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In the Room

Practical IEP guidance from a licensed SLP — delivered to your inbox. Real articles, real advice, completely free. Subscribe and get every new issue the moment it drops.

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What You'll Get

Information IEP families actually need

Six recurring columns in every issue — nothing filler, nothing generic.

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IEP Rights & Policy

Federal and state guidance on IDEA, procedural safeguards, and what policy changes mean for your child's rights at the table.

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Research Digest

Peer-reviewed findings on autism, learning differences, and evidence-based interventions — summarized without the jargon.

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AI in Special Ed

How schools are using AI for IEP drafting, what to watch for, and how to protect your child's data and rights.

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Advocacy Playbook

Scripts, tactics, and real examples from parents who got what their child needed — and how they did it.

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Legal Landscape

Due process decisions, state enforcement trends, and what recent rulings mean for your family's options.

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Practical Tips

Accommodations, assistive tech, and home support techniques from licensed SLPs and special educators.

Articles Live Now

Real articles, published now

Subscribe and get every new article delivered straight to your inbox the moment it drops. Here is what is available right now.

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How to Prepare for an IEP Meeting — step-by-step guide from someone who has sat in hundreds of them
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What Is a PLAAFP Statement? — plain-language breakdown of the most important part of your child's IEP
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How to Advocate for Your Child at an IEP Meeting — exact words and strategies that work
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IEP Goals for Daily Living Skills — what good goals look like and how to get them
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IEP Accommodations for Autism — what to ask for and why it matters
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How to Read an IEP Report — plain-language breakdown of every section
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What to Bring to an IEP Meeting — the complete parent checklist
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More articles every two weeks — free forever

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In the Room — Latest Issue

The In the Room

Latest Issue · 2026 · Ripa Elevate

📋 Policy

What New DOE Guidance on AI-Generated IEPs Means for Parents

New federal guidance clarifies that while schools may use AI to assist IEP drafting, goals must reflect individualized judgment — and parents can request evidence that goals are specific to their child.

🔬 Research

Functional Assessments Predict IEP Outcomes Better Than Standardized Tests

A 2025 study found IEPs built from functional skill data led to measurably better transition outcomes.

📣 Advocacy

The 3-Sentence Parent Concern Statement

How to write a statement that creates a paper trail and actually moves the team...

💡 Tip

Ask for This One Thing at Every IEP Meeting

Most parents don't know they can request this directly...

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Written By

Someone who's sat on both sides of the table

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Michelle Ripa, M.S., CCC-SLP

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

Michelle has over a decade of clinical experience working with children ages 3 and up — across school settings, private practice, and home-based therapy. She has been part of hundreds of IEP teams and writes from the perspective of someone who has sat on both sides of the IEP table. Her goal: give parents the same information the professionals in the room already have.