121: Implementing Trauma-Informed Care in K-12 Education with Rachel Archambault
Special Education Strategist: Expert Advice for IEPs, 504 Plans, Dyslexia, Parent Advocacy, Learning Disabilities, Executive Function, Dysgraphia, ADHD, Autism, NeurodivergentShow Notes
In this powerful episode of The Special Ed Strategist Podcast, host Wendy Taylor welcomes Rachel Archambault, M.A., CCC-SLP, a speech-language pathologist and trauma-informed care advocate. Rachel shares her journey from experiencing trauma firsthand at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School to becoming a leading voice in trauma-informed education. Learn how educators can implement practical, mindset-shifting strategies to create safer, more supportive learning environments for all students.
3 Key Takeaways from the Episode:
Trauma-Informed Care is a Mindset Shift, Not a Checklist: Educators should shift from asking “What’s wrong with this student?” to “What happened to this student?” and adjust their approach to reduce harm, foster safety, and support learning.
Language Matters – Small Adjustments Can Have a Big Impact: Removing violent phrases like “shoot me an email” and choosing more precise, neutral language helps create a safer, less triggering environment for students and staff.
Safety, Choice, and Trust Build Strong Learning Environments: The six pillars of trauma-informed care (Safety, Choice, Collaboration, Trust, Empowerment, and Cultural Sensitivity) guide educators to create spaces where students can shift from survival mode into their “learning brain.”
Connect with Rachel Archambault: Website: www.ptsdslp.com Instagram: @ptsd.slp Facebook: @ptsd.slp LinkedIn: Rachel Archambault Email: [email protected]
Links & Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
Book: What Happened to You? by Oprah Winfrey & Dr. Bruce Perry
Book: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
ACEs Study (Adverse Childhood Experiences): CDC ACE Study
SAMHSA's Six Principles of Trauma-Informed Care (Source of the Six Pillars): SAMHSA Trauma-Informed Approach
Child Life Specialist Field (Mentioned as a career of interest by Rachel): Association of Child Life Professionals
Connect with Wendy: Instagram: @learningessentials LinkedIn: Wendy Taylor Facebook: Learning Essentials Website: LearningEssentialsEDU.com Course: Cracking the Code
More from Special Education Strategist: Expert Advice for IEPs, 504 Plans, Dyslexia, Parent Advocacy, Learning Disabilities, Executive Function, Dysgraphia, ADHD, Autism, Neurodivergent
From Home to School: Bridging Health, Neurodivergence, and Advocacy with Dr. Karin Varblow
Feeling overwhelmed by neuropsychological evaluations, audiology reports, or conflicting advice from doctors and schools?
In this episode of The Special Ed Strategist, host Wendy Taylor is joined by Dr. Rebecca Fritsch, Psy.D., licensed clinical and school psychologist, to explore how parents can document their child’s strengths and challenges at home—and translate those insights into measurable IEP goals. Parents will learn how to connect observations to “educational impact,” collaborate with school teams, and empower their child’s voice in the IEP process.
Feeling overwhelmed by constant IEP meetings, doctor visits, and behavior struggles? Join Wendy Taylor as she interviews developmental-behavioral pediatrician Dr. Amir Miodovnik—an expert who trained at Boston Children’s and Kennedy Krieger—on how medical factors like sleep, anxiety, and ADHD shape learning and behavior. Discover how to transform your observations into action: translate clinical insights into school strategies, prioritize child-centered supports, and plan ahead as your child grows. Warm, clear, and deeply empowering—this episode gives you a strategy you can use immediately.
In this episode of The Special Ed Strategist, host Wendy Taylor sits down with pediatric neuropsychologists Dr. Yael Rothman and Dr. Katia Fredriksen—co-authors of the Different Thinkers children’s book series—to explore how families can help children understand diagnoses with compassion and clarity. With a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming lens, they offer practical ways to shift conversations from “what’s wrong” to “what’s unique,” empowering both home life and school advocacy.