1. EachPod

135: Neurodiversity-Affirming IEPs: Moving Beyond Compliance with Breea Rosas

Author
Special Education Strategist
Published
Tue 03 Jun 2025
Episode Link
https://audioboom.com/posts/8729210

What does it really mean to be neurodiversity-affirming? Breea Rosas, licensed educational psychologist and founder of the Neurodiversity Affirming School Psychologist Group, joins Wendy Taylor to unpack how schools, families, and IEP teams can shift from a deficit-based lens to an affirming, strength-centered approach. From actionable language swaps to rethinking token boards and goal-writing, this episode is a must-listen for anyone ready to do better—for real.



Top 3 Takeaways:



  1. Language is the First Shift: Changing “non-compliant” to “self-directed” transforms perceptions—and outcomes.


  2. Parent Power is Real: Input statements and pre-meeting advocacy can reframe the entire IEP experience.


  3. Affirming ≠ Ignoring Needs: Reframing challenges as “support needs” aligns goals with neurotype, not pathology.



Connect with Breea Rosas:

Instagram: @NDaffirming_SP

Website: Neurodiversity Affirming SP Resources 



Connect with Wendy Taylor:

 Instagram: @learningessentials

 LinkedIn: Wendy Taylor

 Facebook: Learning Essentials

 Website: LearningEssentialsEDU.com

 Enroll in Cracking the Code to Special Education Eligibility:

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