Guest: Solo episode with Flor De Amelia — Special Needs Mom, Advocate, and Host of Starting With IEP

IEPs don’t just shape a child’s education, they shape entire families.

In this solo episode, I open up about the weight we parents carry, the guilt we rarely talk about, and the way IEP goals ripple through siblings, routines, and the entire rhythm of family life. From communication challenges to self advocacy, from balancing attention between my children to navigating meetings that feel overwhelming, I share real stories from my own home, the moments that have pushed me, taught me, and strengthened my hope for my daughter’s future.

I also talk about why community matters, why no parent should ever attend an IEP meeting alone, and how both emotional and spiritual support have helped me stay grounded on this journey. Whether you are navigating your first IEP or your tenth, my hope is that this episode reminds you that you are not alone. Others are walking this path too, and together we can feel supported, understood, and connected.

In this episode:

• How IEP goals impact every member of the family
• Why communication and self-advocacy at home matter just as much as at school
• The emotional preparation parents face before every IEP meeting
• How siblings shape IEP priorities and family decisions
• The guilt of dividing attention between children and how Flor navigates it
• Why no parent should attend an IEP meeting alone
• What it means to build a foundation for your child’s future adulthood
• How community and faith helped Flor regain emotional strength
• A powerful look at her daughter’s new internship and the independence ahead