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Don't IEP Alone.

Lisa Lightner

Inspired by her own son with disabilities, Lisa Lightner is an award-winning blogger and advocate. She has previously worked for her county's Arc and has served on the Boards of Directors for several disability organizations. 

Currently, she is her county's chairperson for the Right to Education Task Force, a federally decreed group set up in 1971 to ensure that all children in Pennsylvania had the opportunity to an education. 

When not attending IEP meetings with families or lobbying in Harrisburg and DC for disability rights, she can be found on the web at her IEP advice blog, A Day in our Shoes. She is known for her practical, realistic and implementable advice for parents.

Warning: I've been told I have a Philly accent. I don't hear it. Also, I curse. It's something I'm working on as far as personal development. So please don't be put off. I'm trying.



📣Order my book on Amazon, 

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  • 24 episodes
  • Avg 14 min
  • English

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Episodes 24

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  • Sep 10, 2025 · 16 min

    Is This Podcast Working? Reflections on Content, Format, and Listener Feedback

    Welcome back to "Don't IEP Alone" with Lisa Lightner! In this candid episode, Lisa gets real about the behind-the-scenes struggles of podcasting, from wrestling with ADHD and perfectionism, to navigating technical hiccups and the pressure of social media. She shares her recent attempts to revamp the show, including her "5 Minutes to FAPE" experiment (and why it ended up in the digital trash bin), and reflects on the art of finding engaging content without falling into the trap of endless, one-sided rambling. Lisa also drops timely advice for the new school year, including tips on getting organized and making the IEP process more manageable for parents. It’s an honest, relatable look at both the challenges of advocacy and the reality of being a one-woman podcast team, plus a friendly invitation to share your suggestions for future episodes! Don't IEP Alone with Lisa Lightner, Special Education Advocate Thank you for listening to this episode of Don't IEP Alone. See you next time! Support the show Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 📚 Order Your IEP Playbook (my book) Schedule a Consult or IEP Record Review Get on the Waitlist for Training

  • S5 · E3
    Sep 4, 2025 · 6 min

    Most important part of an IEP.

    If your Present Levels are wrong, everything else in the IEP will fall like dominoes. Article mentioned in video: https://adayinourshoes.com/present-levels-iep/ IEP Toolkit for Parents: https://dontiepalone.com/my-parent-iep-toolkit/ Don't IEP Alone with Lisa Lightner, Special Education Advocate Thank you for listening to this episode of Don't IEP Alone. See you next time! Support the show Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 📚 Order Your IEP Playbook (my book) Schedule a Consult or IEP Record Review

  • S5 · E2
    Sep 3, 2025 · 8 min

    Have you been asked to come pick up your child at school?

    The Secret Suspension Problem: a MUST WATCH if the school is constantly calling you to come get your kid at school. Resources mentioned in video: Behavior Info for Families: https://adayinourshoes.com/tag/behavior/ Behavior mini course: https://www.dontiepalone.academy/courses/all-things-behavior-and-your-iep/preview Don't IEP Alone with Lisa Lightner, Special Education Advocate Thank you for listening to this episode of Don't IEP Alone. See you next time! Support the show Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 📚 Order Your IEP Playbook (my book) Schedule a Consult or IEP Record Review

  • S5 · E1
    Sep 2, 2025 · 5 min

    Can you show me where it says.....

    IDEA is surprisingly non-specific about a lot of special education. Here's how to advocate when you're pretty sure you've been told something incorrect....but struggle to find proof. Get your free FAPE guide here: https://birdsend.page/forms/1628/IrX2XebqwQ Don't IEP Alone with Lisa Lightner, Special Education Advocate Thank you for listening to this episode of Don't IEP Alone. See you next time! Support the show Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 📚 Order Your IEP Playbook (my book) Schedule a Consult or IEP Record Review

Showing 21–24 of 24 episodes