruction? Let’s learn more from Jennifer’s perspective in today’s episode!

Jennifer Catalano is the director of both undergraduate and graduate deaf education programs at Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL. Her background spans deaf education, elementary education, and special education, making her current role the perfect intersection of her experience and expertise. She loves working with current and future teachers to help them serve deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

Show Highlights:

• Jennifer’s introduction to deaf education began in high school.
• The recent shift to integrate these students with their peers
• The most important factor is to follow the path for EACH student in finding what’s best for them—not a one-size-fits-all approach.
• The best scenario is a blend of inclusion and special instruction
• LRE should stand for “Language Rich Environment.”
• An overview of Jennifer’s course: The Deaf Ecosystem Course
• A unique approach to getting alumni business owners involved
• The critical language period of the first 5 years of life–and the ripple effects
• Encouraging and promoting inclusive practices, even in the business world

Resources:

Connect with Jennifer Catalano: Flagler College Website and Email

Mentioned in this episode: Deaf President Now documentary

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org.

Thank you for listening!

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and review this show on Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Your rating and review help other listeners find this show.

Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions or concerns: Facebook, Instagram, X, IEP Website, and Email.

This is our last episode before our much-needed summer break. Taking this break helps us to refocus and prepare for a new school year. We recently made another appearance on the Diverse Thinking Different Learning: A ChildNEXUS podcast with Dr. Karen Wilson, who has also joined us on our podcast before. Today, we are featuring that episode as an overview of what’s been happening, and continuing to happen, in the field of special education in the US since the Trump administration took office. Enjoy the conversation!

Show Highlights:

• An overview of the state of affairs right now in US special education, especially regarding the executive order to dismantle the Department of Education
• Thoughts on the illusion of “giving educational rights back to the states”
• Miscommunication and misinformation about the role and scope of the Department of Education
• A real-life example from San Diego, CA, about a specific grant and its far-reaching impact to students
• Parents feel fear and anxiety because of grant-funded programs and other initiatives that may not be there to support their children.
• The best power the people have is to contact their state and federal representatives.
• DEI initiatives are about much more than race and gender.
• The potential impact on early childhood education programs
• What can YOU do?

Links/Resources:

Connect with Dr. Karen Wilson and her podcast: Diverse Thinking Different Learning: A ChildNEXUS podcast

Mentioned in this episode: 5 Calls App

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org

Thank you for listening!

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or Google Play. It helps other listeners find this show.

Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions/concerns:

Facebook

Instagram–We are doing videos on Instagram, so connect with us there and send us your questions!

Twitter

IEP website

Email us: admin@iepcalifornia.org

The landscape of American education has undergone significant changes over the past few months, particularly in the realm of special education. Our diligence in staying informed about developments in our field is more important than ever as we approach the start of a new school year in just a few weeks. Our focus today centers on understanding 504s with our guest, April. Join us to learn more!

April Rehrig is a special education advocate who does things differently. Her experiences as a teacher, mother, and school psychologist for 20 years provide her with a wide-ranging perspective on education and a unique approach to advocacy. She is the founder of Rise Educational Advocacy and Consulting and has a passion for helping parents and their children navigate the world of special education.

Show Highlights:

• Shift from IEPs to 504s: The biggest problem is insufficient training.
• The trend of inconsistency in 504s
• April’s perspective on the disconnect between IEP teams and 504 teams
• A huge increase in the number of students who have medical needs, like diabetes, migraines, etc. (These students need a healthcare plan at school!)
• Misconceptions about accommodations, 504 plans, and IEPs
• 504 meetings: What’s happening—and what needs to happen
• The benefits of a student being involved in the 504 meetings in the beginning

Links/Resources:

Connect with April Rehrig: Website (many resources are available!), YouTube, and Instagram

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org

Thank you for listening!

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.

If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or Google Play. It helps other listeners find this show.

Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions/concerns:

Facebook

Instagram–We are doing videos on Instagram, so connect with us there and send us your questions!

Twitter

IEP website

Email us: admin@iepcalifornia.org