A Moment of Panic & A Lesson in Backup Plans
Hey everyone,
If you tried to visit the Water Prairie website earlier today, you might have found that it was completely gone. I was in a full panic, convinced that a hacker had gotten in and everything I'd worked on was lost. It was a terrifying few minutes, even with two-factor authentication, because it just seemed to have vanished into thin air.
Thankfully, after a quick call, my web provider discovered they had accidentally disconnected a handful of sites, and everything was back up and running with no data loss. The whole experience was a powerful reminder of why it's so important to have a backup plan—and a reliable community—to fall back on.
This week's newsletter is a testament to that. While the website was down, our content was still safe on my computer, and other content was still available on the Water Prairie YouTube channel and the podcast platforms. As you’ll read down below, I’ve started updating posts on the Buy Me a Coffee site, which provides more content for parents, so even if the website were to crash, there is still information for anyone looking for support and information about parenting children with disabilities. Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about rebuilding the main website, and my heart rate can resume its typical beat once again.
Podcast Updates:
This week, I had a fantastic conversation with Luba Patlakh, founder and director of Kidology, Inc. In Episode #138: Speech Therapist Reveals the ONE Question Every Parent Should Ask Their Child, Luba shares invaluable insights into early signs that a child might need speech therapy, the critical difference between speech and language delays, and how to navigate speech services both at school and through private practice.
Webpage: https://waterprairie.com/2025/09/22/early-speech-therapy/
If you haven't seen it yet, last week's episode, Episode #137: The Future of Special Education: How IDEA Changes Will Impact Your Family, is a quick but important update on what's happening in the Department of Education.
Webpage: https://waterprairie.com/2025/09/15/special-education-funding/
New Resource Page: Help Us Build a Directory!
In case you missed the announcement last week, I'm working on adding a new Resource Page to the Water Prairie website! My goal is to compile a comprehensive directory of trusted service providers across the U.S. that parents of children with disabilities may find valuable. I'm looking for recommendations for:
- Occupational Therapists
- Physical Therapists
- Counselors
- Speech & Language Professionals
- And any other specialists who work with families of children with disabilities.
This will be a public directory, shared with parents who are seeking new services or moving to a new location. If you are a service provider or know of one you'd recommend, please reply to this email, and I'll follow up with you personally.
The Water Prairie Community on Buy Me a Coffee
I'm starting to add more content on the Buy Me a Coffee site. Some posts, like today’s article "3 Must-Have Apps for an Organized School Year", are available to the general public. Others, like the ones with exclusive downloads and special content, will be for our Buy Me a Coffee SUPPORTER or ADVOCATE tier members. This is another way to make sure our community has a reliable place to find resources.
Check out the latest post here: https://buymeacoffee.com/waterprairie/tip-week-3-must-have-apps-organized-school-year
Your Backup Plan
Today's website scare reminded me that even the most solid systems can have a hiccup. That's why having a strong, knowledgeable advocate is so important. When you feel overwhelmed or unsure about the IEP process, it's essential to have a plan and the right support.
If you have an annual IEP meeting coming up before the end of the year and would like some guidance, I offer free consultations to discuss how IEP coaching can give you the confidence you need.
Wishing you a week full of confidence and clarity,
Tonya
