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Stress, Advocacy, and Real Life: A Story Every IEP Parent and Educator Needs to Hear
Episode 26731st March 2026 • The Collaborative IEP • Ashley Barlow
00:00:00 00:29:37

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In this episode, I share a personal reflection on stress, caregiving, and advocacy, along with what I’ve learned about recognizing when pressure and intimidation are affecting your ability to advocate clearly.

In this episode, I discuss:

  1. How stress affects our bodies, decision-making, and advocacy
  2. Why caregiving and advocacy roles can create significant pressure
  3. What it feels like when meetings or situations become overwhelming
  4. Why recognizing stress signals in your body matters
  5. How awareness can help you stay grounded in advocacy conversations

IEP advocacy is emotional work. Caregiving is emotional work. And when we combine the two, it’s important to recognize the impact stress can have on us.

In this episode, I share some of my own experiences with stress and regulation and why paying attention to those signals can help us take better care of ourselves and the people we support.

Listen now for an honest conversation about stress, advocacy, and the realities of supporting children with disabilities.

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