Adriane|IEP Coach Podcast: Helping Parents Advocate Confidently in the IEP & Special Education Process
You Signed the IEP. Why Nothing Changed is a podcast for parents of children with special needs navigating the special education and IEP process.
If your child has an IEP but isn’t making meaningful progress, this show breaks down why—and what parents can do next. Each episode explains IEP meetings, special education laws, parent rights, evaluations, goals, services, accommodations, and progress monitoring in plain language parents can actually use.
We uncover why IEPs often fail to deliver real support, how schools use confusing language and delays, and what parents need to know to advocate effectively for their child’s education.
This podcast is honest, practical, and parent-focused—designed to help families stop feeling overwhelmed and start walking into IEP meetings informed, confident, and prepared.
If you’re tired of signing paperwork without results and want clarity, advocacy tools, and real guidance in special education, this podcast is for you.
Adriane|IEP Coach Podcast: Helping Parents Advocate Confidently in the IEP & Special Education Process
IEP versus 504 and Parental Rights
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IEP or 504—what’s the difference, and why does it matter for your child?
In this episode of The IEP Coach Podcast, we break down one of the most confusing—and most misunderstood—parts of special education: the difference between an IEP and a 504 plan, and the legal rights parents have in both processes.
If you’ve ever walked into a meeting feeling overwhelmed, unsure what you’re agreeing to, or unclear on what the school is actually required to provide, this episode is for you.
You’ll learn:
- The key legal difference between an IEP (IDEA) and a 504 plan (Section 504)
- How eligibility for an IEP is determined using the two-prong test
- The 13 disability categories under IDEA and what they really mean
- When a child may qualify for a 504 but not an IEP—and why
- Your right to request evaluations in writing and start the legal timeline
- Why parents are not guests at the IEP table—but required team members
- How to push back against vague goals and demand measurable, accountable supports
- What to do if you disagree with the school, including mediation and due process
- Why having an IEP does not harm your child’s future college or career options
This episode is designed to replace confusion with clarity and fear with confidence. You don’t need to be a lawyer—you just need to understand how the system works so you can advocate effectively for your child.
Because silence in IEP meetings isn’t agreement—it’s usually confusion.
And informed parents change outcomes.
🎧 New episodes weekly.