It Takes a Village Special Needs Parent Coaching LLC

When I became a mom to a medically complex child, self-care was the last thing on my mind. I had a child who needed me, and I believed my needs could wait.

So, I put myself last. Again and again. Until years of neglecting my own well-being finally caught up with me.

What I wish I had understood sooner is that caregiving isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon that requires us to find creative ways to care for ourselves along the way, even when time is limited, demands are relentless, and putting ourselves first feels impossible.

You don’t have to wait until you’re running on empty to start refilling your cup. Sometimes, caring for yourself looks different than you imagined. Sometimes, it’s a few quiet minutes, asking for help, setting a boundary, or giving yourself permission to do something just for you. That’s part of learning to sustain yourself for the long haul.

🎙️ On The Caregiver’s Curriculum, we explore the tools, strategies, and mindset shifts that help caregivers navigate the demands of caregiving with greater intention, build endurance, and create space for peace along the way.

If you’re a parent or caregiver who has spent so much time taking care of everyone else that you’ve forgotten to take care of yourself (or convinced yourself that you can’t), this podcast is for you.

💛 Listen, follow, and subscribe to The Caregiver’s Curriculum. Because your well-being matters, too—and you deserve support for the journey you’re on.

🎙️ The newest episode of The Caregiver’s Curriculum is LIVE!

In this episode, we’re diving deeper into the Parent IEP (Individualized Endurance Plan), a tool I use in my private coaching practice to help parents navigate the challenges of caregiving with greater peace and intention.

Because caregiving isn’t a sprint. It’s a long journey and we need more than strategies for the person we care for. We need a plan that helps sustain us, too.

Tune in to learn how the Parent IEP can help you build the endurance you need to keep showing up without losing yourself along the way. ❤️

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

❌ FALSE.

This is unfortunately a very common misconception that I run into frequently as an advocate working with families in the public school system.

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), Response to Intervention (RTI), and other tiered interventions can be valuable tools for supporting students. But IDEA does not require a student to “go through the tiers” before they can be referred for a special education evaluation.

In fact, the U.S. Department of Education has explicitly stated that: “IDEA, however, does not require, or encourage, an LEA to use an MTSS approach prior to a referral for evaluation…”

The Department further explains that a parent may request an initial evaluation at any time, regardless of whether the child has participated in MTSS, and that MTSS cannot be used to delay or deny an evaluation when a disability is suspected.

A child does NOT have to fail in school before they can qualify for an IEP. Under 34 CFR §300.101(c), IDEA specifically states that a child with a disability who needs special education and related services must be provided FAPE even if the child has not failed or been retained in a course or grade and is advancing from grade to grade.

So what does this mean for parents? 🤔

If you have reason to suspect that your child has a disability and may need special education and related services, you do not have to wait for your child to fail, fall further behind, or exhaust every tier of intervention before requesting an evaluation.

Interventions can happen while an evaluation is being considered or conducted. They should not become a prerequisite that delays the evaluation.

And remember: an evaluation doesn’t automatically mean a child will qualify for an IEP. The purpose of the evaluation is to determine whether the child meets IDEA’s eligibility criteria and needs special education and related services.
Knowing the difference matters.

Parents shouldn’t have to wait for a child to fail before asking, “Could there be a disability here, and does my child need specially designed instruction?”

I think about this a lot.

My background as a teacher gave me a tremendous advantage when I became a parent navigating special education. I understood the language. I knew how schools worked. I knew there were laws, timelines, evaluations, accommodations, services, and processes that could—and should—be used to support my son.

In many ways, I had a head start that so many parents simply don’t have. And even with that background, there have been moments when I have felt completely overwhelmed.

Because once you master the school system, the learning curve can become steep all over again. Medicaid. Healthcare. Insurance. Waivers. Authorizations. Appeals. Medical necessity. Policies and procedures that seem to have their own language.

Sometimes I find myself thinking, If this is confusing and exhausting for me—with my education, professional experience, and years of navigating these systems—how must this feel for a parent who is encountering all of this for the very first time?

Parents are already carrying the emotional weight of caring for a child with complex needs. They shouldn’t also have to become policy experts, medical billing specialists, legal researchers, and professional advocates simply to access the support their child needs.

Support shouldn’t be something you have to know how to fight for before you can receive it. We can—and should—do better. As a country, we need to build systems that are accessible to the families who need them most, not systems that require parents to become experts just to find their way through.

ICYMI: Last week, I launched my new podcast, The Caregiver’s Curriculum—and today, FOUR new episodes are live! 🎙️

When your child receives a complex medical diagnosis, you’re given a treatment plan. You’re given medications, therapies, appointments, specialists, and next steps.

But no one gives you a life plan.

The Caregiver’s Curriculum is for the parents who are trying to find their way back to peace after the shock of diagnosis—to figure out not only how to care for their child, but how to care for themselves, navigate what comes next, and build a life that feels intentional again.

My hope is that the challenges, lessons, and hard-won wisdom my family has gathered over the past 15 years can help you feel a little less alone and a little more equipped along the way.

🎧 Find The Caregiver’s Curriculum wherever you listen to podcasts or at www.ittakesavillagenc.com

And if you’re listening, subscribe, share, rate, and review! ❤️

(A little AI assistance for the podcast portrait, but the conversations, stories, and heart behind The Caregiver’s Curriculum are 100% real. 💯)

Doctors give your child a diagnosis and a treatment plan. But who’s giving YOU a life plan?

That question is at the heart of Episode One of The Caregiver’s Curriculum. Because caring for a medically complex child isn’t just about managing a diagnosis. It’s about learning how to navigate an entirely different life.

🎧 Listen to Episode One of The Caregiver’s Curriculum wherever you get your podcasts. Class is in session. 💜

🎶 “This is how we do it…” 🎶

That may have worked for Montell Jordan.

But when it comes to special education, “this is how we do it” is not a legal justification for denying your child access to FAPE. Schools and districts sometimes have established routines, staffing models, schedules, or “the way we’ve always done things.”

But your child’s IEP, and the services and supports your child needs to receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), cannot be dictated by convenience, tradition, or a one-size-fits-all approach.

Under IDEA, services are supposed to be individualized based on your child’s unique needs. So when you hear:

❌ “We don’t do that here.”
❌ “That’s not how we schedule services.”
❌ “We always do it this way.”
❌ “We can’t make an exception.”

…it’s okay to ask:

“How does this meet my child’s individual needs and provide access to FAPE?” Because the question isn’t “How do you usually do it?” The question is:

“What does THIS child need—and what does the law require?”

You don’t have to accept “this is how we do it” as the end of the conversation. Sometimes, it needs to be the beginning.

📚 Back-to-school season is here! ✏️

If you’re the parent of a child with an IEP, 504 Plan, or special educational needs, now is the perfect time to get organized before the school year begins.

I’ve created a collection of FREE printable resources to help you walk into this school year feeling prepared and confident, including:

✅ IEP Meeting Planner
✅ Student Information Sheets (boy & girl versions)
✅ Completed sample to guide you
✅ Top 5 Mistakes Parents Make at IEP Meetings
✅ What to Do When Your Child is Newly Diagnosed

These are the same types of tools I use to help families become stronger advocates for their children.

📱 Simply scan the QR code or visit www.ittakesavillagenc.com to download your free printables.

Remember: You are the expert on your child, and preparation is one of the most powerful forms of advocacy.

👇 Which resource would be most helpful to your family this school year? Let me know in the comments!

Every special needs caregiver carries two jobs:

Caring for their child today.

And worrying about who will care for them tomorrow.

If that’s your reality, know you’re not alone. And if it isn’t, let this be a window into a burden many families carry quietly every single day.

Every parent carries a load, but special needs parents are often carrying an invisible one.

The appointments.
The therapies.
The medications.
The IEP meetings.
The insurance battles.
The constant research.
The questions about the future.
The mental load of always needing to be prepared for “what if?”

And while we love our children fiercely, carrying all of this can leave even the strongest parents feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and unsure of where to begin.

But here’s the truth: You were never meant to carry it alone.

The goal isn’t to do more. The goal is to create a system that helps you focus on what matters most right now.

That’s exactly why I created The P.E.A.C.E. Protocol® for Medically Complex Parenting— a personalized framework designed to help parents move from overwhelm to clarity, confidence, and greater peace.

Through the P.E.A.C.E. Protocol®, parents learn how to:

✨ P — Prioritize self-care
Because caring for yourself is not selfish — it is essential. When you are supported, you are better able to support your child.

✨ E — Examine your problem areas
Identify what is creating the most stress, where support is needed, and what areas require your attention first.

✨ A — Advocate for your family
Build the confidence, knowledge, and skills needed to make informed decisions and confidently advocate for your child.

✨ C — Create a new normal
Develop realistic strategies, routines, and expectations that honor your family’s unique journey.

✨ E — Evaluate your progress
Reflect, adjust, and celebrate growth as you continue building a life that feels more manageable and peaceful.

Because peace doesn’t mean everything is easy. Peace means you have the tools, support, and confidence to navigate the hard days. You don’t have to carry this journey alone.

There is a village waiting to walk beside you. 💜

Ready to stop surviving and start feeling more confident in your role as special needs parent? Learn more about The P.E.A.C.E. Protocol® through the link in my bio.