Okay, "bullying" may be a strong term, but we've all been there. Advocating for your child can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re being told “this is just how it is.” In this episode, in which I again take us back to the roots of The Collaborative IEP, we refocus on the advocacy and negotiation skills parents need when school teams hold the power and control the narrative.

While we often focus on practice and interventions, this episode zeroes in on what to do when school staff present information as unquestionable fact—and parents are left feeling talked over, dismissed, or subtly bullied. It comes from one of my first webinars I ever presented here at The Collaborative IEP, Simple Solutions to Seven Sticky IEP Situations!!!!

Using real-world examples I see daily in my advocacy and legal work, I walk through practical, accessible strategies for bringing conversations back to objectivity. From asking for data and documentation, to using the IEP’s structure strategically, to leveraging videos, research, and records requests, this episode is about reclaiming your footing at the IEP table.

In this episode, I cover:

The three core skills every parent advocate needs
Why power imbalances make advocacy so hard
How schools often “tell parents how it is”—and what to do about it
Practical ways to bring conversations back to objectivity
How to use the IEP process strategically to support your goals

If you’ve ever left an IEP meeting feeling confused, steamrolled, or unsure how to push back without blowing things up, this episode will help you reset, refocus, and advocate with clarity and confidence—heating pad and all.