Don't IEP Alone. - TopPodcast.com

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ChatGPT, Privacy, and the High Stakes of IEP Decisions Oct 21, 2026

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In this episode of Don’t IEP Alone, Lisa Lightner clears up what she means when she criticizes generative AI and ChatGPT. She explains why concerns about privacy, content theft, environmental costs, and inaccurate information matter to families navigating IEPs.

Lisa Lightner also challenges the idea that ChatGPT can replace an advocate. AI can only respond to the information you provide, it may miss what’s actually absent from an IEP, and it can be confidently wrong. When your child has only a limited number of school years, Lisa Lightner argues, there’s no room to waste time on bad advice or shortcuts.

Don't IEP Alone with Lisa Lightner, Special Education Advocate

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Why I Don’t Ask for FBAs Anymore. Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

When a child’s behavior increases, the usual response is often to revisit the FBA or behavior plan. But Lisa Lightner argues that teams should first step back and examine the IEP itself. Are all of the child’s needs being met? Are evaluations missing something? Is the IEP being implemented with fidelity?

Special Education Advocate Lisa Lightner explains why she now approaches behavior concerns differently. Many behaviors, she says, reflect lagging skills or unmet needs, and an FBA takes significant time and resources to complete. The focus should be on building and following a robust IEP that addresses the reason behind the behavior, not simply adding another plan after the behavior appears.