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Both sides of the table : Building Bridges in Special Education

Dr. Kathleen Adolt-Silva (Dr. KAS) 7 Episodes Feb 6, 2026

Both Sides of the Table is a podcast for parents navigating special education. Dr. Kathleen Adolt-Silva, a former teacher and administrator turned board-certified parent advocate and consultant, shares a rare dual perspective from home and school. Each episode explains confusing terminology and offers practical ways families and schools can collaborate. The goal is better outcomes for children by building bridges instead of walls.

Episodes

Episode 7 : "How do I talk to the school without making things worse? Feb 6, 2026 00:19:12 You want to advocate for your child, but you also don't want to become "that parent"—the one whose emails get forwarded to lawyers, whose calls go unreturned, whose relationship with the school has turned toxic. In this episode, Dr. KAS draws on her unique experience from both sides of the table to share communication strategies that actually work. Learn when to email versus call ver

Episode 6 "I Don't Understand Anything They Said in That Meeting" Jan 10, 2026 00:28:08 Walking into an IEP meeting can feel like entering a room where everyone speaks a language you don't quite understand. You're outnumbered by professionals, the jargon is flying, and decisions are being made about your child's future. In this episode, Dr. KAS pulls back the curtain on what actually happens in these meetings—who all those people are, what their roles are, and most import

Episode 5 - They handed me a stack of papers to sign - What am I agreeing to? Dec 30, 2025 00:33:45 If you've ever sat in a school meeting feeling overwhelmed by paperwork and jargon, this episode is for you. Dr. KAS breaks down the key documents you'll encounter on your special education journey—from consent forms to evaluation reports to the IEP itself. Learn what those confusing acronyms actually mean, what to look for before you sign anything, and why Prior Written Notice might be th

Episode 4 : The school wants to test my child. Should I be worried? Dec 27, 2025 00:33:23 In this episode of Both Sides of the Table, Dr. KAS demystifies the school evaluation process for parents. She explains what evaluations involve, reassures listeners that an evaluation is simply a tool for gathering information—not a scary label that will follow their child forever—and reminds parents they have the right to request an evaluation themselves. The episode offers practical guidance on

Episode 3: I feel like I'm failing my child. Dec 23, 2025 00:19:03 Today's episode is going to bea little different. We're not going to talk about systems or strategies or whatto say in meetings. We're going to talk about you.Because if you're on thisjourney—if you're parenting a child who's struggling, or who might bestruggling, or who you're trying to get help for—there's something happeninginside you that nobody talks about.The

Episode 2 : Everyone says he's fine, but I know something's wrong. Dec 23, 2025 00:27:51 This episode tackles the frustrating experience of knowing something isn't right with your child while teachers and others insist everything is fine. Dr. KAS explains why this gap exists—children often behave differently at school (structured, routine-based) versus home (where they feel safe enough to fall apart).Teachers aren't dismissing you; they're comparing your child to struggling classmates

Episode 1 : My Child Is Struggling and I Don't Know Why Dec 17, 2025 00:12:26 You know something's not right. Maybe it's the nightly homework battles. Maybe it's the calls from school. Maybe it's just a feeling in your gut that won't go away. And when you try to get help, it feels like you're speaking a different language than everyone else.Special education is confusing. The meetings, the paperwork, the acronyms—IEP, 504, FAPE, LRE—it can feel like

Both sides of the table : Building Bridges in Special Education

Episodes

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