A Special Education Teacher, Administrator and Lawyer walk into a bar....all you ever wanted to know about special education
In this podcast, we hope to share information, lessons learned, interviews with VIPs in the field of special education. Join Robin Fabiano, Abby Hanscom and Angela Smagula as they bring diverse viewpoints and some humor to an otherwise serious topic.
Episodes
130 episodes
Why do People Stim??
Ever wonder why people stim? Or what you can do to support students if they are stigmatized by a particular stim? Robin, Angela and Abby break it down.
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Season 5
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Episode 26
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33:28
The A. I. Dilemma
Listen in as Robin and Abby discuss the weird and wonderful (potentially) world of A. I. adoption in public schools. Everything from the politics at the State level to individual teacher and student decision making is being impacted by this new...
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Season 5
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Episode 25
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28:59
Interview with Erika Bare and Tiffany Burns
Join us while we speak with Erika Bare and Tiffany Burns about their book Connecting Through Conversation A playbooks for Talking with Students.Leveraging over forty years of c...
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Season 5
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Episode 24
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52:22
Pros & Cons of Prompting
Prompting is a key component of specially designed instruction and is often misunderstood. Listen in as Robin, Angela and Abby discuss the pros and cons of prompting and the many nuances of the most commonly understood prompting hierarchy.<...
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Season 5
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Episode 23
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30:51
What Are Some Steps to Take If Things Are Starting to Head South (and we don't mean to Florida!)
There are always signs before a student case goes south...here are some tips from Angela and Robin your team can take to get things back on track.
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Season 5
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Episode 23
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29:55
World Down Syndrome Awareness Day 2025
Happy International Down Syndrome Awareness Day (3/21/25). Join Robin, Abby and Angela as they talk about the 2025 campaign presented by CoorDown .
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Season 5
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Episode 22
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25:17
What's Happening With Section 504??
Link to the original complaint in Texas v. BecerraLink to
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Season 5
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Episode 21
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29:44
Beyond the Science of Reading
For more information about the articles Robin and Abby discuss in this episode check out:EdWeek February 13th -
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Season 5
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Episode 19
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30:53
Pop Culture Pod- Who's Watching Baylen Out Loud?
Join Robin and Angela as they discuss the TLC show Baylen Out Loud, which follows a young adult with Tourette's Syndrome and her quest for independence.
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Season 5
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Episode 18
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31:36
Listener Question: Programming for Students w/Intensive Behavioral Needs AKA Inclusion is a Philosophy AND a Location
Tonight Abby, Angela and Robin answer a listener question from a Principal who is struggling with 1 or a few but mightygroup of students who are using up all the school resources.
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Season 5
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Episode 17
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35:34
REPOST: Due Process in Special Education with Angela Buchanan Smagula.
Angela was asked to be a guest on Marisha Mets Podcast: Special Ed Leaders: Unplugged. to speak about Due Process. The full guide on the website i...
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Season 5
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Episode 16
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36:46
We aren't done talking about the MCAS yet!
In the next months, each individual School District in Massachusetts will have to formally adopt requirements that confer a diploma. Listen in as the girls discuss the considerations inherent in this process and check out your local District's ...
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Season 5
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Episode 14
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40:24
The Hingham Case
Join Robin while she listens to Angela review the Hingham decision:DALE and JENNIFER HARRIS, as parents and next friend of their minor son,...
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Season 5
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Episode 15
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36:42
Welcome back to Part 2 of Season 5!
Join Robin, Abby and Angela as they run through hot topics for 2025 and potential podcast topics. If you have an idea or a question, please reach out to them via email at astalpodcast@gmail.com
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Season 5
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Episode 13
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29:22
Gratitude on the Menu: Thanksgiving Reflections
In this Thanksgiving episode, Abby, Robin, and Angela take a moment to pause, reflect, and share what they’re most thankful for in their professional and personal lives. We are on a break until Jan. 2025- have a great holiday seas...
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Season 5
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Episode 12
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19:59
How Have We Never Recorded A Pod About Transitions??
After multiple requests, Robin and Abby begin the transition convo. It's too expansive to cover in 1 episode so this is just the beginning!
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Season 5
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Episode 11
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44:38
It Passed...What's Next for MCAS?
Question 2: Elimination of MCAS as High School Graduation Requirement passed in Massachusetts- so what does that mean for students? Listen to Robin, Abby and Angela as they
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Season 5
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Episode 10
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22:57
What's up with the H&H form?
Ever wonder how to support students who are home or hospital bound? Join Abby, Robin and Angela as they discuss how to provide educational services to students who are confined to the home or a hospital setting.
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33:07
All Things Manifestation Determination Related....
Listen in while Angela, Robin and Abby discuss a complicated and emotionally challenging part of the special education legal landscape - when a Handbook/Code of Conduct infraction IS or IS NOT a manifestation of a student's disability. ...
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Season 5
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Episode 8
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58:01
Calling All General Ed Teachers...
Join Robin, Abby and Angela as they review the importance of the role of the general education teacher in IEP meetings.
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Season 5
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Episode 7
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36:05
Integrated Preschools Rock!
In this episode Abby, Angela and Robin interview Kathleen Browning, a former SLP and current Early Childhood Program Director to learn more about the amazing world of Integrated Preschool.
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Season 5
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Episode 6
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48:19
Meeting Bombshells
Listen in as Angela, Robin and Abby discuss what they are thinking and how they respond when someone in a meeting makes an unexpected statement or decision. Check out the resource for
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Season 5
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Episode 5
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42:44
All Things ESY
Listen in as the girls debate key concepts of Extended School Year from how the determination of eligibility gets made, to the goals and mission of ESY services, all the way to the nuts and bolts of what kinds of programs for how many days and ...
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Season 5
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Episode 4
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50:41
Help!! What is an H.L.P.!?!?!?!?!?
Join Robin and Abby as they geek out on our field's research base (and sometimes, lack thereof). Listen in to a discussion of High Leverage Practices (HLP's); the 22 skills that we (sort of) have all agreed a special education teacher mus...
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Season 5
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Episode 3
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48:56