In this powerful episode of the Grind It Up Podcast, we sit down with Leslie Hestwood to discuss the harrowing realities of navigating the special education and mental health systems. Leslie shares her personal journey as a mother advocating for her daughters, highlighting systemic failures, lack of transparency in federally funded programs, and the bureaucratic hurdles that often leave families searching for answers in the dark. From the exorbitant costs of private evaluations to the intricacies of IEP meetings, this conversation provides an essential look at the reality of special needs advocacy today.

The episode also touches on the host's personal battle with stage four cancer and the mission behind the Mauer Foundation, which aims to bring direct support to those in need with 100% transparency. Join us for a raw and honest discussion about resilience, the necessity of school district accountability, and the need for ground-up reform in our public services.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:01:32 - Fighting Stage 4 Cancer & Shooting Guns

00:08:45 - The Hidden Struggle of Special Education

00:18:59 - Why Special Education & Mental Health Reform is Failing Families

00:25:35 - The Brutal Reality of Special Needs Parenting

00:31:33 - Why Texas Schools Failed My Daughter

00:40:31 - The Harsh Reality of the Special Education System

00:45:36 - A Mother’s Raw Experience with Special Education Meetings

00:47:46 - Why the Disability Support System is Failing Families

00:53:58 - The TRUTH About IEPs

01:03:05 - Fighting the System

01:15:24 - Understanding Intellectual Disabilities

01:19:54 - Why Driving Styles Are Completely Different

01:28:26 - Mama Bear Activated

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