Two neurodivergent mamas — one Black, one White — with lived experience raising neurodivergent kids. One is still navigating IEPs and school calls; the other has walked the path into adulthood. Dr. Destiny Huff, LPC, a mental health therapist and advocate, and Lisa Baskin Wright, an educator and advocate, help families approach the IEP table with clarity, compassion, and power. They also train professionals on affirming practices for neurodivergent learners.
This is The Affirming Village — where stories, strategy, and community meet.
Starting the school year with support, not compliance
Starting the school year with support, not compliance
A successful school year shouldn't require your learner to mask, push beyond their limits, or adapt without support.
In this episode, Dr. Destiny Huff and IEP Coach Lisa Wright break down how parents and educators can enter the new school year focused on true collaboration, clear communication, and affirming care.
What we cover in this episode:
💡 Why traditional compliance falls short and how to pivot to genuine support
📄 Creating a simple, effective 1-page "All About Me" / "IEP at a Glance" for teachers and staff
🍃 How to translate subtle behavioral and sensory cues before overwhelm sets in
🫱🏾🫲🏻 Navigating school events, open houses, and team dynamics after a tough year
Hit play to discover practical, actionable ways to advocate for your child and set up a supportive, affirming school environment this year! 🎧✨
Follow & Connect: 🎙️ The Affirming Village Podcast with Dr. Destiny Huff & Lisa Wright
#SpecialEducation #IEPCoach #BackToSchool #NeurodiversityAffirming #ParentAdvocate #AffirmingVillagePodcast #IEPTips #AutismSupport #ADHDSupport #InclusiveEducation #SensorySupport #ChildAdvocacy #NeurodivergentLearners
24 Jul 2026
Advocating While Black: What Black Parents Experience in Special Education
Episode 5: Advocating While Black: Systemic Bias, Special Education, and Intersectionality with Cheryl Poe
In this powerful episode of The Affirming Village Podcast, host Dr. Destiny Huff, LPC, and Lisa Baskin Wright, IEP Coach, are joined by special education expert and researcher Cheryl Poe, MA, Founder and Executive Director of Advocating for Kids, Inc. (A4K).
Together, they dive deep into the groundbreaking report, Advocating While Black: Black Parents' Experiences with Special Education in Virginia, unpacking the heavy realities Black families face when navigating the special education system.
"Advocating While Black": Why special education advocacy spaces remain white-centered and how intersectionality changes the experience for Black families.
DisCrit (Disability Critical Race Theory): How racism and ableism overlap to create distinct structural barriers for Black neurodivergent learners.
Intent vs. Impact: Dismantling "the good educator binary" and checking ego at the IEP table.
Weaponized Language: Calling out coded labels like "aggressive" and the adultification of Black students.
Centering Parent Authority: How advocates can build momentum without taking the mic away from parents.
💡 Enjoying the podcast? Leave us a 5-star rating and share this episode with an educator, parent, or advocate in your village!
17 Jul 2026
"Monitor, Monitor, Monitor": Breaking Down the OSERS Briefing
Officials said everything is fine, the law is still on the books, and we just "moved down the street." But is it reassurance, or is it a masterclass in gaslighting?
In this episode, we are breaking down the July 9th OSERS Partnership Briefing and pulling back the curtain on the smoke-and-mirror show of "Returning Education to the States." While federal reps smiled and told parents to "monitor, monitor, monitor," they conveniently left out the reality of a gutted infrastructure, a staggering drop in OCR enforcement, and the dangerous shift toward a medical model for special education.
We’re diving deep into:
The 6-Agency Split: Exactly where your child's K-12 programs, civil rights protections, and student funding are actually being sent.
The Circular Logic of HHS Training: Why "HHS staff training HHS staff" on educational policy completely misses the mark.
The Evasion of Real Accountability: How the federal government is shifting the massive burden of oversight entirely onto already exhausted families.
Where We Find Hope: Why hyperlocal politics, school boards, and granular, collaborative team relationships are our best weapons right now.
The system might be fracturing, but the village isn't going anywhere. Tune in as we break down what was said, what they refused to answer, and exactly what families need to watch next.
What were your thoughts on the webinar? Let us know in the comments below!
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
8 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
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