If you’re a parent navigating special education, the system is changing fast—and whether those changes help or hurt your child depends largely on how informed and prepared you are. In this episode, we break down the most important trends heading into 2026, based on research, national reporting, and what families are experiencing on the ground.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Rising Demand & Identification: How IDEA eligibility continues to grow, and what that means for assessments and services.
2. Inclusion & Instruction: Why true inclusion goes beyond placement and how social integration and belonging impact outcomes.
3. Technology & Personalized Learning: How AI, adaptive tech, and assistive technology are transforming learning—and what parents need to watch for in IEPs.
4. Early Intervention & Life Skills: Evidence showing early supports improve long-term outcomes, plus the growing focus on independence, job readiness, and daily living skills.
5. Policy, Funding & System Challenges: How ending ESSER funds, Medicaid changes, and the One Big Beautiful Bill impact school services, staffing, and delivery.
6. Well-Being & Teaching Strategies: Trauma-informed instruction, social-emotional learning (SEL), and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as key strategies for student success.

Why This Matters:

Parents need to advocate early, clearly, and consistently, stay informed about policy changes, and ensure their child’s services are delivered as written in the IEP. Advocacy doesn’t mean knowing everything—it means showing up, asking questions, documenting, and never letting decisions about your child happen without you.

Resources & Links Mentioned in the Episode:

1. Special Ed Rising: specialedrising.com — tips, tools, and parent coaching
2. YouTube Channel: Special Ed Rising YouTube
3. Ray’s Respite Care GoFundMe: [link in show notes] — help bring relief and joy to families
4. Safer Starter iPhone: iparent101.com — advocate for safer technology for kids
5. 52 Love Letters to You by Jyoti Jo Manuel: lovefromjyoti.com — daily reflections for self-compassion

Takeaway:

Your voice matters. Your presence matters. And your child’s future is worth the discomfort of pushing back. Systems don’t protect children—people do.

References for 2026 Trends Episode

1. K–12 Dive – Reporting on rising special education enrollment and IDEA eligibility trends.
2. Read more
3. The Guardian – UK parental requests for special education assessments and system challenges.
4. Read more
5. The Edvocate – Insights on inclusive classrooms and benefits for students academically and socially.
6. Read more
7. National Library of Medicine / PubMed – Research on meaningful inclusion, early intervention, and long-term outcomes.
8. Inclusion & belonging: PMC article
9. Early intervention & outcomes: PubMed study
10. Springer Nature – Systematic reviews on AI and adaptive technologies in special education for personalized learning.
11. Read more
12. GovTech.com – Guidance on ethical, equitable implementation of AI in schools.
13. Read more
14. Education Week – Parent perspectives on AI enhancing inclusivity in education.
15. Read more
16. Project Understanding – Evidence supporting early childhood programs improving long-term academic and social outcomes.
17. Read more
18. Illuminated Minds – Trends emphasizing life skills, independence, and job readiness in special education.
19. Read more
20. Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) – Analysis of the One Big Beautiful Bill (2025) and its impacts on Medicaid and school funding.
21. Read more
22. Skillman Foundation – Insights into how federal funding changes affect state budgets and education services.
23. Read more
24. Edmentum – Trends in trauma-informed teaching, social-emotional learning (SEL), and instructional strategies.
25. Read more
26. Teachers Institute – Universal Design for Learning (UDL) research and classroom applications.
27. Read more

specialedrising.com

www.lovefromjyoti.com www.specialyoga.co.uk

https://www.gofundme.com/f/join-rays-respite-care-mission

https://iparent101.com/

Hi there, and welcome to SER: No Parent Left Behind! I’m your host, Mark Ingrassia. With nearly four decades in special education—as a teacher, tutor, and advocate—I’m dedicated to helping families navigate the ups and downs of raising exceptional children. I’m so glad you’ve joined me!

If you’re a parent navigating special education right now, here’s the truth:

The system is changing—fast. And whether those changes help or hurt your child depends largely on how informed and prepared you are.

This podcast is a space for inclusion, supporting individuals with disabilities across education, access, and health. If you’re enjoying the show, please rate, review, subscribe, and share—it helps others find us and furthers the mission.

To support the podcast or explore my parent coaching, visit specialedrising.com for resources, tips, and tools. Check out the Special Ed Rising YouTube channel for interviews and more.

I’ve started a GoFundMe for Ray’s Respite Care, a place that can bring real relief and joy to families. Every little bit helps—find the link in the show notes. Thank you!

Adam Pletter, clinical psychologist who’s spent over 20 years working with families, knows how urgent it is to get tech right for kids — and Apple needs to hear it from all of us.

Join the call for a Safer Starter iPhone and tell Apple in 60 seconds why this is a public-health moment we can’t ignore. Go to iparent101.com and complete the 60 second form and add your voice!

Discover 52 Love Letters to You by Jyoti Jo Manuel, a beautiful collection of reflections designed to help you embrace self-compassion and presence every day. Each letter offers a gentle reminder to pause, breathe, and reconnect with the love you deserve. Order it before Christmas at lovefromjyoti.com/

This episode is about what’s coming, why it matters, and what parents need to pay attention to now.

📈 DEMAND, IDENTIFICATION & ACCESS

Rising enrollment and diagnoses

Nationally, the number of students eligible for special education under IDEA continues to rise. Let’s start with demand—because the numbers tell a powerful story.

Reporting from K–12 Dive shows that we’re on track for nearly one million additional students requiring special education supports—driven by earlier identification, improved awareness, and families pushing for answers.

This is not over-identification.

This is long-overdue recognition.

But here’s the challenge:

The system has not expanded at the same pace as the need.

Parental demand for assessments is growing

In the UK, The Guardian reports that one in three parents has requested a special education assessment for their child.

That tells us two things:

Parents are more informed than ever.

Systems everywhere are struggling to respond quickly and adequately.

Long waits.

Delays.

Gatekeeping.

Sound familiar?

🧑‍🏫 INCLUSION & INSTRUCTION

The shift toward inclusive classrooms

Research highlighted by The Edvocate continues to show that inclusive classrooms, when done well, benefit students both academically and socially.

But inclusion is not just a placement decision.

Empathy and neuroinclusive models

“Research from the National Library of Medicine shows that true inclusion isn’t just about placing students with disabilities in general classrooms—students must experience participation, acceptance, and belonging for inclusion to be meaningful.” PMC+1

Why this matters:

Studies on inclusive education emphasize that being physically present in a classroom doesn’t guarantee that children feel connected or socially integrated; belonging—that sense of participation and acceptance—is a key part of effective inclusion. PMC+1

True inclusion requires social integration, peer acceptance, and empathy—not just sitting in the same room.

Parents should be asking:

Is my child included meaningfully?

Or just physically present?

🤖 TECHNOLOGY & PERSONALIZED LEARNING

This is one of the fastest-moving areas in special education.

AI and adaptive technologies

According to Springer Nature Link, Artificial intelligence is increasingly being applied in special education to support personalized instruction and adaptive learning for students with disabilities. Systematic reviews of the research show that AI‑driven adaptive learning technologies and intelligent tutoring systems can tailor content in real time to individual learner needs, helping to personalize instruction and improve engagement and learning outcomes for students with diverse needs. These systems use machine learning and data analytics to adjust pacing, feedback, and instructional strategies based on student performance, which can boost accessibility and support differentiated learning. Springer Link+1

AI tools also extend into assistive technologies and communication supports—for example, real‑time language translation, automatic feedback, and adaptive interfaces that help break down barriers in inclusive settings. Springer Link

Govtech.com reports that At the same time, research and expert commentary caution that AI use in special education must be carefully implemented to protect student privacy, ensure equity, and maintain the individualized nature of services required under IDEA. Tools that generate draft materials—such as lesson plans or IEP content—should be used thoughtfully and always reviewed by educators and IEP teams to meet legal and instructional standards. GovTech

That can be powerful.

But it also raises questions about oversight, ethics, and human judgment.

Parents are cautiously optimistic

Education Week reports that over 70% of parents believe AI can make education more inclusive—especially when it helps students express what they know.

Assistive technology is expanding

Speech-to-text.

Real-time translation.

Communication tools.

Experts across platforms like LinkedIn say assistive tech isn’t ‘extra’ anymore—it’s essential for access.”

Parents should be asking:

Was assistive technology formally considered?

Is my child trained to use it?

Is it actually being used daily?

🧠 EARLY INTERVENTION & SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Early identification works

From National Library of Medicine; The National Center for Biotechnology InformationResearch shows that early intervention and high‑quality early childhood supports don’t just help in the moment—they change long‑term outcomes for children. Meta‑analyses of decades of early childhood education studies find that children who participate in quality early learning programs are less likely to be placed in special education later, less likely to repeat grades, and more likely to graduate from high school compared with peers who did not have those early supports. PubMed+1

Longitudinal follow‑ups also show that participation in established early childhood programs is linked with better academic and social outcomes well into adolescence and adulthood, including reduced need for intensive services down the line. PubMed

According to Project Understanding In other words, investing in early supports before or when children enter kindergarten doesn’t just address current needs; it often prevents smaller challenges from becoming larger ones later. Project Understanding

Delays cost children time they don’t get back.

Life skills and independence are finally getting attention

According to Illuminated Minds, there’s a growing shift toward:

Daily living skills

Job readiness

Self-advocacy

Independence

This is a big deal—especially for families who’ve been told for years to “focus only on academics.”

Life happens after school.

🧑‍⚖️ POLICY, FUNDING & SYSTEM CHALLENGES

Medicaid and funding changes

With the ESSER pandemic relief funds winding down, many school districts are turning to Medicaid-funded services to fill the gap—covering things like behavioral supports, counseling, and telehealth. Now, it’s important for parents to understand something critical: Medicaid funding doesn’t change your child’s legal rights under IDEA. Your child is still entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education, but the way services are delivered may look different, and parents need to pay attention.

Oregon and pacific northwest or Opb.com writes, (“Another big piece of the national picture right now is the so‑called One Big Beautiful Bill Act that passed in 2025. That law makes major changes to federal programs like Medicaid — the same program that helps schools pay for services like speech therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, nurses, and other health supports used during the school day. Medicaid cuts in the bill are projected to reduce federal spending by hundreds of billions over the next decade, and experts warn that could force states and school districts to make tough budget decisions. For example, many districts rely on Medicaid reimbursements to support related services in special education, and if that money shrinks, schools may struggle to maintain staff or services at current levels. opb+1

What parents should understand is this: the bill doesn’t change your child’s legal rights under IDEA — your child is still entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education. But because Medicaid is such a big part of how schools fund related services, reductions or eligibility changes at the federal and state level could affect how those services get delivered. That’s why it’s important for parents to stay informed, ask questions about how your district is adapting, and make sure services written in your child’s IEP are actually happening, regardless of how funding shifts.” opb

What this means is

Medicaid cuts don’t cancel IDEA rights, but they can change the funding pipeline that helps schools pay for services. opb

State budgets matter — if federal support shrinks, states may shift costs or reduce programs, which can make it harder for districts to hire and retain related services staff. The Skillman Foundation

Parents may see less flexibility if districts tighten budgets, even though the legal obligation to provide services hasn’t gone away. opb

We’re also seeing more families filing complaints or pursuing due process—not because they want conflict, but because communication and collaboration sometimes break down. That’s not about parents being ‘difficult’—it’s a sign that the system is under strain. And it underscores why parents need to stay informed, engaged, and proactive at the IEP table.

Workforce shortages remain critical

There is still a national shortage of certified special education teachers.

This impacts:

Service delivery

Consistency

IEP implementation

And no—staffing shortages do not legally excuse missed services.

🧠 WELL-BEING & TEACHING STRATEGIES

Trauma-informed and SEL supports matter

Edmentum , a useful source for general education trends and practical instructional strategies highlights growing awareness that students with disabilities benefit greatly from trauma-aware and social-emotional learning approaches.

Behavior is communication.

Always has been.

Universal Design for Learning is becoming central

According to the Teachers Institute, UDL—offering multiple ways to engage, learn, and show understanding—is now a cornerstone of modern instruction.

This benefits all students, not just those with IEPs.

📊 WHAT THIS MEANS FOR PARENTS

So let’s bring this home.

Be aware of:

How technology is being used in your child’s education

Expanding services through Medicaid or telehealth

Continued emphasis on early identification and inclusion

The need to advocate early, clearly, and consistently

Stay informed about:

Policy changes in your state

Evaluation and eligibility criteria

Tools that support independence—not just compliance

CLOSING

Be aware of how technology is being used, how services are delivered, and the ongoing push for early identification and inclusion. Stay informed about policy changes, evaluation criteria, and tools that support independence—not just compliance. Advocacy doesn’t mean knowing everything; it means showing up, asking questions, and making sure decisions about your child happen with you in the room.

Parents, you don’t need to be experts in special education law.

But you do need to be informed, prepared, and confident at the table.

Because when systems change,

children do best when parents lead with knowledge—not fear.

You are not alone.

before we go, I want to leave you with this; If there’s one thing that’s become crystal clear through every conversation on Special Ed Rising: PURGE 47 Edition, it’s that what we’re seeing right now in special education is not random.

It’s not a series of isolated mistakes.

And it’s definitely not just “growing pains.”

These are intentional policy choices—choices that make it harder for families to access services, easier for systems to say no, and more exhausting for parents to keep fighting.

And let me be very clear about something:

Special education has never moved forward because systems did the right thing on their own.

It moved forward because parents refused to sit down, be quiet, and accept less for their children.

That’s the throughline of this entire podcast.

I’ve been in this field for decades—as a teacher, a tutor, and an advocate—and I’ve watched the same pattern repeat itself over and over again.

Rights get watered down.

Language gets softened.

Responsibility gets shifted.

And families are told, “This is just how it is now.”

No.

That’s how it is when no one pushes back.

2026 is not a wait-and-see year.

It’s not a “let’s hope things get better” year.

It’s a year where parents need to stay informed, stay connected, and stay involved—even when you’re tired, even when you’re overwhelmed, even when the system is counting on you to give up.

Advocacy doesn’t mean you have to know everything.

It means you show up.

You ask questions.

You document.

You don’t accept vague answers.

And you don’t let decisions about your child happen without you in the room.

And if you’re thinking, “I’m just one parent—what difference can I really make?”

Let me tell you something:

Every protection your child has today exists because one parent spoke up, then another, and then another.

The real danger right now isn’t just cuts to services or changes to law.

The real danger is parents being worn down into silence.

That’s why this podcast exists.

That’s why No Parent Left Behind isn’t just a tagline—it’s a promise.

You are not crazy for asking questions.

You are not difficult for advocating.

And you are not alone in this fight.

Your voice matters.

Your presence matters.

And your child’s future is worth the discomfort of pushing back.

Because systems don’t protect children.

People do.

This is Special Ed Rising.

This is PURGE 47.

And we’re not going anywhere.

And no parent gets left behind.