Special education, from the parent's side of the table.
Dana Johnson talks with one guest at a time about raising children with disabilities and advocating for them, from the fine print of an IEP to pathological demand avoidance. The talk is practical and warm, and it says plainly when schools fall short.
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Special Ed on Special Ed is a conversation show about children with disabilities and the adults trying to get them a fair education. Dana Johnson hosts. Each episode brings in one guest, whose background is laid out in full before the talk begins, and the guest list reaches well past the classroom. Practical advocacy sits at the center. In the episode with April Rehrig, an advocate who has worked as a school psychologist and teacher, the focus is the present levels of performance section of an IEP. That section should name the barriers, show goals with a baseline and a target, and include accommodations and services. The conversation says directly that many IEPs fail because that section is nearly empty. A parent can bring that kind of detail into a meeting. The conversation with Dr. Gwen Martin, a licensed professional counselor and former special education teacher, looks at what a school needs to know about a child before special education even starts, during processes like RTI or SST. A school cannot provide a support it does not know is needed. The discussion also admits that parents sometimes leave out something major. Diane Gould, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of PDA North America, explains pathological demand avoidance as an autism profile. From there the talk turns sharply critical of American schools as too behavioral and too focused on independence over interdependence. Andrea Pollack, a former litigator who now supports parents of autistic children, questions whether children choose challenging behavior at all. The idea is worked through out loud rather than handed down as a verdict. Star-and-sticker rewards do not come off well. Then the show leaves school entirely. Maxwell Ivey, known as The Blind Blogger, explains why accessibility is a business opportunity and why hiring people with disabilities brings loyal, creative problem solvers onto a team. Dr. Alison Escalante, a board-certified pediatrician, talks about the parenting 'should storm' and a science-based three-step method for getting past it. The register is warm and conversational, and it is candid without turning bitter. One exchange calls schools somewhat atrocious for most students with disabilities, then notes that hopes of COVID forcing a change did not pan out. Episodes include a legal disclaimer that nothing said is legal advice, and they close with an invitation to the show's Facebook page.
Made for: Suits a parent of a child with disabilities who wants a clearer view of the special education process, from early school referrals to the details of an IEP. Also fits a teacher or advocate curious about autism profiles like PDA and a less behavioral way of reading challenging behavior.
What sets it apart: It pairs close attention to IEP mechanics, such as what belongs in present levels of performance, with conversations well outside the school building, on accessibility in business and the social pressure parents feel. The tone is warm but candid, and it does not pretend schools are working for most students with disabilities.
This podcast offers essential insights for parents of children with disabilities, covering topics from advocating for your child's rights through the special education process to innovative interventions and practical support strategies. Each episode features conversations with experts, empowering you to confidently navigate your child's unique educational journey. Join me for guidance, inspiration, and a supportive community on your path.
The sticker chart can wait; Dana Johnson wants to know what's making the classroom hard for your child.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A clear, school-focused conversation on PDA as anxiety, avoidance, absences, lateness, and resistance to demands.
PDA is framed here as an autism profile closely bound up with anxiety, pressure, and a strong drive to sidestep demands. Dana Johnson's conversation with Diane Gould brings that lens into American school culture, where behavior systems and expectations around independence can…
A grounded conversation about the context children bring to school and the support adults need around them.
Special Ed on Special Ed frames a child's emotional and behavioral needs as real context for school support, not side information. Dana Johnson's conversation with Dr.
Maxwell Ivey makes accessibility feel practical, personal, and commercially hard to ignore.
Accessibility comes through as both a business case and a lived ethic. Maxwell Ivey, introduced as The Blind Blogger, is framed as a blind entrepreneur, author, speaker, and accessibility advocate whose story moves from a family carnival background into work encouraging…
A practical look at why present levels matter when an IEP needs to reflect a child's actual needs.
Parent advocacy gets a grounded, usable frame through the working parts of an IEP. April Rarig is presented through her roles as a school psychologist, teacher, parent, and founder of Rise Educational Advocacy and Consulting, and the episode centers her case for treating present…
A thoughtful conversation about autistic behavior as communication and what successful education may require.
Andrea Pollack brings a grounded shift in perspective to autism parenting. After 19 years as a litigator, she homeschooled her autistic son when no suitable educational setting was available, then earned a master's degree in education and founded Autism Parent Solutions.
Practical ADHD guidance, taught plainly.
Applied behavior analysis, explained through practice.
Practical SLP learning with clinical backbone.
Dana Johnson interviews Diane Gould, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of PDA North America, about pathological demand avoidance and why she prefers the phrase “drive for autonomy.” Gould says she first took PDA seriously after a client’s mother sent her article after article, and a March 2020 workshop drew 165 people before airports closed.
Dr.
Dana Johnson interviews Maxwell Ivey, known as The Blind Blogger, about growing up in a family of carnival owners, losing vision to retinitis pigmentosa, and later building Midway Marketplace in September 2007.
Dana Johnson interviews April Rehrig on Special Ed on Special Ed about how parent advocacy changes special education meetings and IEP outcomes.
Andrea Pollack describes leaving a 19-year litigation career after homeschooling her autistic son for eight years and later earning a master's in education.
Ilona Phillips traces her path from Eastern Europe to eating disorder therapy after her sister developed an eating disorder and an Ohio State supervisor specialized in the field.
On Special Ed on Special Ed, host Dana asks licensed therapist Melody Murray how parents can recognize and respond to suicidal behavior in adolescents with disabilities.
Jimmy Clare says exercise helped reduce his autism meltdowns from multiple times a week to once in a blue moon.
Host Dana Johnson interviews Dr.
Host Dana Johnson interviews Kurt McAnee about his book on social skills for teens, focusing on practical strategies for parents of children with disabilities.
Host Dana Johnson interviews Julie Swanson, the Life Skills Lady, about her work teaching life skills to individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.
A special education attorney and former teacher provides guidance on navigating IEP meetings and mediation for parents of children with disabilities.