135: Neurodiversity-Affirming IEPs: Moving Beyond Compliance with Breea Rosas
Special Education Strategist: Expert Advice for IEPs, 504 Plans, Dyslexia, Parent Advocacy, Learning Disabilities, Executive Function, Dysgraphia, ADHD, Autism, NeurodivergentShow Notes
What does it really mean to be neurodiversity-affirming? Breea Rosas, licensed educational psychologist and founder of the Neurodiversity Affirming School Psychologist Group, joins Wendy Taylor to unpack how schools, families, and IEP teams can shift from a deficit-based lens to an affirming, strength-centered approach. From actionable language swaps to rethinking token boards and goal-writing, this episode is a must-listen for anyone ready to do better—for real.
Top 3 Takeaways:
Language is the First Shift: Changing “non-compliant” to “self-directed” transforms perceptions—and outcomes.
Parent Power is Real: Input statements and pre-meeting advocacy can reframe the entire IEP experience.
Affirming ≠ Ignoring Needs: Reframing challenges as “support needs” aligns goals with neurotype, not pathology.
Connect with Breea Rosas: Instagram: @NDaffirming_SP Website: Neurodiversity Affirming SP Resources
Connect with Wendy Taylor: Instagram: @learningessentials LinkedIn: Wendy Taylor Facebook: Learning Essentials Website: LearningEssentialsEDU.com Enroll in Cracking the Code to Special Education Eligibility: Access Course
Mentioned in the Episode:
The Neurodiversity Podcast with Emily Kircher-Morris
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) – position statements on identity-first language
Collaborative & Proactive Solutions – Dr. Ross Greene
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.