Wickedly Smart Women Podcast with Valerie Aprahamian
Advocating for Your Neurodiverse Child
Every child has the potential to live a fulfilling life, IF they get the education they deserve. But for the 7 million students in the special ed system, access to that education is not a given. So, what can the parents of neurodiverse kids do to advocate for their children?
On this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, Valerie joins Emerald to share the story of her daughter Chanel’s autism diagnosis, explaining why she advocated for her daughter to be placed in a general education class and how Chanel proved the experts wrong by graduating with honors. Valerie discusses why it’s crucial for parents to know their rights around the IEP process, describing how her virtual training academy helps moms and dads secure what their child needs to be successful. Listen in for Valerie’s advice to parents struggling with the special ed system and learn what YOU can do to help neurodiverse kids get the education they deserve!
Listen to the podcast HERE or click the player below:
What You Will Learn
- How Valerie’s daughter’s autism diagnosis inspired her current work
- Why Valerie advocated for her daughter to be placed in a general education class
- How Valerie’s daughter proved the experts wrong by graduating with honors
- Why it’s crucial for parents to know their rights around the IEP process
- What compelled Valerie to create her virtual parent training academy
- What happens to neurodiverse kids who don’t get the education they deserve
- The energetic spiritual connection Valerie feels with neurodiverse kids
- The challenge Valerie faces in wanting to help every mom that calls her
- Valerie’s advice for parents who are struggling with the special ed system
Valerie Aprahamian is the special education advocate and coach behind Advocates for Angels, an organization devoted to protecting the rights of parents of neurodiverse children in the development of their child’s Individual Education Program, or IEP. In the last 22 years, Valerie has attended 4,000+ IEP meetings and mastered the skills necessary to ensure that the students she represents leave high school with the skills necessary to lead a purposeful life. Valerie has also built a virtual parent training program that empowers parents to become effective advocates for their children and create powerful shifts in the special education system.
Want helpful tips to guide, motivate and inform you to become a successful advocate for your child delivered right to your inbox each month?
Register today and as a FREE BONUS you will receive the The Top 10 Mistakes Parents Make that May be Costing You Services for Your Child Guide.
