Advocating with Heart: The Difference You Make

Hey everyone,

As many of our children settle into their new classrooms, the role of an advocate takes on a fresh importance. The word "advocate" can sometimes feel intimidating, but at its heart, it's simply a parent who is informed, prepared, and ready to stand up for their child's needs. It's not about being pushy; it's about being purposeful and passionate. This week, we're focusing on what it means to advocate with heart and equipping you with the tools to do just that.

Podcast Updates:

What's Coming Up on the Podcast

Coming Tuesday, 9/19/25 : EP 134. 5 School Communication Secrets That Change Everything will be a solo episode with practical advice to improve your connection with your child's teachers and IEP team. To go along with it, you can download a free PDF resource, "10 Powerful Questions to Ask Your Child's Teacher This School Year," from the show notes.

Coming Friday, 9/22/25 : EP 135. will feature a special conversation with authors Kristin Lombardi and Christine Drew. We'll discuss their book, Spectrum of Independence, and dive into how parents can help their children become more independent and prepared for life after high school.

In Case You Missed It: Navigating College!

As a new school year begins, many students are also navigating their first days of college. If you missed it last week, our conversation with Olivia Wilkerson in EP 133. Navigating College as a Visually Impaired Freshman? is a must-listen. Olivia shares invaluable tips and insights that are relevant not only for college students but also for younger students preparing for their future.

Watch or Listen to the episode here:

💻 https://waterprairie.com/2025/08/08/blind-college-student/​

Blog: https://waterprairie.com/2025/08/08/blind-students-in-college/​

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Helpful Resources & Tips

IEP Tip: The Power of a Positive Start

The start of a new school year usually means an Open House night at the school, where parents are able to visit their child’s classroom and meet the teacher. Take advantage of this time to greet the teacher. Don’t use it to have a detailed conversation, but be respectful that the teacher will have a lot of parents to meet that night. However, you can use this as an opportunity to look around the classroom. Do you see anything that feels “off” to you? Are there distractions that might present a focus problem for your child? Are they able to see the board, and can they access any materials they will need? Make a note of anything you want to ask more about, and send an email after the event asking your main questions. Be sure to visit all of your child’s teachers, including special education classrooms and specialists, so you can get a better idea of what their school day might look like for them. Open House nights are the best way to visit a classroom without having to set up an official observation time during school hours.

Parenting Article

We're happy to share a valuable article from former podcast guest, Kristin Faith Evans: "Managing Mixed Emotions When Our Kids with Disabilities Go Back to School." It's a thoughtful read that resonates with the unique feelings many of us experience this time of year. https://disabilityparenting.com/managing-mixed-emotions-when-our-kids-with-disabilities-go-back-to-school/​

While you’re on the Disability Parenting website, look around at all the information Kristin has put together. It’s a great resource to bookmark for future reference!

Support the Water Prairie Community

The Water Prairie Buy Me A Coffee site has been updated with new membership tiers to help support the ongoing costs of the podcast and provide valuable resources to you.

• SUPPORTER tier ($10/month): This tier helps cover essential costs like recording software, hosting fees, and equipment upgrades. You’ll receive access to free and reduced digital products on the site.
• ADVOCATE tier ($25/month): This new option gives you everything in the SUPPORTER tier, plus a monthly activity packet for your children starting in September 2025. Also beginning in September, we'll host monthly live stream events for ADVOCATE members, featuring special education topics, expert guests, and live Q&A sessions with me. All live streams will be available in a private library for you to view anytime.

Explore the new membership options here: https://buymeacoffee.com/waterprairie​

Your Child's Best Advocate

An advocate isn't the parent who demands everything; it's the parent who seeks understanding, asks meaningful questions, and builds a trusting partnership with the school. It’s the parent who calmly and confidently navigates meetings, knowing they have a clear purpose: to ensure their child's needs are met.

Sometimes, all you need is a little guidance to move from feeling overwhelmed to empowered. If you'd like support in becoming your child’s best advocate, I offer IEP coaching to help you find your voice and create a collaborative team around your child.

Warmly,

Tonya