Don't IEP Alone.

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 <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Your-IEP-Playbook-Confident-Advocacy/

Don't IEP Alone. is a education podcast hosted by Lisa Lightner, with 201 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Lisa Lightner hosts Don't IEP Alone., a education show with 201 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #2

  Breaking the Myth: IEP Meetings Aren’t Where Success Happens

  Aug 19, 202610 minS2026

  Welcome to "Don't IEP Alone" with Lisa Lightner, your go-to source for special education advocacy and support. In this episode, Lisa Lightner challenges a common belief among parents and advocates: the idea that IEP meetings are the most important part of the special education process. Drawing from her years of experience, Lisa Lightner explains why the real work—and true advocacy power—happens before and around the IEP meeting itself. With practical tips, honest insights, and a fresh perspective, she reveals how advance preparation, clear communication, and data-driven groundwork are what truly shape successful outcomes for your child. Whether you’re dreading your next IEP meeting or seeking to strengthen your advocacy skills, this episode offers valuable guidance to transform how you approach the IEP process. 00:00 Parents' anxiety about IEP meetings 03:07 Preparing for IEP meetings 07:37 Tips for Successful IEP Meetings What Questions to Ask at an IEP Meeting (free PDF) Should Parents Get the IEP or Evaluations Before the Meeting? How to Not Cry at your IEP Meeting. 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

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #1

  A Parent’s Guide to Back to School IEP Readiness

  Aug 13, 202612 minS2026

  Welcome back to the Don't IEP Alone podcast! In this episode, Lisa Lightner dives into the realities of back-to-school season for parents navigating IEPs . She shares strategies to help you get organized before classes begin, including a game-changing new approach to reading and understanding your child’s IEP. Whether your summer break is winding down or you’re already prepping backpacks, Lisa Lightner offers practical advice to help ease your worries, focus on what you can control, and move into the new school year feeling confident and empowered. Plus, she tackles common concerns about related services and reminds you—you’re doing better than you think! 1. Introduction and Welcome Lisa Lightner greets new and returning listeners 00:01 Brief mention of podcast hiatuses and evergreen episodes 00:13 Reference to the "February freak out" experienced by parents and advocates 00:20 2. Back-to-School Transition for IEP Parents Personal anecdote about shopping for back-to-school with her son 01:29 Discussion about not having the luxury to delay back-to-school planning as an IEP parent 02:29 Emphasizing the need to prepare before school starts to avoid children being left behind 02:35 3. How to Read an IEP Effectively Announcement of a new " How to Read an IEP " PDF, blog post, and YouTube video available in show notes 02:59 Explanation of the common mistake: reading IEPs cover to cover instead of by issue 03:32 Introduction of a new method: track specific issues (e.g., executive functioning) throughout the IEP 04:00 Encouragement to focus on 1 or 2 main concerns for the new school year 04:49 Mention of IEP progress monitoring—caution not to wait until report cards (often as late as Thanksgiving) to check progress 05:11 4. Self-Assessment and Reassurance for Parents Encouragement to focus on progress, even small, rather than stress 05:52 Reassurance that listening to the podcast means parents are ahead of the game 06:22 Observation that most IEPs have bright spots, not just problems, based on Lisa Lightner's IEP record reviews 06:52 Invitation to email Lisa Lightner for support if things feel dire 07:34 Reminders for parents to take deep breaths and acknowledge their prior experience 07:38 Welcoming both new and returning IEP parents 07:47 5. Patience with IEP Related Services at Start of School Year Encouragement not to panic about missed related services in the first weeks (e.g., OT, speech) 08:12 Explanation that scheduling and caseloads are often still being settled in the first week or two 08:49 Suggestion that IEPs are often written to account for start/end of year disruptions 09:05 Importance of perspective: missing a couple of sessions likely won’t affect long-term success 09:33 Practical advice for documentation and following up if no contact after two weeks 09:54 6. Closing Remarks Reminder to document ongoing issues for patterns 10:04 Goodbye and encouragement to tune in again 10:15 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

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Don't IEP Alone.

  Why "Gotcha!" is not an effective advocacy strategy.

  Feb 13, 202612 min

  You can be right. You can even prove you’re right. That doesn’t mean you’ll get what your child needs. Read instead of listen: Why “Gotcha” Doesn’t Win IEP Meetings. related content: Is My Child Receiving FAPE? What It Actually Looks Like in Real Life. Take the online special education advocacy training (what DOES win IEP meetings!) 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 my book

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #2

  What's the Most Imporant Part of the IEP?

  Jan 28, 20267 minS1

  If you have limited time and just want to know what to focus on quickly, which section of the IEP is the most important? Support the show Other ways I can help you with IEPs: 📚 Order my book

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Don't IEP Alone.

  Avoiding the February IEP Freakout: Proactive Tips for Parents

  Jan 13, 202615 min

  In this episode of Don't IEP Alone, Lisa Lightner shares why February can be a stressful month for IEP parents, what causes the annual "February freakout," and proactive steps you can take now to better advocate for your child. Get essential advice on IEP renewals, kindergarten and transition webinars, progress monitoring, and how to avoid last-minute panic as spring approaches. All the tools and resources you need are in the show notes! 🔴 Is Your Child's IEP Working?: 👉 https://dontiepalone.com/iep-progress/ ℹ️ IEP Present Levels for Teachers: https://dontiepalone.com/sale-iep-present-levels/ 🧰 IEP Meeting Toolkit: https://dontiepalone.com/iep-meeting-preparation-toolkit/ 🚀 Sign Up for Special Education Advocacy Training: https://access.dontiepalone.com/dont-iep-alone-sale/ ⚠️More on IEP Progress Monitoring: https://adayinourshoes.com/how-to-monitor-iep-progress-for-parents/ 🎯 Free IEP Goal Tracker: https://adayinourshoes.com/iep-goal-tracker/ 🧑🏼‍🤝‍🧑🏼 Join A Community of Parents and Advocates who "get it": https://village.adayinourshoes.com Facebook.com/ADayInOurShoesIEP Instagram: @DontIEPalone Free Webinar: Middle & High School IEPs https://dontiepalone.com/free-webinar-middle-high-school-ieps/ Free Webinar: The Preschool to Kindergarten IEP Transition: https://dontiepalone.com/free-webinar-kindergarten-iep-transition/ 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 my book

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on Don't IEP Alone.. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.