Shows / The 15-Minute Advocate
The 15-Minute Advocate
Whether you're a parent, guardian, or caregiver navigating the special education system, this podcast is here to empower you. In under 15 minutes, you'll get clear, practical tips on how to advocate for your child’s rights — straight from an experienced special education advocate. No jargon. No overwhelm. Just real talk, real strategies, and the support you need to feel confident every step of the way.
Episodes
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Podcast 31: Type 1 Diabetes at School: Keeping Kids Safe, Supported, and Included
What do parents need to know when their child has Type 1 diabetes at school? The 15-Minute Advocate explores school safety, 504 Plans, IEPs, accommodations…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Podcast 30-Hearing Loss: It’s More Than Just Turning Up the Volume
What does hearing loss really look like in the classroom? In this episode, the 15-Minute Advocate explores conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, hearing…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Podcast 29 - Your SPED Parent Back-to-School Survival Guide
The new school year is here! But for parents of children receiving special education services, getting ready for school involves more than buying backpacks and…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Podcast 28- ADHD- It's More Than Being Distracted!
ADHD is about much more than being distracted or hyperactive. In this episode of The 15-Minute Advocate, Special Education Advocate, Arlene Velleman, explains…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Podcast 27 - Part 3 of the Executive Functioning Series: Executive Functioning Goals That Actually Work
What makes an IEP goal truly effective? In this episode of The 15-Minute Advocate, we explain how executive functioning goals should be written, why vague…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Podcast 26: Why "Smart" Kids Fail Classes (Part 2 of the Executive Functioning Series)
Your child understands the material, participates in class, and seems bright—so why are they failing? In this episode of The 15-Minute Advocate, we explain why…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Podcast 25: Executive Functioning: Why Kids Struggle to Get Things Done
When the problem isn't ability—it's the brain's management system. Does your child forget assignments, lose papers, struggle with organization, or have…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Podcast 24: Understanding Dyslexia — What Every Parent Needs to Know
In this episode of "The 15-Minute Advocate", we begin a new series exploring different disabilities and how they impact students in school. The first topic…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Podcast 23: New School, New Team: The Special Ed Paperwork You Can’t Ignore
Transitioning to a new school? Don’t let paperwork trip you up. If your child is moving from elementary → middle or middle → high school, there’s one rule you…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Podcast 22- Help, Explained: Disability Services 101
From confusion to clarity: unlocking disability support. In this episode, the 15-Minute Advocate breaks down the wide range of disability services available to…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Podcast 21 - What Really Happens to an IEP After High School (Massachusetts Edition)
“Graduation ends school—not the need for support.” Graduation is supposed to be the finish line… but for families of students with disabilities, it can feel…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Podcast 20-IEP Pushback: Parent Rights, Disputes, and the Road to the BSEA
Because ‘I disagree’ is not the end of the conversation. Disagreeing with an IEP can feel intimidating—but parents have more power than they realize. In this…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Episode 19- When Do You Need a Special Education Advocate or a Lawyer
Advocate or lawyer—how do you know which one you actually need? In this episode, Arlene Velleman, the 15-Minute Advocate, breaks down the real differences…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Episode 18- So You Have a New IEP... Now What?
Because ‘just sign it’ is not a strategy. A new IEP shouldn’t feel like a pop quiz you didn’t study for. In this episode, I break down exactly how to review a…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Episode 17- The Post High School Transition
Graduation is coming… but is the IEP actually preparing your child for adulthood? Turning 18 changes everything — especially in Special Education. In this…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Podcast 16- The Quarterly Progress Report
Turning IEP progress reports into real progress. In this episode, I break down IEP progress reports — what they should tell you, what they often don’t, and how…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Podcast 15...The IEP Meeting
“Walk into that IEP meeting like you run the place.” Step inside the IEP room without the stress. In this episode, I break down exactly what happens during an…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Podcast 14- Making Goals that Matter: Understanding Measurable IEP Goals
“Because progress should be proven, not promised.” Not all goals are created equal. In this episode, I break down what makes an IEP goal measurable—and why…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
The Difference Between a 504 Plan and an IEP
The 504 Plan and the IEP....knowing the difference changes everything. 504 or IEP? Parents hear these terms all the time, but few really know the difference —…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
The "Secret Sauce of Special Education"...The PRS
PRS: Holding schools accountable, one finding at a time. Ever wonder what keeps schools in check when it comes to special education compliance? Meet…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Episode 11- The IEE
Think your child’s school evaluation missed something? An Independent Educational Evaluation might be the game-changer you need. Confused about Independent…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Episode 10- So You've Got Eligibility...Now What?
Eligibility is just the starting line — here’s how to win the race. So your student’s been found eligible for Special Ed — now what? In this episode, we cut…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Episode 9- The Power of the Binder
From paperwork panic to advocacy confidence — in one binder. Feeling buried in IEPs, testing reports, and school emails? In this episode of The 15-Minute…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Episode 8- The First Steps of the IEP Meeting
Because you’re not "just the parent"—you’re the expert. In this episode, I break down the very first steps of an IEP meeting — from introductions to reviewing…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Podcast 7- Jargon Busters Part 2
Breaking down Special Ed jargon so parents can speak the language of advocacy. In this episode, we continue breaking down the alphabet soup of Special…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Podcast 6- IEP Jargon Busters
IEP lingo—decoded, de-jargonized, de-stressed. Ever feel like you need a secret decoder ring for IEP meetings? This episode is your guide to cracking the code…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Podcast 5: Feeling Ready: Last Steps Before Your IEP Meeting
Feeling Ready: Last Steps Before Your IEP Meeting Getting ready for an IEP meeting can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to go in stressed. In this episode…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Episode 4: Language Access is Your Right
Understanding begins with access—make your voice heard in any language. If English is not your first language, this episode is a must-listen. I explain how you…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Episode 3- What Can You Be Doing to Prepare for the Upcoming IEP Meeting
Preparing for the IEP During the Evaluation Period Your voice matters—start preparing now. In this episode of The 15-Minute Advocate, we focus on how parents…
- The 15-Minute Advocate
Episode 2- What Is Step 2 to Getting Your Child Evaluated?
Episode 2: Understanding the Permission to Test ProcessIn this episode of The 15-Minute Advocate, we break down what happens after you submit a written request…
The 15-Minute AdvocateThe 15-Minute Advocate
🎙 Episode 1: Get It in Writing — Why It Matters in Special Education In this quick episode, I break down one of the most important tools in special education…