325: Unlocking the Best Possible Outcomes in Special Education, with Michelle Pianim

Beautifully Complex

Ever walk into a school meeting and feel like you're already behind before you even sit down?
In this episode, I’m talking with special education consultant Michelle Pianim about how we shift from feeling powerless in IEP meetings to taking proactive, confident steps for our neurodivergent kids. We unpack the culture of inclusion (or the lack thereof), how to become the expert in the room about your child, and what to do when you feel like you've hit a wall with your school team.
Michelle brings decades of experience — and serious wisdom — to this conversation, including practical strategies to ask for what your child needs, gather the right data, and advocate with clarity instead of conflict.
This episode is for every parent who’s ever walked out of a school meeting thinking, “What just happened?
”🎧 Listen now and open the door to better outcomes, stronger advocacy, and a team that works with you — not around you.
You can find additional resources at parentingadhdandautism.com and Regulated Kids.com — because it’s not just about the struggles, it’s about progress, one step at a time.
Show notes and more resources at parentingadhdandautism.com/325
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.